Best feed for the best price?

[BKDressage]

What is the best quality feed for the best(lowest) price? Whats the price?

[jcotton]

I feed according to my horse's needs. One horse gets Nutrena Compete and Nutrena 16% Vitality. Other two horses get Purina Strategy -different amounts because different body types and work.
Both the Compete and Strategy are close in price - approximately $11.50-12.00 a bag.

[sublimequine]

Every person you ask is going to give you a different answer, due to varying needs of the owner and the horses. :yes:

For me, if I could choose anything for my mare to eat (she's boarded so I basically take whatever I can get :winkgrin: ), I'd just do a bit of alfalfa pellets, and a good vit/min supplement. Luckily my mare is not one that requires grain. :)

[GrayHorseFan#1]

Buckeye feeds are premium...you'll save money by feeding less of a great feed, and you can with Buckeye. They are fortified with everything in them, so you won't have to add in any vitamins, etc. It's important to figure out your "price per day" and not just go by the price per bag. Also, I would look for a FIXED FORMULA as opposed to a LEAST COST FORMULA. I want to know that my feed will always be the same, and not vary based on which ingredients are cheaper on any given day.

[Flash44]

Grass.

[Hoofprince in Mud]

Grass.

Second that.

[JB]

It is 100% impossible to answer that question, as-is.

The cost of a feed is much more than just the cost of a 50lb bag, or whatever size it comes in. The highest quality feed - quality ingredients, enough of them, etc - might be, for you, a locally blended mix that takes into account, say, high iron and low selenium soil. That would be all wrong for someone who lives in a low Fe, high Se area.

It also is about how much a particular feed a horse needs. A $30/50lb ration balancer, at 1lb/day, is cheaper to feed than a $15/50lb bag at 6lb/day, even though each of them might be the best in their class (based on ingredients and quality of them).

Even grass might not be the right "feed" for a particular horse. If you have to extensively manage the pasture - lots of rotating, lots of overseeding, lots of liming and fertilizing - then you've greatly increased the cost of the grass.

[BKDressage]

I know every horse needs something different for its needs..ect, ect... Im just asking an overall question, as to what everyone is feeding for being on a budget and still getting quality nutrition.

[JB]

But what is a "budget"? I mean, I understand what you're asking, but it's still not that simple. Triple Crown, Progressive, Buckeye, Seminole, Kent, and a few others are all pretty top line products. Progressive has a 30% ration balancer for roughly $25/50lb bag, 1lb/day. They also have a doubly condensed ration balancer for about twice the cost, fed at 1/2 the rate. Someone might freak at a $50/50lb price tag, but not $25/50lb, unless they take into account how much they're feeding.

First you look at quality, and then you look to see how much you have to feed. A $10/50lb bag product might be great in the quality department (not likely), but if you have to feed 10lb a day of it, that makes it less economical.

A lower cost alternative is a vit/min supplement and a few pounds of alfalfa pellets.

[ThoroughbredFancy]

I've found Blue Seal to be of good quality for the price. Most of the horses where I board are on a Blue Seal feed and they all look great.

If it were possible for my hard keeper TB to be on free choice hay/grass I would look for a high quality ration balancer and just feed that.

Then there are other things to feed that aren't "grain" per say such as oats, beet pulp, alfalfa pellets, rice bran etc.

[jn4jenny]

I know every horse needs something different for its needs..ect, ect... Im just asking an overall question, as to what everyone is feeding for being on a budget and still getting quality nutrition.

Agree w/ JB--you are asking an impossible question with way too many variables.

If you want to know what others are feeding on a budget, there have been DOZENS of threads about that here on COTH. The people who seem to be doing the best budget-wise are feeding grass when possible, then when grass isn't around they feed free choice hay (sometimes with a slow feeder to keep horses from gorging on it). They also tend to feed a ration balancer product or vit/min supplement, and then the cheapest local whole-product source for adding additional calories if needed (usually beet pulp, whole oats, alfalfa pellets, oil, etc.) Avoiding over-graining (some horses are given too much to eat and poop it right out) and over-supplementation are also key.

[jacksmom]

BKD - try giving us some specifics and maybe someone here with similar feeding needs can tell you what works for them.

are we talking about one horse or a barnfull?

horses in heavy work? horses in moderate work? youngsters? retired senior horses? any horses with special needs - IR, EPSM, etc?

what is the current available forage (grass turnout/hay) like?

[Texarkana]

A lower cost alternative is a vit/min supplement and a few pounds of alfalfa pellets.

Everyone always says this, but I've never found it to be true myself when I've done the math. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong vit/min supplements, but I've yet to find one that's cheaper per day than what I'm paying for a ration balancer. Especially when you factor in freight charges and the cost of a "carrier" to feed it in like alfalfa pellets or beet pulp.

I'm curious what brands of affordable vit/min supplements folks use.

[JB]

Everyone always says this, but I've never found it to be true myself when I've done the math. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong vit/min supplements, but I've yet to find one that's cheaper per day than what I'm paying for a ration balancer. Especially when you factor in freight charges and the cost of a "carrier" to feed it in like alfalfa pellets or beet pulp.
See, this is where "it depends" comes into play. If the horse is easy keeping enough that 1lb of a ration balancer is all the calories he needs, then that is the best quality, most economical choice, because you're right, a vit/min supp and 1lb of alfalfa pellet is probably going to be more. But if you have a horse who needs more calories, and you start needing, say, 5lb of alfalfa pellets, plus a vit/min supp, that's probably cheaper than a high enough quality fortified grain at 5lb/day.

I'm curious what brands of affordable vit/min supplements folks use.
I use Dynamite. At the 25lb size, it comes to $.37/serving - that includes shipping. Are there cheaper ones? Yep. There are also those that are more.

[Tamara in TN]

What is the best quality feed for the best(lowest) price? Whats the price?


eat more hay!!


:)



just being silly....

[Shadow14]

My horse is a hard working boy and beside quality hay I feel corn is the best bang for the buck. It is relatively inexpensive and full of energy. It is far better then oats and about $12 a 40 kg bag or about 88 pounds. I use the steam rolled corn to help the horse digest it. It is not a hot food and a horse sweats less on corn then on oats. I don't use processed food. I feel you are paying for someone to cook the goodness out of it pelletize it and mark it up.

[foggybok]

I feed according to my horse's needs. One horse gets Nutrena Compete and Nutrena 16% Vitality. Other two horses get Purina Strategy -different amounts because different body types and work.
Both the Compete and Strategy are close in price - approximately $11.50-12.00 a bag.

They run $16-17 per bag here..... I hate being way out away from any ag......no cheap feed of any kind :(

[foggybok]

Too many variables. I feed my older mare Ultium because it is calorie dense and she doesn't like to eat much. She won't eat enough of a cheaper feed to hold her condition. With Ultium I can get the calories in her that she needs. It would be a waste to feed it to the younger hard keeper, because he'll eat whatever is in front of him, so he gets something that costs less per calorie. For the easy keepers, they only get daytime pasture and 24 hr hay with a mineral supplement formulated for local horses. No need to spend money on a concentrate, when hay will do the job. All horses get as much hay as they will eat. If they get fat, they get the lower quality cheaper hay, but still as much as they want. If they are thin, I increase the quality (and the cost) of their feed. I weigh every other week and adjust as needed to keep them all ~BCS 5

[JB]

My horse is a hard working boy and beside quality hay I feel corn is the best bang for the buck. It is relatively inexpensive and full of energy. It is far better then oats and about $12 a 40 kg bag or about 88 pounds. I use the steam rolled corn to help the horse digest it. It is not a hot food and a horse sweats less on corn then on oats. I don't use processed food. I feel you are paying for someone to cook the goodness out of it pelletize it and mark it up.

Given that corn is about 75% sugars, it's not a very nutritious thing to feed, and the majority of it's energy is from the sugar. Cheap? Sure, at least cheapER than many alternatives.

Oats are about 50% sugars, and have some amount of all the amino acids, so are a better nutritional choice.

If you are using steamrolled corn, that IS processed ;)

Some of the better forms of cooking actually maximize the value of a particular product.

[Shadow14]

Given that corn is about 75% sugars, it's not a very nutritious thing to feed, and the majority of it's energy is from the sugar. Cheap? Sure, at least cheapER than many alternatives.

Oats are about 50% sugars, and have some amount of all the amino acids, so are a better nutritional choice.

If you are using steamrolled corn, that IS processed ;)

Some of the better forms of cooking actually maximize the value of a particular product.

Read up on the various feeds and you will find that corn is rated one of the best for endurance horses. It has more total digestable energy then oats or anything else. Running corn through a roller is not my idea of processed feed.
One of the top endurance riders uses 26 pounds per day of mainly corn .
It has kept my boys running for the last 25 years.

[JB]

Read up on the various feeds and you will find that corn is rated one of the best for endurance horses. It has more total digestable energy then oats or anything else.
I searched, but couldn't find anything. Do you have a link?

Running corn through a roller is not my idea of processed feed.You said steamed and rolled. That is ONE type of processing. To say one won't use processed feeds is a hypocritical comment if one then feeds anything but whole grains ;) Now, by "processed" you might mean prolonged cooking and mashing and forming into pellets, or something like that, and that's fine, but you cannot just say "processed".

One of the top endurance riders uses 26 pounds per day of mainly corn .
OMG, tell me you're joking! I really, really need to know who that is.

It has kept my boys running for the last 25 years.it's been a staple of many horses' diets over the years. That does not mean it is has a good deal of nutritional value.

[Shadow14]

Your right JB but I will just continue doing as I believe.:D

[JB]

Believe it or not, I am asking honest questions. I am honestly looking for something that says corn is the best thing to feed an endurance horse. In small amounts? Is 26lb REALLY the best thing? I'd really love to know the rider who feeds 26lb of corn, a day, and how their horse does in which competitions.

If you have no desire to educate, that's fine, not your loss.

[Shadow14]

I have a number of hard copies on feeding the endurance horse and corn is always recommended as the best. The side effect of feeding corn is the horse sweats less because corn is more digestable then oats.
Look up the horse Pawnee. A fantastic record and run through the late 80's and early 90's A great rider Earl Baxter, a well known guy in our part of the world.
I fed my guy about 7-8 pounds per feeding. Once first thing in the morning and once at bed time.
Come Tuesday when I am back to work, we have our long long weekend this weekend I can copy some of it. I keep alot of this stuff at work and not at home.

If you don't want to feed corn then don't. I just gave my opinion on what I consider a good food at a good price. I came to this conclusion through research, word of mouth from Earl and cost and then put it to 25 years of testing. Run 70-80 miles per week for years on end and see how well your horse stands the strain? 17 years and not a single day down time, not one.

[BKDressage]

I feed a lot of GOOD hay, and they have pasture. I have various ages in various amounts of work(WBs from 2-18). Some easy keepers, some average. I was on Safe choice and now I am trying Cool Command. I wanted to try Kent Dynasty Pro, but the feed person talked me into Cool Command. I top dress the young ones with a lb of Empower per day. All of my horses are in great weight and the young ones are growing nicely. I was just asking the question to see what people are feeding. There are just SOOO many choices out there, and I wanted to hear what people have to say. So what are you feeding for lets say under $15, and why?

[JB]

...under $15 for...what? A 40lb bag? 50lb bag? Fortified feed or "whole" something? I use whole oats and alfalfa pellets, both of which are under $15/50lb bag.

[Shadow14]

I pay anywhere from $11-$14 for a 40 kg bag and 1 kg = 2.2 pounds or a 40kg bag weighs about 88 pounds.

[BKDressage]

Wow! 88lbs?? Thats a big bag!

[Tamara in TN]

Wow! 88lbs?? Thats a big bag!

them up thar in the land of the Frozen Chosen are just tougher than we are:lol:

best

[Equibrit]

I wouldn't characterize that as "tougher"!

http://www.olddominionrides.org/EndurancePrimer/02.html

Fiber

Fiber (grass/hay) is an energy source that is actually one of the best source of horse nutrition. It is sweet, full of sugar, full of fiber, and idealy suited for the equine's highly developed hindgut which houses billions of bacteria designed specifically for fermenting large quantities of plant fiber. Of the feeds grass forage is by far the best, and most important. Horses have evolved as grazing animals and have a unique ability to take in large amounts of forage (up to 3.5 % of body weight). The horse, in concert with the bacteria in the hindgut, utilize grass forage primarily for energy production. An endurance horse's intestinal health is critical to success. Normally, the digestive system of the horse is active, moving feed ingredients through the length of the tract. Excercise tends to slow the digestive system, so a diet high in fiber is excellent because it increases critical water intake. More importantly, the water and natural electrolytes found in forage can be used to combat dehydration and electrolyte imbalances which derail so many endurance horses. Fiber, therefore, can be used as an energy source throughout the endurance ride since fermentation and absorption in the hindgut continues long after a meal has been eaten. Finally, the presence of fiber in the digestive system can help insure that blood is being distributed to the digestive system during the ride. This maintenance of blood flow to the digestive system will aid in the ability of gut tissue to remain active and could help prevent colic. So if your horse wants to snatch up some grass along the trail, by all means let it!!
In addition to forage sources, there are fiber feeds such as beet pulp and rice bran that offer some of the same beneficial aspects of forage for maintaining gut health and fluid and electrolyte balance, but contain more energy. The additional energy is the result of both high fiber content and a low lignin (non-digestible fiber) component. Therefore, these ingredients have more fiber which is available for microbial digestion. These fibers contain energy equivalent to oats, but they would be safer to feed because they do not produce the symptoms of grain overload. The problem with these feeds are -- often the horse will refuse to eat them during an endurance ride. If this is the case, then grass or alfalfa hay is the best choice since a horse will rarely turn up it's nose at fresh grass or alfalfa hay. Since chronic over-supplementation with calcium (found in alfalfa) can cause problems with endurance horses, avoid high calcium hays as a regular feed and only give DURING an endurance ride

http:// (http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/hrs10688/$FILE/feeding_the_endurance_horse.pdf)www1.agric.gov.ab. ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/hrs10688/$FILE/feeding_the_endurance_horse.pdf (http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/hrs10688/$FILE/feeding_the_endurance_horse.pdf)

Also important for the endurance horse is energy - sufficient calories need to be provided during training so that ribs can be easily felt, but not clearly seen, and hip bones are not visible. Without sufficient energy available, the horse can suffer severe exhaustion during a race. Forage is the most important feed for an endurance horse, but should make up no more than 3.5% of its total body weight. The best forage to feed an endurance horse is one with an adequate amount of digestible fibre, low protein content (8-14%), average calcium content, and which is fairly young, as energy content and digestibility decrease with age. Grass hay or a mixed alfalfa/grass hay (predominately grass) are the most recommended with regards to the criteria described above. Studies have shown that fibre, an often-overlooked nutrient, added to the diet in the form of hay, pasture, or forage is an exceptional source of energy. Almond and soybean hulls, as well as beet pulp have been shown to contain more energy than forage fibre sources, and are less likely to cause the grain overload symptoms frequently caused by oats [/SIZE][SIZE=3]and barley. For example, beet pulp, when fed in tandem with hay, has been shown to be valuable in helping maintain a reservoir of water and electrolytes in the hindgut. Mashes of any form should ideally be provided wet and soupy in the days leading up to and during competition to maximize fluid intake and help avoid dehydration.
Frequently, endurance horses cannot or will not consume enough feed to satisfy their energy requirements. Fat, in the form of vegetable oil and/or animal fat will increase the energy density of the diet so that less feed is necessary to maintain ideal body condition, and most horses will find the fat palatable within certain limits. To reap the most benefits, fat - no more than 500mL per day and no more than the horse will ingest willingly - must be added to the horse’s diet during training and throughout the racing season. Do not add fats directly before or during the race because while fat is good source of energy, a high fat ratio tends to reduce the forage intake needed to maintain gut motility and hydration. Grain concentrates which contain 7-10% added fat appear most advantageous for endurance horses. That said, however, one must be cautioned against feeding too much grain and causing grain overload to occur.
Sufficient protein is easily provided by a diet of reasonable quality grass hay or pasture and a good-quality balanced grain mix from a reputable company. The endurance horse only requires 8-10% of its diet to be protein. Excess protein can be used as a source of energy; however, excessive protein intake should be avoided in endurance horses because it requires an increase in water intake, and with a horse already trying to maintain proper hydration under abnormal conditions, the result can be devastating. Further, accumulation of urea and ammonia can lead to disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism and intestinal function. Therefore, it can be concluded that enough protein to maintain normal body function is necessary for the endurance horse, but should not be given in excessive amounts.
Nutritional preparation for a race begins several days in advance of the event. A feeding program should never be changed abruptly - all changes to a horse’s diet should come gradually and not directly before, after, or during an endurance race. While in training, the endurance horse should be fed to maintain an ideal body condition. Throughout an endurance race, small, frequent meals - including access to water and electrolytes - are usually preferable as opposed to large and infrequent meals. Feed long stem hay if possible as opposed to cubes or pellets as the added bulk will help maintain gut motility. The length of time - days or even weeks - it can take the horse to fully replace the fluids, calories and nutrients used during competition is determined by the length and intensity of your ride. As with any equine sport, you must do what is right for you and your horse, therefore any endurance nutrition literature should be treated as a guide only, and formulating a nutritional strategy for your individual horse is essential. Above all, avoid dehydration, maintain good gut motility and thereby maintain energy and performance.

[meaty ogre]

From the wife of a feed dealer, maybe some things to help in tight economic times.

I agree that Buckeye is one of if not the best feeds; it's also the most expensive. Some of their peeps left and went to Kalmbach where they make the same formulas for lots cheaper. I've fed both and can attest to them being the same. So if you like Buckeye and want to save some money maybe you can find a Kalmbach dealer and give it a try.

Never hurts to ask your feed dealer if they have comparable formulas. My husband carries Nutrena, Manna Pro and Kalmbach; their prices fall in that order, and they do have comparable formulations of feed. For example variation in senior formulas is about $8/bag between the 3 companies, and I actually like the most expensive formula least. You can always ask what your dealer carries and ask to look at feed tags to compare (hint, don't just look at protein/fat percentages...look at the actual ingredients. I've seen bags of 10/10/10 fat/prot/fiber and wondered how they cost so little until I saw that everything in the bag was byproducts, filler and garbage).

Buying in bulk gets a discount at a lot of places. If you can't store it or it goes bad before you can use it that may not work but you could always try to negotiate with the dealer to see if you can get bulk prices by paying up front and picking up as you need. That is of course if you have the money up front which lots don't in this economic climate! ;)

Pasture is cheaper than hay is cheaper than feed. But good pasture does require an initial investment and upkeep. For me it has been worthwhile but again if you don't have the dough to start with that's not helpful.

Finally, especially for larger scale operations it does seem that a ration balancer combined with either forage, oats or COB saves over actual bagged grain. And if you have a truly large operation some companies do deliver bulk feed if you have the set-up (ie a silo or storage tank so you don't need bagged feed), though freight can cut your savings drastically.

Probably the biggest waste I see is unnecessary supplementing, but you can't convince most horse owners that their horse doesn't need a top-shelf feed AND 8 additional supplements to trail ride. :) Even though they haven't taken a vitamin themselves in 2 decades. ;)