With the cost of feed escalating, how can I make sure that my horse is getting all the nutrients and bulk that he needs without wasting money?
The winter is always a difficult time for horse owners; the colder weather and lack of grazing may result in a change of routine and an increased feed intake. This combined with the increasing cost of feed and the poor availability of forage means that many owners are reviewing their horse’s regimes.
When choosing feed, the nutritional specification indicates the power that feed contains to provide energy for work. Many budget feeds offer the bare minimum needed to do a basic job, from energy and protein through to vitamins and minerals. To get the best out of your horse, the right balance of nutrients is required. “Basic” might mean survival, but it might not mean long-term health.
A good example of this is the following case study. An owner with a horse with bad feet swapped yards and in doing so changed her horse’s feed from budget to branded. Six months later the blacksmith commented how much better her horse’s feet were. Low nutrition doesn’t have an immediate negative visual impact, and likewise improvements don’t happen overnight. Therefore if you feed a budget feed and your horse has poor hooves or a dull coat, then before spending tens of pounds on a supplement, try a non-budget feed first. Paying £1.50-2.00 a bag more could be a more cost effective option.
If your horse is in a medium level of work, being ridden and competed regularly SPILLERS RESPONSE® Slow Release Energy Mix/Cubes for the excitable horse or SPILLERS RESPONSE® Instant Energy Mix for the laid back type would be ideal. All the SPILLERS RESPONSE® feeds have identical levels of high quality protein and similar levels of energy alongside a high specification of vitamins and chelated minerals to support overall health and are therefore a cost effective way of feeding your horse whilst providing a fully balanced diet.
What else don’t you get with budget feed? One detail worth mentioning is quality. The requirements of horse feed are quite different to that of cattle feed, from the manufacturing process to ingredients used.
Depending on the manufacturer and their main line of business, ingredients of budget feeds can vary. For instance if sourced from a ruminant compounder, ingredients may vary and include palm kernel, maize gluten and citrus pulp. These are very rarely found in the main brands.
Another quality issue is that of prohibited substances. If you compete at all in affiliated competition, wording on packaging that states “not knowingly contains substances prohibited under FEI or Jockey Club Rules” may not be sufficient. The big manufacturers reduce the risk of contamination by tight controls on ingredient buying and a huge behind-the-scenes effort that includes extensive QC testing. This may cost more but by buying budget feeds you may be putting yourself at undue risk.
If you are using a chop or chaff to help provide extra fibre in your horse’s diet you may like to consider the benefits it provides. Many basic chops or chaffs are simply chopped straw with molasses; although these products may help to bulk the feeds out and slow eating they may not provide any nutritional benefit. Why not choose chaff that perfectly complements your low energy or conditioning feed such as SPILLERS® Complementary Fibres. Choose Cool Fibre for horses in light work or Conditioning Fibre for those in medium work. Both are unique blends of natural fibres, enriched with a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals to support overall health and well being.
So before you choose the cheaper options, remember you pay for what you get, nutrition is a powerful tool in the long term health and performance of your horse, low cost feed options might not be able to support this.
If you would like any further help in choosing the right feed for your horse, contact the SPILLERS® Careline on 01908 226626 or visit www.spillers-feeds.com