Feed use by dates?

[heebiejeebies]

I bought a bag of top spec balancer in January, when the horses went out for the summer they came off their bucket feeds. There's still quite a bit left, but I've thrown the bag out and am wondering if anyone knows what the use by date might be?

Not sure if I can get away with using it up, as they will probably be coming in late September/October so be getting bucket feeds again, or if I should just chuck it and buy a new bag!

Thanks for any help

 

[khalswitz]

I don't know off the top of my head, but most of them have pretty long use-bys. I've used in the past speedy-beet that had been emptied into the bin a year before, with no ill-effects - I go by, if it smells ok and horse eats it out of my hand (i try hand before bucket as they are more likely to eat whatever is in a bucket without having a good sniff first), then it's alright. Not very scientific, but I do the same with my own milk etc so its no double standards anyway

 

[weebarney]

Id just check the old fashioned way of looking, smelling and tasting(either by you or the horse). My cat is eating very out of date dry food with no ill effects.

 

[cptrayes]

Use by dates on horse food are more for the vitamin life than for safety, especially relevant with a balancer.

 

[L&M]

Argree with above - food may still be palatable but the vits/mins may be less useful.

I have just chucked out a sack of chaff that was unopened in my feed bin - the bb4 date was only a couple of weeks ago but it had started to go mouldy, possibly from the heat of the summer.

 

[FfionWinnie]

If its not mouldy it will be fine to feed but you would need to think of it as more of a filler than a vitamin source as CP says. You could use it for treats or whatever.

 

[heebiejeebies]

Thanks everyone! It's been in a lidded bin so looks/smells perfectly fine. I never thought of using it as treats, I like your thinking!