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The responses I got when I asked about monensin

10K views 21 replies 13 participants last post by  Abzeez 
#1 ·
I contacted four companies (ADM, Purina, Triple Crown, and Blue Seal) and asked them all the same question. Do you make equine feeds in separate mills from mills that contain monensin? I am very disappointed to see that ADM uses the same mill to process cattle and horse feeds, per their website.

Triple Crowns response:
Following are two dealers that are near you that get their feed from a feed mill that does not contain any Ionophores (monensin). Very few mills only make horse feeds in today’s market. We feel very confident in the safety of our feeds and all of the mills that make Triple Crown are ready to adhere to the new FDA Feed Safety and Modernization Act.

Purina's response:
Feed and manufacturing safety are among our top priorities. That is why all our feeds are made with the Purina® FeedGuard® Nutrition System – one of the industry’s most innovative and exacting quality assurance programs. We understand the concern about ionophores in horse feed. All of our horse feeds are made on ionophore-free manufacturing systems. A significant majority of our plants that produce horse feeds have no ionophores present at all and 100% of our horse plants have complete physical separation.

Blue Seal's response:
At our KNG Richford, Arcade, and Hagerstown plants, Rumensin is not used on any lines which manufacture bagged horse feed. Kent Nutrition Group maintains strict operating and quality control procedures designed to safeguard feeds from unsafe contamination or carry over from potentially harmful ingredients. This includes following proper flushing procedures to avoid contaminations in our feeds. All of our plants have received the Safe Feeds/Safe Foods certification from the American Feed Industry Association. This is a commitment to having an extensive feed safety control program in place. Our Feed safety control program is continually reviewed and updated to effectively manage potential safety risks associated with ingredient receiving and changes in products, processes, and technologies. KNG validates the effectiveness of its food safety and quality management system through internal and external audits.
To learn more about this program please visit our website: https://kentnutritiongroup.com/plants/ .

ADMs response:
I have and will continue feeding my horses our equine products because ADM Alliance Nutrition has been providing safe and nutritious feed and feed ingredients for more than 100 years. Our process comply with FDA guidelines and we are confident that our feeds are safe. Attached is the link on our web page to information about our safe feed commitment that clarifies out safe feed practices: http://www.admani.com/Horse/feedsafety/index.htm

I am not posting this in means to slander any company, and if this is not an acceptable post I apologize and would understand why it would be taken down. I did not have knowledge about the monensin cases until this year and I wanted to be proactive and contact companies that may manufacturer feeds that I may use in the future. I thought this would be helpful to share for other people with the same concerns as I have.
 
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#5 ·
I think We had a thread on this before, and I did check with my local feed mill (Hi Pro ) to make sure all of there horse feed is bagged at a separate location.
Thanks for bringing it up again, as I would not buy from somewhere the cattle feed is also processed, containing \ionophores
I toured the open house at Hi _pro, which included the computerized mixing room. When I was the only one in that group of cattle people, that asked how they made sure there was never a computer error, thus accidentally either adding or carry over of monensin, the company rep said, 'ah, we have a horse person among us!
He then told me that their horse feed comes already bagged, to my location, from their plant where only horse feed is processed
I think all horse people should be aware of monensin poisoning of horses, as it happens every year, somewhere at a mill, and more often, at a ranch location where cattle also live
Either feed is contaminated at the mill, or horses get into feed for cattle, where they live, or the owner even feeds cattle feed containing monensin to their horses, out of ignorance
 
#6 ·
I honestly had never heard of monensin until this year while researching ADM and almost purchasing their feed to try on my mare. It was by accident I came across the claims they were responsible for a monensin contamination. So I contacted them and received the answer above. I did send another email asking if the mills they used contained monensin, as I felt she didn't really answer my question, and have yet to hear back. Going forward I will not be going with ADM feeds for my horses. Even if they take every necessary step to ensure quality, there is still a chance that a mistake could be made.
 
#7 ·
If ever in doubt, there are some brands (can't think of what they are right off the top of my head since I don't feed bagged feed except alfalfa pellets) that have it stated clearly on their bags of horse feed "This feed is produced at a facility that does not produce ruminant feeds" or something to the like. That pretty well guarantees that there is no chance of horse feed being contaminated by monensin or rumensin.
 
#8 ·
I think the answer to the original question may vary by area.

The response from my local feed store and Purina was the horse feed was milled on the "other end" of the property from cattle feed, therefore in separate vats and safe from contamination.

That word "safe" is predicated upon the humans paying attention to what they're doing instead of texting-while-working. Accidents happen.

This is only part of why I stopped feeding anything that is made by a company who manufactures feed for various types of livestock.

I order a condensed vit/min supplement from a company whose only livestock interest is horses.

Unless one can grow their own feed, one is still never really sure what's going into the vat.
 
#10 ·
I know in Florida Purina has a mill that produces nothing but horse feed.
No ruminant, period!
No goat, cattle or sheep, no deer, no pig....
Just horse.
They also have mills that do nothing but those other feeds, I don't know where those plants are...
In this state where agriculture and raising of beef and horses is huge, having multiple feed mills works...

As for ADM feed:
Off their website... ADM Animal Nutrition

ADM Animal Nutrition is composed of formerly independent livestock feed companies and current brands, including MoorMan's®, Consolidated Nutrition®, SuperSweet®, Master Mix®, Tindle Feeds®, and Loomix®, the most recognized brand in the liquid feed business today.
Add Patriot, Prosponse, to that list....


Not only has ADM had several contaminations and deaths attributed to monesin poisoning of horses but some of the other brands they now own have too.
Made the news to often that I would not buy ADM nor any of their other label products either.
One contamination is bad but they had several within a years time...
A entire barn was lost.... then a few weeks later in another state again it happened, and then again it happened...
This after the company made claims of securing and fixing the quality control....
Huge lawsuit they lost with negligence I think as part of the findings...
Many horses either died horrible deaths or were euthanized by their owners when it was realized what was happening...again!

A real concern for any horseperson who is looking to do right for their animal...
Ask the question....
Does the mill this feed comes from do ruminant feeds?
Once you know that answer you may have more questions or peace of mind..

Now there is a small privately owned mill by me who does ruminant feed...
I used them and had "0" problem or worry...
Why?
Because they did not have monesin or any of that type of product added to any of their feed...
It was not permitted on their property...so a clean mill!!
:runninghorse2:....

 
#11 ·
Due to very high drug testing in all official competitions feed manufacturers in the UK have seperate mills for horse feeds.

Some years ago David Broome, a U.K. Show Jumper, was disqualified from a competition after the event because a drug test came back positive, he knew he hadn't given his horse a banned substance and, whatever it was, wasn't used in his stables. He spent a lot of time trying to find out how his horse became contaminated and it turned put that the mill where the feed he was using was processed. Turned out that the contamination came from a worker not having washed off a shovel after using it for animal feed.


All to easy for mistakes to be made if all animal feeds are made through the same machinery.
 
#12 ·
Some years ago David Broome, a U.K. Show Jumper, was disqualified from a competition after the event because a drug test came back positive, he knew he hadn't given his horse a banned substance and, whatever it was, wasn't used in his stables. He spent a lot of time trying to find out how his horse became contaminated and it turned put that the mill where the feed he was using was processed. Turned out that the contamination came from a worker not having washed off a shovel after using it for animal feed.
That is the scary thing about drug testing these days, no one condones cheating, but when the tests are so sensitive that they pick up that little in contamination it must be a nightmare for big name competitors.
 
#14 ·
Horses working in feed lots , are at high risk, and often accidentally exposed to monasin
While mill contamination makes headlines, the majority of horses that are poisoned by monansin , are those that share living with other livestock that receive feed with ionophores added
 
#15 ·
I called Purina just the other day because I wanted to know if their senior feeds are pelleted or textured. They are both pelleted, if anyone was wondering. While I had them on the phone I reiterated the questions I asked in my email, just to see what the representative said on the phone in comparison to my email response. I was told that Purina processes all equine feed in a separate mill. They hold to that standard in every location across America. In the past I have not been a fan of some of Purina's products, but this alone may make me try them out again with my oldie POA.
 
#16 ·
I'd like to add, that unless it has changed, that Southern States does process horse feed on the same equipment that they use for cattle, at least that is what I was told last year.
Also Nutrena uses separate equipment at most mills and they follow human grade safety requirements voluntarily along with the looser animal feed control requirements, again I was told this last year. If anything has changed I'm unaware of it right now.

I think it's a good idea to be aware of companies that use the same equipment for ruminant feeds as well as horse feeds.
 
#19 ·
Horseychick...
Being you are in Florida, do look into Seminole feeds.
I am not positive but "think" they also have separate mills for horse feed from ruminant.
So many choices do exist for safe packaged feeds that are quality and from mills that DO NOT do ruminant and horse feed under the same roof.
I do not understand why people would take that chance with their horses life....:sad:

If this is true....
For those that have praised Southern States/Triple Crown and then to find out they manufacture ruminant and horse in the same plant truly disappoints me as a possible or potential future consumer...
Changed my mind and I will never, ever purchase any of their line of feed and take the chance of a slip and contamination.
If and when they manufacture in separate facilities...then I would consider their products.
Otherwise, never!
:runninghorse2:....
 
#20 ·
Thank Horselovinguy.
Seminole feeds have a medication free feed mill. They are another one I looked into but forgot to mention. They even have what they do right on their website. Apparently they do make some livestock feed but not medicated and apparently no chance to cross contaminate.

I was very disappointed to learn about SS and TC. I've turned away from ADM based not only on the contaminated feed, but the way they handled it and continue to handle the poisonings. It's a shame really all of the feeds are good feeds with decent ingredients, but like you said until they change their manufacturing process I won't buy them.
 
#22 ·
While looking online last night I came across Progressive Nutrition. I was looking at their senior feed, and I really like that it has low NSC - also liked the ingredient list. I sent an email asking the same question as I did the other companies I contacted. I didn't receive a response, so I thought I would just call. A woman answered and I asked her if their feed mills are separate and all the other questions about monensin and such. I got a Ahh, ummm, and that they are made in a mill that also makes other animal feed, she didn't specify what animals. She then sent me to her bosses voicemail stating he was better versed with the answers to my questions. So, I'm assuming it's not an equine only mill. I'm going to wait to see what her boss has to say, because I feel like this feed is comparable to Triple Crown Senior, but pelleted. I'm just concerned about feeding something that could be cross contaminated with other animal feeds .
 
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