Chemicals, Feed Additives/Supplements and Feeds

[Judgemental]

There is an ever growing list of chemicals of one sort or another used on horses for a variety of purposes, along with many feed addititives and supplements, as well as the feeds themseleves, with a considerable number of imported raw materials incorporated in the mix and concentrates.

Generally what protection do subscribers to this forum use, when handling all of the above and the risk of absorbing anything that comes into contact with skin?

Do subscribers question in detail the product composition and the effect upon their horses?

 

[Festive_Felicitations]

I do think about what is in my horses feed, and the chemcials I use on him.
Where possible I try and keep the feed as natural as possible (whole grains etc none of the highly processed stuff). The only front on which I have had to cave in is fly spray. They drive him nuts and make him miserable in summer. You could argue that he wouldn'y need it in the wild but he would never have been born/survived the 1st winter in the wild.

Im the same about what I eat & use. I read the labels on everything and it is surprising how narrow you shopping list/choices become once you start reading stuff.

 

[Alec Swan]

I suppose that it depends upon how these chemicals are sourced, and what they are. Perhaps we should also consider how crops, which are grown as feed, for either humans or animals, are treated.

Take, for instance, that when cereals are growing at a rate, which is considered to fast, and would be growing so that they would come in to ear, too early, then they're sprayed with a growth retardant. Whilst some of these chemicals, sourced originally from petro-chemicals, I suspect, work well on the plant, I wonder if there are any stored residual deposits which would harm mammals.

I never use organophosphate sheep dips, the risk is to great, but apart from that, I pay scant regard to what goes on my hands, or where my hands go, for that matter!! There will be those who've used O/P dips, all their lives, with no apparent side effects. There are, however, those who being more susceptible, have had appalling neurological side effects. Effects from which there is no recovery.

Of far greater concern, I feel, is the fact that all commercially reared poultry, which is destined for our tables, is fed a diet of antibiotics, from the moment that they hatch, until the time of their death. Is it any wonder that we are continually building resistances to antibiotics, and the chemical producers are making ever greater strides to design more effective replacements?

Alec.

 

[Festive_Felicitations]

Which is why I don't eat chicken that I haven't raised myself/been raised by good friends.
There are terrible stories of people dying/getting very sick from O/P dips here in Aus. Cases where old, forgotten storage conainers have leaked into drinking water. People working in/around old dips not knowing what they are or what used to be there and not using protective gear. They are considered a toxic hazard/site here and if you know of an old dip on your property you are required to fence it off and report its location to authorities so that they don't get 'lost' again.

One of my biggest surprises has been picking up a packet of 'ham', expensive smoked stuff in a packet that was '47% meat'. So not even 1/2 was meat and even then not nessecarily pork!!!

 

[Judgemental]

I suppose that it depends upon how these chemicals are sourced, and what they are. Perhaps we should also consider how crops, which are grown as feed, for either humans or animals, are treated.

Take, for instance, that when cereals are growing at a rate, which is considered to fast, and would be growing so that they would come in to ear, too early, then they're sprayed with a growth retardant. Whilst some of these chemicals, sourced originally from petro-chemicals, I suspect, work well on the plant, I wonder if there are any stored residual deposits which would harm mammals.

I never use organophosphate sheep dips, the risk is to great, but apart from that, I pay scant regard to what goes on my hands, or where my hands go, for that matter!! There will be those who've used O/P dips, all their lives, with no apparent side effects. There are, however, those who being more susceptible, have had appalling neurological side effects. Effects from which there is no recovery.

Of far greater concern, I feel, is the fact that all commercially reared poultry, which is destined for our tables, is fed a diet of antibiotics, from the moment that they hatch, until the time of their death. Is it any wonder that we are continually building resistances to antibiotics, and the chemical producers are making ever greater strides to design more effective replacements?

Alec.

One has to be so careful.

It's so easy to dive into the feed bin and not have a scoop handy and take out a couple of double handfuls of whatever.

Or having a bucket of feed put up and not having a paddle or stirrer handy and mixing by hand. Especially if it has sugar beet included which has been soaked and in turn dampens the feed which releases whatever.

I have noticed an increasing number of people, male and female having boxes of disposable gloves about their yards. The best ones are the blue culinary gloves purchased from any good food wholesalers.

Then there are all the potions, powders sprays and oinments etc. I wonder how many folk reading this post actually put on gloves when they are applying many of the ointments available?

Before anybody says anything, I am way infront of you - JM will not be banging on about correct dress for grooming and veterinary needs. No I am not going there, I am being very serious about all these 'things' we take for granted and handle unprotected.

 

[spacefaer]

What are you suggesting might be in horse feed that would be so dangerous for humans to have in contact with our skin?

I'm happy to handle feed - I use a wooden stick for stirring for cleanliness - don't want to be wiping excess feed off on my jeans!

If I was remotely concerned about my contact with feed, I wouldn't be putting it in my horse's feed bucket.

 

[Judgemental]

What are you suggesting might be in horse feed that would be so dangerous for humans to have in contact with our skin?

I'm happy to handle feed - I use a wooden stick for stirring for cleanliness - don't want to be wiping excess feed off on my jeans!

If I was remotely concerned about my contact with feed, I wouldn't be putting it in my horse's feed bucket.

Nothing in particular but its wise to be cautious.There are a variety of mite and infestation powders used on the raw materials whilst in storage etc.

There is also difference as to what can be absorbed via the skin as opposed to being ingested.

However my primary concern is all the various chemicals, sprays, oinments and potions that are ok for a one tonne horse but wholly different for humans.

Also as Alec has pointed out; "Take, for instance, that when cereals are growing at a rate, which is considered to fast, and would be growing so that they would come in to ear, too early, then they're sprayed with a growth retardant. Whilst some of these chemicals, sourced originally from petro-chemicals, I suspect, work well on the plant, I wonder if there are any stored residual deposits which would harm mammals".

 

[JenHunt]

We feed as far as possible from local sources - our haylage comes from 1 mile down the road, and is untreated old pasture (by untreated I mean it's not sprayed for weeds, and uses only manure for fertiliser) which is fabulous old fashioned hay meadow with a wide variety of grasses and herbs in it. The farmer walks the fields regularly to hand remove what few weeds he finds. Can't put a price on that IMO.

We then feed sugar beet from a local mill (happens to be Masham micronized feeds SpeediBeet) who use british sugar beet, and Dengie Alfa A who use as much British grown alfalfa as they can. The balancer we use is Baileys, who also use as much British sources as they can. No other supplements are used on our yard apart from electrolytes (salts).

Any medications are added whilst wearing gloves.

Only other 'chemicals' we use is fly spray.