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Balancing nutrients

1K views 15 replies 6 participants last post by  stevenson 
#1 ·
I am utilizing an online program feedxl.com to determine what nutrients my horse needs.
I will say it said I need to add salt to my horses diet (has a salt lick but doesn't lick much) and have see a major change in 1 day. I had no ides that a horse needed 4 tablespoons of salt a day.

But this program also says what you are feeding too much of. When I add in what minerals are needed from a supplement store it also makes some go way above what is suggested daily. It also says it is in the safe range but on further research too much of some minerals counter the absorbsion of others.
Trying to figure out how to get the proper amount without over feeding certain things that come in what you can order.

Can they be made to specifications? Where? Is it feasible to do for 1 horse or you need a stable full?
 
#2 ·
You can go to a local feed mill with a list of what you want and they could help you come up with a formulation for a feed, or you could run it by a equine nutritionist and then buy the ingredients and have them properly mixed into a feed at the mill. It's not typically too expensive and could be cheaper than buying a bagged feed from a national brand. It all depends on where you get it mixed and what you put in it.
 
#3 ·
Not exactly sure what you're asking/saying, but no. 1, if you've signed up for FeedXL(good isn't it ;-) ), you might as well make the most of it & get onto their forum, to get your answers from qualified equine nutritionists!

Not sure if you're needing/adding tailor made feeds or supps in the program, or whether you need feed or supps for a stable full of horses or some such? While every horse will be slightly different in requirements, etc, it's reasonable to feed a stable full of horses the same diet/supps, if they're kept in the same environment. They will however have different energy requirements, so some may need more or less. There are some really good 'ration balancers' these days, but most 'feeds', as it seems you've found, aren't well balanced... despite the advertising. Processing destroys some, nutrients, and many feeds use cheaper supps, which aren't so 'bioavailable' too. So I'd tend to look mostly at whatever gives them a good nutritional balance, be that specific supplements, a 'ration balancer', combo, whatever... then if/when they need extra energy/condition, add something simple - copra, beet pulp, etc.
 
#4 ·
The problem with ration balancers is they contain a lot of soy. Feeds that don't have soy have more sugar and starch. Soybean use the most chemicals when growing so that is why there are a lot of soy alergies. My horse is allergic to soy and it is common for horses to be allergic to soy. Get in mixed feed is not feasible in smaller qty they want you to buy a ton. Also the vitamins one may want can be packaged with others you may not need.
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#9 ·
Getting your horse's pasture soil tested would be the first thing to do, if you're willing to dig this deep:)

Getting hay tested also helps but only if you buy your hay seasonally.


The problem with ration balancers is they contain a lot of soy. Feeds that don't have soy have more sugar and starch. Soybean use the most chemicals when growing so that is why there are a lot of soy alergies. My horse is allergic to soy and it is common for horses to be allergic to soy. Get in mixed feed is not feasible in smaller qty they want you to buy a ton. Also the vitamins one may want can be packaged with others you may not need.
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I have been saying this for quite a few years.

I have two metabolic horses who don't need soy and a third horse that is oat, corn and soy sensitive.

They are on a grain and soy-free ration balancer called McCauley's M-10 Balancer.

McCauley's® M10 Balancer™:: McCauley's

However, it has to be special ordered at a feed store 40 miles away. I buy 8 bags at a time and store it in a spare bedroom. Storing isn't so bad but ordering and sometimes the order doesn't get called in, plus being sick to absolute death of driving 40 hard miles has me looking at:

http://www.horsetech.com/high-point-grass.html

I still have to order this but, it will come to the house and it's something I can feed to all four horses - even my hard keeper -- I'll just give him more rice bran.

Getting your pasture soil and hay tested is really the first step.

Or just dump what is a great idea in theory and consider either of these two options or I have a third option but it has glucosamine in it and my metabolic horses can't have it:)

Or look at other condensed vitamin/mineral supplements that are soy and grain-free and order them:)
 
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#5 ·
There is a company in the UK that supplies tailored minerals for horses following forage and diet analysis, they have great feeback , especially from the barefoot folk. They are called Forageplus.

They also go a general summer and a winter supplement for those that don't need too specific a balancer, but allowing for different forage at these times.
 
#6 ·
The soy allergy is where you're going to run into a ton of problems, so many feeds use it as it's considered a good ingredient.

Sounds like you may need to scrap your feed program and start over from the beginning, if FEEDXL is telling you things are going over and you're wanting to balance things out the best you can.

Go back to the forage you feed and see what the program recommends for a bagged feed that might get it as close to balanced as possible. You will however find that it's nearly impossible to 100% balance a horses diet as somethings just won't add up correctly all the time. :)
 
#8 ·
Has there been blood draws done by the VET to see if the horse is lacking in anything ?
Has your forage been analysed ?
You need to get this information first, then proceed to complete what the horse needs.
Your horse may only need one or two things , not the whole array .
 
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