Good Nutrition on a Budget Amanda Stephenson Nutrition Consultant Bluebonnet Feeds

How Do You Budget for your Nutrition Program? Cost/Head/Day What is this? Why use it? PRODUCTTotal CostCost/LbLbs Fed/DayCost/Day Hay$8.00/70lb$0.1115$1.65 Grain$16.00/50lb$0.328$2.56 Supplement$75.00/50lb$1.501 TOTAL$5.71

PRODUCTTotal CostCost/LbLbs Fed/DayCost/Day Hay$8.00/70lb$0.1115$1.65 Grain$23.00/50lb$0.463$1.38 TOTAL$3.03 Difference$2.68

Feed Tags- What are You Actually Reading? How can understanding a feed tag help? Some companies count on the fact that most people don’t understand feed tags Know exactly what is or is not in your feed- and what you can’t be sure of Understand what guarantees mean- get more bang for your buck Open labels vs Collective-term lists Open labels- list all ingredients individually and by their “true names”. Formula does not change unless whole tag is rewritten. Additionally companies may promise a “locked formula”. Guaranteed Analysis remains the same and quality control is generally very good. Collective-term list- typically includes “products” or “by-products”; i.e. grain products. This allows the ingredients to legally fluctuate frequently. Guaranteed Analysis must remain the same.

Feed Tags- What Are You Actually Reading? Open LabelCollective Term List Ingredients Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Wheat Middlings, Shredded Beet Pulp, Soybean Hulls, Cane Molasses, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Soybean Oil, Distillers Dried Grains, Salt, Ground Limestone, Monocalcium Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Defluorinated Phosphate, Stabilized Rice Bran, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Flaxseed, Yeast Culture, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Anise Seed, Fenugreek Seed, Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Extract, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Kelp Meal, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Lecithin, Magnesium Oxide, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Magnesium Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Ascorbic Acid ( Source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Beta Carotene, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Folic Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Sesquicarbonate, L-Lysine, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Sulfate, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Brewers Dried Yeast, DL- methionine, DL-methionine Hydroxy Analog, (Propionic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate (Preservatives)). (Free from Restricted Ruminant Protein Products per Title 21, CFR /2001) **Credit: Triple Crown Nutrition, Inc.

Feed Tags- What Are You Actually Reading? Digestive Technology Guarantees Important to determine the contents and viability These may include but are not limited to: Probiotics- live yeast and microbial strains Prebiotics- metabolites that feed probiotics and protect the GI tract Enzymes- catalysts to speed up and maximize digestion Make sure these are guaranteed live and/or active on the tag! Example: Intensify® tag handout

Saving Money With Digestive Technologies Some digestive technologies may increase bag price but offer big savings in the long run What do some of these technologies look like? “Gaining the Competitive Edge Through Nutrition” handout Benefits may include Increased feed efficiency- absorb more, feed less Increased bioavailability- horses utilize nutrients absorbed at a higher capacity Overall health improvement- fewer trips to the vet Hard keepers maintain weight during periods of stress or heavy use

What Are the Essentials? Now that we know how to interpret what is out there, what are the most important aspects of equine nutrition? Always consider your horse’s individual needs (age, workload, weight, medical issues, etc.) Provide plenty of clean, fresh water and white salt free-choice (horses consume 5-15 gallons of water/day) Good forage should be the foundation of every feed program- 2% of total body weight ideal, 1% minimum. Protein- these are the building blocks for the body and are often misunderstood. Quality of protein is important and determined on tags by LYSINE. Protein is essential for body growth and maintenance. Fat- excellent source of digestible energy. This gives horses energy without making them “hot”. Take care to balance with the needs of the individual. Vitamins- Divided into Fat-soluble (A,D,E,K) and Water-Soluble (B-vitamins). Essential for many body functions from hair and hoof health to immune function. More is not always better, especially with fat-soluble vitamins-balance is important. Minerals- Also essential for body functions such as bone health. Ratios are very important as toxicities and imbalances can have serious consequences. Ex: Calcium to Phosphorous Ratio (2:1)

Supplements- Are They Worth It? First-why? More is not always better- best to consult a nutritionist or vet when in doubt Water vs Fat Soluble Vitamins Imbalanced Minerals (i.e. Calcium: Phosphorous) What is the research? Has the supplement or active ingredients been studied? Who performed the research? What does the tag look like? Are by-products listed in the ingredients? How much is in the guaranteed analysis? Weigh the benefits vs cost Include in your cost/head/day equation Will this increase feed efficiency or improve health? Is it essential? Many supplements can be a value-added tool to your program

Forage Analysis What is it? Simple tool to test your hay or pasture to determine protein, digestible energy, and other nutrients Hay quality is not related to the cutting (1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd, etc) but stage of maturity when it was cut Determining forage quality can help manage health conditions, maximize your forage program’s efficiency, and determine what to feed additionally, saving you money Who does it? Typically your local nutrition consultant, feed representative, or agricultural extension agent Can be sent in by individuals Rule of thumb: purchase a three-month supply of hay to make the analysis worth it

Forage Analysis Interpreting results- items of interest include: Protein (Ideal horse hay should be minimum 11-12%) Relative Feed Value or RVF (Ideally 100+) is a general guideline to hay quality Digestible Energy or DE (usually ranges from 0.76 to 0.94) can be used to balance the energy of your horse’s diet Moisture (range of 10-17% ideal in hay, disregard in pasture samples), avoid extremes Acid Detergent Fiber (lower values indicate increased digestibility, 30-35% is ideal) Neutral Detergent Fiber measures indigestible fiber, horses may not eat hay with very high levels (lower than 65% is desirable)

Additional Tools Ask the experts! Build a relationship with your local veterinarian Find a reliable nutritionist, feed rep, or ag agent to work closely with National Research Council- Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources Nutrient Requirements of Horses: Sixth Revised Edition University studies and articles

Takeaway Message Diligent research is worth it- make informed nutrition choices Use experts you trust as resources- they will save you time and money! Proactive nutrition programs save more money than reactive programs Remember the basics, when in doubt, keep it simple