Question for the horse AND pig folks?

kyplowboy · Sep 12, 2011

Just wander'n for the horse people, what would cause a horse to need the real high dollar "low starch" feed?

Now for the horse people who know about pigs too, what would be the best way to work said high dollar horse feed into a pig ration? Been feed'n 80/20 corn/SBM.

Back story, local co-op had some one ask that they start carry'n said horse feed, they got some in stock, then the person only bought a few bags months ago and never came back. No one else would pay $20/bag for it. It got bugs and was in the cheap pile today, I love horse people!!!

Dave

Billy NY · Sep 12, 2011

I've never heard of low starch horse feed, unless its due to a specific condition or per a veterinarian's instructions for something we have never dealt with. Just the same, because I've never heard of it, don't mean much either, but growing up around horses, and fooling with them on/off at our farm for the last 8 or so years, does not "ring a bell", would have to ask a vet or search the net.

tjdub · Sep 12, 2011

I'm no expert, but I think those "low starch" horse feeds are made from every part of the grain that hogs DON'T need. Like soybean hulls, wheat middlings/bran, dried distillers/brewers grain, etc. High fiber and protein, but very low on sugar. I think it would be better to mix it in with corn for calf feed than as a hog feed, but I'm sure hogs would eat it.

MartyinVa · Sep 12, 2011

Had a TB we fed it to because of ulcers.

Don't know bout the oinkers.

TMo · Sep 12, 2011

For those of you that have inquiring minds.

Here ya go.

IMHO, probably an overzealous horsey person that heard from a friend, of a friend, of a friend that is one of those "expert horseman" that their horse needs a low starch diet....B.S.

As for pigs, will eat anything, can eat anything, but if you are growing and/or finishing these pigs out won't help much as low starch equals low carbohydrate source.
The Skinny on Low Starch Diets

Anonymous-0 · Sep 12, 2011

(quoted from post at 11:40:08 09/12/11) For those of you that have inquiring minds.

Here ya go.

IMHO, probably an overzealous horsey person that heard from a friend, of a friend, of a friend that is one of those "expert horseman" that their horse needs a low starch diet....B.S.

As for pigs, will eat anything, can eat anything, but if you are growing and/or finishing these pigs out won't help much as low starch equals low carbohydrate source.
The Skinny on Low Starch Diets

This is prolly the simplest and closest to the truth that you'll get for an explanation...........
"horsey people" (translate to forum/google experts) make it nearly impossible for horseowners/breeders to stay in business/hobby.

Hogleg · Sep 12, 2011

I have a mare on low starch feed (Safe Choice) due to founder, based on a vet's direction. We also monitor pasture access. If you feed sweet feeds along with high protein legumes in the pasture, you can encounter founder issues.

John

TMo · Sep 12, 2011

Agreed.

Please understand that I'm not trying to come off as a know it all or better than thou.

You are right about "horsey" people" making it difficult for the legitimate horse owner or breeder. "Googler" experts or hear say experts make it hard for lots of professions.

Nate V. IA · Sep 12, 2011

I formulated feed for ADM for a few years, there's not going to be much usable in the horse feed for the pigs (for gain) but I bet they like it. It would be a good gestation ration for sows. Probably has all the vit. and trace minerals you would need and then some, lysine should be high as well.

Way back before we started taming horses >1000 BC they were desert animals and will do quite well on grass hay alone if not being worked. Ever see those mustangs out west, not exactly running on corn and soybean type ground, and the US gobberment can't seem to keep them from overpopulating.

My advice is worth what you paid for it.
Nate

Traditional Farmer · Sep 13, 2011

Years ago when I was a kid we had 2 work horses that we cultivated with and the only grain they ever got was some oats when we worked them pasture only the rest of the time and can't ever remember them having any health problems both lived to be 30+ years old.

Traditional Farmer · Sep 13, 2011

I'd mix it with some lower quality feed,I feed my
hogs whatever I get and add some feedstore pig pellets.Right now I'm feeding them squash,pumpkins,whole stalks of grain sorghum,some locally ground feed mix and a few pellets every day.

kyplowboy · Sep 13, 2011

That's what I was think'n. I have used the buggy sweet feed from the co-op on calves for years, just never had any of the low starch stuff on the cheap pile before. I just bought two guilts that I plan to breed after the first of the year and for what I paid for this stuff they should do great on it, I will save some of the "cheap" cracked corn I bought last spring for the calves.

Thanks for your time.

Dave

kyplowboy · Sep 13, 2011

Yep, I have never owned a horse but I know there is a huge diffrence between folks who have horses and "horse people" or "horsey people." I have some good friends that have horses but I wouldn't know what to do with out the horse people. Between the hay horse people won't buy and feed in the "cheap pile" at the co-op they save me a great deal of money every year.

Hope life is treat'n you good.

Dave

jose bagge · Sep 17, 2011

could be HYPP....
nuerological disease coming out of the Impulsive bloodline of halter show quarter horses. GREAT looking horses, but the bloodline has this genetic defect that appears at 4-6 years almost like epilepsy in people. Minimized by low starch diet..
Breeders will sometimes try to hide this...bags of low-starch feed in the feed room is a good indication that you want to have a test run before you buy!

Wesley Stephens · Sep 18, 2011

I would stick to the soybean meal and corn. I usually use 85 percent corn and 15 percent soybean meal unless I am making feed for sows or small pigs. We were using a hammer mill and a cement mixer to make feed and it worked well, but we bought a New Holland 352 grinder mixer a few months back and it saves a lot of labor. My brother and I made a ton of feed Friday evening in just a few minutes. I've tried cheaper stuff here and there without good results, except for old bread with soybean meal. The only problem with that in our area is that you have to drive a long way to get it. Low starch means high fiber and that won't do you too much good with hogs. They need the carbohydrates in addition to the protein.

Question for the horse AND pig folks?

kyplowboy

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Billy NY

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tjdub

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MartyinVa

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TMo

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Anonymous-0

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Hogleg

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TMo

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Nate V. IA

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Traditional Farmer

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Traditional Farmer

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kyplowboy

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kyplowboy

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jose bagge

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Wesley Stephens

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