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Post by horselover4life on Jan 3, 2015 20:08:04 GMT
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749 
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Post by mistersmom on Jan 3, 2015 21:15:05 GMT
How sad.
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Post by diamondgirl on Jan 4, 2015 1:43:44 GMT
How do you find out if the feed mill products you are using, produces cattle feeds too? I have switched to Nutrena, who make Safe Choice, but when I looked up the manufacturer who produced the problem feed, it looked like they were a well advertised name brand. This is one of the reasons I tried to stay with Purina. They are a huge corporation, and I believe they have many safe guards., but I was sold toxic moldy feed, so it goes to show, you can't guarantee, what happens to the feed once it leaves the mill.
I am very sorry for the owners, of those horses who lost their lives, or who were effected by the tainted feed. It is very sad. |
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Post by horselady on Jan 4, 2015 2:23:17 GMT
Sad for all the horse deaths due to the contamination of cow food into the horse food. as for mold . that might be from the place that is selling the product not the manufacturer. I would think if you are worried about the grain the best way is to contact the company direct and ask them what their policy is.
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Post by diamondgirl on Jan 4, 2015 2:35:18 GMT
Sad for all the horse deaths due to the contamination of cow food into the horse food. as for mold . that might be from the place that is selling the product not the manufacturer. That's what I thought. The CO-OP, where I used to buy Strategy, stored their feed in an open storage shed. I think it might have been ok for a grain product, but not ideal for a processed product. The air that was outside, was also inside. No environmental control. If it was raining, it was damp. Plus all of their feed was stored in the same shed. Chicken, goat, cow. It was all in the same shed with the horse feed. I wonder if cross contamination could occur in storage. |
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Post by horselover4life on Jan 4, 2015 12:52:52 GMT
I buy my feed from a co-op. They mix cow feed and other "ruminants" feeds.
I flat out asked the owner of the co-op "if" they use Rumensin {monensin is the generic name} or any of the other "poisonous" products....
His answer was "yes".... however.....
He told me the additive is not in the automated system but in his office under lock and key.
They run feeds all the time for other animals as is their feed business and only 1 mix has that put in it...most of the ranchers he supplies are grass-fed beef or organic beef or other livestock so no additives do they use. If they indeed use it they apply it themselves to the feed at their location, he does not "mix' it in.
So, that said, it is one batch every 30 days he runs with that or any additive that can cause issue.
They have a separate "vat" mixing barrel it goes in, the additive is not ever put through the "system" but added once the ingredients have reached the "vat" and a separate set of mixing tongs/beaters. The machine tips and pours directly into drums the feed, no bags here for this mix, barrels are filled to full as it is only this persons mix that gets the stuff. 3 tons of feed are mixed at a time for the customer, then everything is ripped down and cleaned, BUT.. the only feed that touches those pieces are his. The customer was made to purchase these as no one else wants the stuff in their feed either. The customers contract is up end of January, it will not be renewed if he insists on continuing the additives. To many other customers have made complaint about the "chance of contamination" would destroy their name for their beef.
What the man told me is he can afford to lose 1 customer but not 20 or 30.....the choice is his.
So, safeguards are in place as best they can be. Separate equipments and dispensing into containers that belong to that particular customer so no feed is ever in bags....
So,to answer your question though about "how do you know".... you flat out ask.
The place you buy your feed from knows where the "mill" is. Find the town name and then call the company and ask about what other feeds are mixed their, do they have monensin or any of the other "class" of additives being used at that facility. If they are evasive in answer, find a new product line. If they answer honestly and openly....well, depending upon if yes or no a answer and what safeguards are in place would I make my determination of stay or go to another feed.
Purina has separate mills for their horse feed, positive.
Where my hubby works their is a mill in sight distance that only does horse feeds. The cattle guys complain because they can't use this convenient ,ill to get in bulk but must go through the middle man or drive to another mill. I am unsure if Purina sells from their mills directly to the customer either actually.
I know Dumor brand, that is Tractor Supply name feed, is made in the Purina mill. It is Purina ingredients but it is Dumor recipe being made not Purinas...so there is a difference between brands!!
Quality ingredients but not the same recipes..
So, now that I wrote a book....
Only way to know if you use a feed-mill co-op is to flat out ask the management those questions or the guy who runs the mixology machine.
Here is a informative article worth everyone reading about this additive and what animals commonly are given it and why....www.drugs.com/pro/rumensin.html
Now take that information and be cautious .....
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Lipizzan
Junior Member
Europe, Croatia
Posts: 2,572
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Post by Lipizzan on Jan 4, 2015 17:24:18 GMT
Why don't you guys just give horses oats, hay, carets, beet... There is no need for such feeds you are giving. At least that is my opinion. I understand when horse is a sport-horse, that need much more energy for the hard work they are doing, but all of our horses are our pets, there is no need for artificial feed. I get it is well balanced and have everything horses need, but I think it is just one more product of the "industry" how to make horse owners to spend even more money. My whole life, my horses have eaten just the "things" we can grown our own, I understand not every one can do that, but you can buy it as well as those feeds and you will spend less money, and have a happier horse.
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Post by horselover4life on Jan 4, 2015 20:38:13 GMT
Lip I think much of it today is advertising, plain and simple.
Look at any magazine, read horse web sites...what is it you are bombarded with but products that "do this, do that, do something else" all at a expense from your pocket.
Advertising and marketing.
Same as some of what I call a "fad trainer"...sorry folks.
Clinton Anderson, Parelli, Buck Buchannan and a host of others....why do you know of them and their "training methods?"....marketing! A great marketing strategist behind them. Not to say they are not decent trainers, but...they had to learn "their" tricks from someone and somehow...trust me they did not invent all of it regardless of what they preach.
Hence my somewhat negative response about certain subjects....another book.
So, back to feed.
Open a horse magazine lately? What did you see? Advertising and beautiful full page spreads touting this feed, this supplement....pages of it.
You're right Lip,...simple is fine. Now you need to realize that not everyone knows how to feed simple, balance and give what is needed vitamin and mineral wise to complement the feed stuffs you just bought.
People also want it easy....rip a bag open, stuff in a scoop and pour it in the feed bucket...all done!
Society is so aimed at making everything convenient....go food shopping lately? At least in this country there is so much heat and serve, rip and pour in a pot, microwaveable....
Cook, what is that? I have a friend who has a master culinary chefs kitchen...she can't boil water on her fancy stove! kid you not!
Feeding our horses is much the same, and people do not ask pertinent questions and when the education is presented for them to learn, they assume and with that assumption .....well, history is repeating itself all to soon about loss of equine life because...IDK.
Seriously, simple is better Lip you are right. However, not everyone has a horse able to eat unprocessed feed and gain all the nutrients out of it needed....so sometimes there is reason and just cause.
In my case, I know exactly what is in the feed. What I can't do though is purchase the beneficial added things my feed mill puts in in the correct amounts by weight, mixing it thoroughly. My horse consumes less than a pound two times a day in feed. For me to buy all the ingredients in their feed and do it myself...I would have many bags of feed, spoilage and waste before I could use it all. Right now, I make 1 trip once a month about to purchase 100 pounds of feed for 2 horses... no waste.
And I don't need to buy vitamin supplements as they were added to the mix for me and other consumers.
I can't buy it cheaper Lip...and that also has a lot to do with my buying pre-made.
I don't know about others...I know why I do what I do.
I know it works for me and my horses are healthy, gleaming thick hairy winter coats.. 884530
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Lipizzan
Junior Member
Europe, Croatia
Posts: 2,572
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Post by Lipizzan on Jan 4, 2015 21:36:07 GMT
You made your point. And I agree. Well said.
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Post by Shelly on Jan 6, 2015 13:30:26 GMT
I really want to take a good look at what I'm feeding because sadly I will admit I do not know enough about it. It's sad but it's true. But on the bright side, what sheldon is on now he is finally gaining weight and excelling again (thank goodness). Man he's had an other growth spurt it's crazy.
Sorry don't mean to hijack the post, but I would love to just sit and pick someone's brain and learn more about my feeds. I also feel as if in the area we are often misguided and vet's aren't much help (well my old one anyways) when you tell them what your horse is on/asking for advice they just brush it off like it's nothing. Then turns out Oliver had a protein overload... 2 weeks after cutting him off grain (just a handful when the rest come in) his sheath is back to normal again.
And knowing horses died because of the negligence of the manufacturer is appalling. I feel like I should be calling my feed company and bombarding them with questions LOL
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