Feed Company Comparisons - your experiences

[SpottyMare]

Hi

I'm looking to change the feeding of my two dobbins - a rising 2 youngster and an oldie in light work, and have narrowed the options down to 3 feed companies.

I'd be interested to know of other folks experience of them, how your horse(s) responded, condition, whether they liked it or spat it out in disgust.. etc - anything relevant really.

I'm looking at a more forage based diet with no added sugar, hence these particular companies: GWF Nutrition (Alfafa, Equilibra), Simple Systems (Lucie Nuts, Total Eclipse, Green Gold) and The Pure Feed Co. (Pure Easy, Pure Fibre Balance). I've phoned the companies in question so have their recommendations as to which products would be most suitable for my 2, so am just interested in how other folk have found them.

Thanks!

 

[wallykissmas]

I've never used gwf but found simple sytems and pure feeds hard to get hold of unless bought in bulk or paid hight postage costs.

I found simple systems expensive for what it was, cheaper to feed dengie Alfa pellets/buy from halleys direct for gold chop and linseed/seaweed bought separately .

Didn't try pure feeds as couldn't get hold of it and local rep wouldnt allow me to collect from her.....

 

[SpottyMare]

thanks wallykissmas - that's just the kind of thing that's useful to know!

 

[Hurricanelady]

I haven't actually used any of these 3 feed companies, but I was considering the GWF Nutrition range at one point. I had an interesting conversation with their head office and the rep told me that the reason they have switched to using Hemp derived products balancer is because it is now impossible to obtain non GM soya. There do seem to be some opinions emerging now that commercially produced soya bean products (versus non GM fermented soya which is traditionally eaten in the East) can cause issues. I am definitely not a nutritional expert and am not claiming to be but have seen posts from others, especially to do with breeding that soya in feed has caused issues. This is an interesting post on the subject: http://equinaturaledits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/soya

I think the GWF Nutrition range looks quite a good one, especially because it doesn't seem easy to get hold of Hemp seed meal for horses which looks like it would be a good product to feed, and their Equilibra 500 obviously contains the Hemp derived product, although unclear whether from the oil or the meal. The only thing which confused me a bit was that the Tiger Oats also contains a vitamin and mineral pellet and if you were feeding those as well as the Equilibra 500 perhaps there would be a risk of over dosing the vits and mins. There is some more info on soya issues on this company's product listing for their hemp seed meal (http://www.hempfeedsforhorses.co.uk/hemp-seed-meal.html). I was considering buying some of this, but it would have worked out quite a lot more expensive than the Micronized linseed that it would have potentially replaced.

I also prefer to feed a forage based diet with no added sugar, I have a lot of success for my herd which ranges from 18 months to 20 years old with a balancer (Equimins Advance Concentrate Complete), Micronised Linseed, grass chaff plus grass nuts and soaked whole oats when needed for additional condition/energy. Most of my horses don't like Alfalfa, I understand it can taste quite bitter.

I had a look at the Pure Feeds products, but thought that they were expensive for what they were and some contained soya products which I personally prefer not to feed.

I have seen quite a few posts from others that the Simple Systems range is good, but the work involved (in soaking the feeds which need it) is onerous and sometimes the quantities required seem very large for the horse to eat. Then again I have seen posts from a lot of people who like the system. I wouldn't buy their Micronised Linseed as I believe you can get it much cheaper from Charwood Milling/GW Titmuss.

Good luck, it can be very confusing trying to find a feeding system you're happy with given the plethora of choice and marketing material out there!

 

[claribella]

I looked at pure feeds but was put off by the idea that Id have to basically feed a bag of it a week. Much too expensive. An it contains soya which I didn't like.

I fed simple systems for a while but found that my girl wasn't keen on it after a bit and I was throwing loads away. It was ifficult to order in because you either have to order in bulk or pay a fair bit for postage and you need to be organised as sometimes the wait for delivery can be a while. I hated having to post off a cheque as well which I did for a while.

Ive been through tonnes of feeds and my girl is now on thunderbrook base mix. I feed less than I have ever done and although initially a bag looks expensive with postage, a bag last me ten weeks. She never looked or felt better on a feed and shes always been a poor doer but not since going on this. Just brilliant stuff. Its all pure stuff too so no fillers, organic etc. I was feeding tonnes of different things in one feed but this is so easy as it contains pre pro biotic, magnesium, yeast, linseed. Might be worth a look?

 

[Tnavas]

TBH you can't beat feeding straight feeds.

Buying a branded label just means that you are paying for the pretty label and the machine that's used for mixing the feed!

If youo can get plain old Meadow Chaff - I read that somewhere that a resourceful person was using a leaf mulcher to cut up her hay for chaff - a great idea - there are many bags of chaff in one haybale.

Straight whole oats provide plenty of energy and fibre - Tiger OAts are no different in feed value than ordinary white or black oats - just a sales gimmick.

Fresh ground Linseed will provide the Omega Oils for healthy joints and a shiny coat.

A quality mineral block will provide the minerals your horse needs.

One extra essential is to ensure that food contains sufficient Lysine - the highest levels are in the Legume foods such as Peas, Beans and Soy however Sunflower seeds and Linseed also contain Lysine - have a look at this site - though basically for humans it gives a breakdown of many foods that we feed our horses.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3163/2

 

[Turtul]

I work freelance so use, buy and sell a lot of different feeds and I can't recommend pure feeds highly enough.

I've not used GWF nutrition but find simple systems obscenely complicated and expensive for what it is.

Pure feed are fantastic nutrition wise and so easy to feed. It's so nice to not have to worry about different chaffs, mixes, supplements and oils - the feeds contain everything you need so even though I was put off by the price initially when I looked at how much I was spending on benevit, a hoof supplement and additional oil it actually works out considerably cheaper. My boy looks amazing on it and as an incredibly picky eater it's the first feed I've found which he genuinely seems to love - licks the bucket clean. I also like that it is a reasonable sized bucket of feed for him to munch on and the pre/probiotics in it have helped his guts immensely - no more cowpats! I also like the simplicity of changing between the feeds depending on time of year and level of work he's doing, in the summer I use the fibre balance, in the winter the easy or working. Whilst you only have to dampen all their feeds you can soak the fibre balance if you want which I love in cold weather to give him a nice warm feed!

I have four or five clients who have tried it and all have stayed on it - no complaints. General feedback is very consistant - the horses go mad for the taste, it is simple to feed and works out good value, they look very good on it etc. and it is fantastic in terms of being non-heating etc as such low sugar/starch levels.

The only downsides to it are if your oldie struggles with chewing or anything as it is so fibrous but I assume that isn't the case if you're looking at these sorts of feeds and having to have it delivered can be a pain. The do sell it in some feed merchants - generally if you ask your feed merchant they may start stocking it for you as minimum trade order is quite low I think, but you can get it cheaper direct from Pure feed - the more you buy the cheaper it is. Delivery is free - usually gets to you two days after you order and their transport company are amazing, if you pop a note on when you order they will even call you when they're on their way!

Sorry to harp on - I just think it's well worth recommending!

 

[vonno]

Hi Spottymare,
Have you looked into Primero Total? I tried mine on Pure Feeds, but switched back to Primero as the horses preferred it and worked out cheaper. It comes in 20kg bags, and I feed mine 1kg each daily. You do have to by a minimum of 12 bags though. If I want to add extra bulk, I add a handful of Hi Fi Lite (mine are good doers)

 

[BlairandAzria]

Ive used GWF equilibra 500 and really rated it. The company were helpful and delivery was superfast.

I feed a high fibre and low sugar diet, and ended up feeding: plain chaff, micronised linseed, grass nuts and the balancer. Horse is shiny as a conker, looks well, and is a great weight at the moment.

I havent used simple systems or pure feeds, but in my experience of gwf they have been very good and i would happily recommend them.

 

[SpottyMare]

Thank you all for the replies - they've actually given me more to think about, which is good! I'm now off to play with spreadsheets to work this out on both a cost and nutrition basis..not that I like to over complicate or anything!