Keyflow vs TopSpec balancers

[AFB]

Ordered a sample of Keyflow's Pink Mash to check palatibility and they kindly sent me a sample of their Perfect Balance balancer along with it.

Horse is currently on TopSpec Lite and have been happy with him on it, but I'm tempted to switch to the Keyflow option and give it a try although it is approx. £10 more per bag.

I'm trying to simplify his diet (remove the sugary rubbish) - he's currently on very plain chopped oat straw chaff and topspec lite balancer (chaff recently changed from sugar coated rubbish) and I want to add the Pink Mash.

What would people's thoughts be on chopped oat straw chaff, Pink Mash, balancer and micronized linseed (ML to be inc./dec. to add condition when needed)?

Horse is ridden 4-5 times per week through summer, 3-4 through winter, can be hot (nothing that worries me, but loses focus and schooling becomes a battle). Lives out 24/7 through summer, in overnight with haylage in winter and out during the day.

TIA

 

[Amye]

I'm no expert on feed so sorry i'm not much help but just wanted to add that I'm currently taking my boy off topspec lite balancer. I can't say he's done badly on it but his feet still aren't great and it's full of fillers and also sugar which I know isn't great for him! I'm currently waiting on an order of Progressive Earth's pro hoof which I've read is very good. Quite expensive compared to the top spec but I'm hoping it will improve his feet and it's got to be better then lots of fillers!

I think if the other balancer has less fillers and sugar then i'd try it for a bit.

 

[milliepops]

I know some people love it and it def works for some but I gather that a major ingredient in the pink mash is soya, I don't really want to feed my horses soya so it wouldn't be my choice. It also contains linseed so you might be doubling up if you also add it?

 

[AFB]

I'm no expert on feed so sorry i'm not much help but just wanted to add that I'm currently taking my boy off topspec lite balancer. I can't say he's done badly on it but his feet still aren't great and it's full of fillers and also sugar which I know isn't great for him! I'm currently waiting on an order of Progressive Earth's pro hoof which I've read is very good. Quite expensive compared to the top spec but I'm hoping it will improve his feet and it's got to be better then lots of fillers!

I think if the other balancer has less fillers and sugar then i'd try it for a bit.

That was a thought I had on the TopSpec, it does seem to have a fair bit of filler in it, I suppose you get what you pay for!

I know some people love it but I gather that a major ingredient in the pink mash is soya, I don't really want to feed my horses soya so it wouldn't be my choice. It also contains linseed so you might be doubling up if you also add it?

Another concern I had - however I was thinking of using the ML on more of an 'as and when needed' basis for that bit of extra condition, he usually drops a bit when first turned out for summer as the grass isn't great and we don't put haylage in the fields.

 

[be positive]

I had a quick look and find some of the statements on the Keyflow site rather interesting, "low in sugar, low in starch" about the balancer, 17% starch 8.2% sugar, far higher in starch than Top Spec but they don't list sugar.
Pink Mash "no vitamins and minerals means no risk of inbalance" I couldn't imagine how any feed can have NO vits/ mins so I opened the nutritional values box and of course it has vits and mins in but why make such ridiculous statements that cannot be true, it doesn't list the sugar or starch or give an ingredient list which is enough to put me off feeding it, feed companies are good at promoting their feeds but if they will not list ingredients and rely on untruths then they will not get my custom.

 

[milliepops]

I had a quick look and find some of the statements on the Keyflow site rather interesting, "low in sugar, low in starch" about the balancer, 17% starch 8.2% sugar, far higher in starch than Top Spec but they don't list sugar.
Pink Mash "no vitamins and minerals means no risk of inbalance" I couldn't imagine how any feed can have NO vits/ mins so I opened the nutritional values box and of course it has vits and mins in but why make such ridiculous statements that cannot be true, it doesn't list the sugar or starch or give an ingredient list which is enough to put me off feeding it, feed companies are good at promoting their feeds but if they will not list ingredients and rely on untruths then they will not get my custom.

I had a little google a while back and found the ingredients here: http://keyflowfeeds.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Keyflow-Pink-Mash.pdf but yes, I agree - other feeds in their range have a link to the datasheet on the web page so perhaps it's just an oversight :rolleyes3:

 

[AFB]

I had a quick look and find some of the statements on the Keyflow site rather interesting, "low in sugar, low in starch" about the balancer, 17% starch 8.2% sugar, far higher in starch than Top Spec but they don't list sugar.
Pink Mash "no vitamins and minerals means no risk of inbalance" I couldn't imagine how any feed can have NO vits/ mins so I opened the nutritional values box and of course it has vits and mins in but why make such ridiculous statements that cannot be true, it doesn't list the sugar or starch or give an ingredient list which is enough to put me off feeding it, feed companies are good at promoting their feeds but if they will not list ingredients and rely on untruths then they will not get my custom.

Hmm, I've just opened the data sheet and this has 15 starch and 2.5 sugar, think they need to clarify their website!

 

[PoppyAnderson]

You could just use your chaff, micronised linseed and a good supplement, such as pro earth or equimins.

 

[Leo Walker]

The pink mash has 0.5% sugar and 4% starch. Mine looks amazing on it and it definitely helped settle the stomach/ulcer issues he came with. I wouldnt bother adding extra linseed as its already got it in. I feed Progressive Earths cheapest mineral balancer with it. It works out about £10 a month for the balancer.

I love it as a feed. Its palatable, very low sugar and calories but swells up loads when its soaked so mine thinks hes getting an actual feed when in reality its a token handful

 

[be positive]

I had a little google a while back and found the ingredients here: http://keyflowfeeds.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Keyflow-Pink-Mash.pdf but yes, I agree - other feeds in their range have a link to the datasheet on the web page so perhaps it's just an oversight :rolleyes3:

Well I think mine will stick to various forms of grass for now, beetroot and soya hulls may be "super fibres" but I am not sure there is any real need for it in the average diet.
It looks as if they need to clarify their website to make it easier to use and ensure it is up to date.

 

[milliepops]

I love it as a feed. Its palatable, very low sugar and calories but swells up loads when its soaked so mine thinks hes getting an actual feed when in reality its a token handful

with that in mind, I'm not sure why the OP would need it if the horse is already receiving a balancer of some kind and some chaff to carry it and doing well haven't got an axe to grind at all, but it just seems unnecessary to add in given the current feeding arrangements for this horse?

 

[AandK]

You could just use your chaff, micronised linseed and a good supplement, such as pro earth or equimins.

This. I use Pro Balance+, is a great balancer.

 

[Leo Walker]

with that in mind, I'm not sure why the OP would need it if the horse is already receiving a balancer of some kind and some chaff to carry it and doing well haven't got an axe to grind at all, but it just seems unnecessary to add in given the current feeding arrangements for this horse?

It depends which balancer she chooses. Mine would eat Top Spec etc with no issues, but he wouldnt touch Progressive Earth in just chopped straw and hes a greedy cob. Top Spec balancer isnt great though so I suspect she will want to change it. Pink Mash is very good for ulcers and hindgut issues so maybe she wants it for that? I'll be honest, I cant remember what the OP said in her first post now so I might have just made this all up :lol:

 

[AFB]

with that in mind, I'm not sure why the OP would need it if the horse is already receiving a balancer of some kind and some chaff to carry it and doing well haven't got an axe to grind at all, but it just seems unnecessary to add in given the current feeding arrangements for this horse?

Actually I think I am overcomplicating this in my attempt to simplify

I was looking at the Pink Mash when struggling to find a plain enough chaff (local feed store is pants) and I've ended up thinking I now need both - I'd want to keep the chaff to slow his eating.

I need to go back to the drawing board!

 

[AFB]

It depends which balancer she chooses. Mine would eat Top Spec etc with no issues, but he wouldnt touch Progressive Earth in just chopped straw and hes a greedy cob. Top Spec balancer isnt great though so I suspect she will want to change it. Pink Mash is very good for ulcers and hindgut issues so maybe she wants it for that? I'll be honest, I cant remember what the OP said in her first post now so I might have just made this all up :lol:

Lets perhaps just change this thread to balancer suggestions! Horse has never turned his nose up at any feed so not too worried about palatability as an issue - however availability locally will be more of an issue

 

[Micky]

Equimins balancer compared to top spec anti lam...must be low sugar/starch (less than 10%)! He's a Cushings horse so have to be careful what I feed....currently on topspec and looks and rides great.......despite the fillers!

 

[Leo Walker]

Lets perhaps just change this thread to balancer suggestions! Horse has never turned his nose up at any feed so not too worried about palatability as an issue - however availability locally will be more of an issue

The mineral balancers dont taste great so its worth bearing in mind.

One from Progressive Earth, Forage Plus, Equimins or Equivita. I personally use the cheapest one from Progressive Earth as hes out on reasonable grazing and has good quality haylage so I'm not compensating for a restricted diet.