Buckeye Grow 'n' Win? How does it compare?

[Spyda]

Spillers have recommended I use the above feed for my in foal mare, but wondered how it compares with Baileys Stud Balancer or D&H Sure Grow. Spillers suggest I feed 2.5lbs per day until she foals, then up it to 3.5lbs during first 3 months of lactation. Just wondered how economical it works out compared with the others?

 

[black_horse]

we used it on an infoal mare and the mare ended up having a very large foal and foaling early! becareful how much you feed an infoal mare as you run the risk of producing a large foal.

i definetly prefer buckeye grow n win over other balancers.

 

[Spyda]

Oh, okay. Interesting. Maybe best to start the mare on it just prior to foaling and during lactation then? At the mo she's on 1.5Kg of Sure Grow, Hi Fi and a bit of sugarbeet plus ad lib haylage. She's doing okay on it. She's not a big mare but throws bigs foals, so I'd not want to encourage a larger than average foal prior to birthing. Plus she's on Regumate right up until foaling to stop her foaling early.... Poor mare doesn't need a giant foal to complication things.

The Grow 'n Win seems a similar price to the Baileys Stud Balancer I was using for the yearlings, so wouldn't mind switching if it's better stuff. It's so hard to compare these things.

 

[WhiteHorseWendy]

I love it, I feed it to Banana, my 29yo polo pony who normally cant keep weight on regardless, but since moving onto gro n win he's keept good condition yeard round, usually wins in veteran classes and hasn't dropped at all this winter!

 

[Maesfen]

The Gro'n Win used to be made by Baileys until Spillers bought it, so Baileys did their own stud balancer based on it and I think I'm right to say there isn't a lot of difference in them.
I personally would either stick with the Suregrow or the Baileys, I'm not a huge fan of Spillers for various reasons one of which is they always seem to recommend far too much in weight which wouldn't be good if your mare usually has big foals. The Suregrow is far more economical too I think which always helps!

 

[Spyda]

Only problem I have with the Sure Grow is that my broodmare has always hated it. Even as a foal and yearling herself all those years ago! My current youngsters eat it, but the mare is really reluctant to eat it - even 500g mixed with tasty sugarbeet and chaff. I know she'll eat Stud Mix but she's too good a doer to get the full ration needed. I need to find a palatable balancer she'll tolerate eating!