Reading Feed Tags - An Overview
Why bother?
Reading a "feed tag" is similar to reading labels for the food you purchase for yourself and your family. You read to learn the appropriate serving size or the percentage of sodium, fats, carbohydrates, etc., it contains or, in the case of processed foods, what the main ingredients are. The more informed you are, the better choices you can make for your family's well-being.
The same holds true for your animals, whether they're live-in-house types or live outside in a pasture or barn. You want them to eat species-appropriate food to ensure good health. You wouldn't feed your horse the same food you give to your dog or cat, and while your dog or cat may enjoy cleaning up after the horses, a steady diet of horse food wouldn't keep them healthy.
What does it all mean, anyway?
The first listing that appears on a "feed tag" is usually "Guaranteed Analysis." This lists the nutrients that are guaranteed to be in the food in the percentages listed. It generally includes protein, fat, fiber, minerals and vitamins. Note that the guarantees are usually for minimum amounts or percentages.
The next listing is likely to be "Ingredients." Unlike with human food packaging, horse food companies are not required to list their ingredients in order of largest quantity ingredient first, then continuing to the smallest quantity ingredient. Progressive Nutrition does follow the human food rule -- does your horse's food company? To find out, give them a call. Why is this important? If the ingredients are listed in volume order, it allows you to differentiate between a food that has cane molasses listed in the third position and one that has it listed in the sixth position. In the first instance, there are more molasses per pound than in the second instance.
In addition, the listed ingredients may be specific (wheat middlings, soybean meal, alfalfa meal) or general (plant protein by-products, grain by-products, molasses by-products). Using general products allows for substitution more readily than the specific product listing does, thus the possibility of changing the quality of the product you serve your horses - but without your knowledge!
The tag also includes feeding directions, The more specific the directions, the more precise your feeding program will be. For example, some offer simply a range of pounds to be fed - period. Others will offer a list based on how much work the horse is doing, and may or may not include the horse's ideal or mature weight. These feeding directions are required by law, and reflect the amount of food needed to meet Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) of amino acids, vitamins, major and trace minerals. If a horse is given less than the tag advises, the diet is likely to be deficient in RDAs.
What's the bottom line?
The best thing you can do for your horse is to provide good quality hay and clean, fresh water every day. Feed "from the bag" as little as necessary to get required RDAs of amino acids, vitamins and minerals. If she doesn't need calories, look for a diet balancer; if calories are needed, look for a food that is concentrated, following the principle "less is more." If your horse is insulin-resistant, avoid carbohydrates, sugars and molasses (that includes carrots and apples - sorry!) And when in doubt about what's in the bag, contact your equine nutrition consultant or call the company. Oh yeah, their name and address should also be on the tag!
These are just the highlights of how to read a tag. What does your "feed tag" tell you? Contact GreenField Feed NC for help in comparing yours and ours.
If your horse's well-being is important to you, then you should be talking to us.
