ADVANTAGES OF PELLETS

Taken from an Article by: R. M. Miller, D.V.M. (4/17/90)

Pelleted feeds were introduced into the horse industry only two decades ago, although pelleted livestock rations were in widespread use long before that. At first, many horse owners were negative toward feeding pellets. They felt that the pellet was "unnatural" and that horses required bulky rations. Time and experience have shown that horses do very well on pelleted feeds, and their use is now very widespread, with many horses subsisting entirely on such rations.

After more than 20 years of experience, it may be a good idea to review the pros of feeding pelleted feeds, especially since the trend seems to be in that direction and since it is highly probable that in another 20 years, a majority of the horses in the United States will be on that kind of feed.

Pelleted feeds are simply ordinary horse feeds that are processed in feed mills and compressed into small "bite-size" pellets and sold either in bulk, or put up in sacks for ease of handling.

Many feed companies now produce pelleted horse feeds. Some of these pellets contain only hay. Others contain hay plus concentrates, and many have added minerals and vitamins and various conditioners. So some pellets are simply small "bales" of hay and are often called "hay replacer' pellets. Others are a complete balanced ration for the horse, needing no other feeds or supplements to complement them, and some companies vary the formula so the pellets can be fed to idle horses, or horses requiring extra nutrition under the demands of hard work, growth, pregnancy, or lactation.

Assuming that the pellets are being produced by a reliable firm that utilizes good quality basic feeds, and understands equine nutrition, there are many advantages to feeding pellets. Please understand that I am discussing a complete pellet; that is one containing roughage (hay), concentrates (grain, etc.), and supplements. Such a pellet is designed to be the sole source of feed for the horse. No other feed of any kind is to be offered. The horse subsists on the pelleted ration and water, with salt offered free choice on the side.

ADVANTAGES OF PELLETS ARE

1. The ration can be accurately measured, and the contents are consistent and uniform. This virtually eliminates problems and diseases due to feeding errors such as colic, founder, and azoturia. Naturally, the pellets must be fed according to the manufacturer's directions.

2. Pellets are convenient. They are simple to transport and to store. They take up very little room in the barn. For horses going to shows or rodeos, all you have to do is stick a sack of pellets in your trailer or truck. Your horse doesn't have to experience a feed change.

3. There is no waste. Pellets fed in a good tight manger or in a feed bucket are all consumed. By contrast, a noticeable percentage of hay is usually scattered and trampled.

4. There is a maximum utilization of the ingredients in a pellet. It is nearly all digested and the horse passes very small quantities of manure. On an ordinary diet, a great deal of hay and grain passes through a horse undigested. Pelleting also tends to destroy weed seeds and mold spores due to heat generated during compression.

5. The horse keeps a trim belly. Even when he is fed heavily enough to be fat his bottom line is level. You see no hay bellies on pellet-fed horses. Older brood mares recover their shapes. Young horses can be put into show shape without excessive graining.

6. There is no dust. Coughing is eliminated, and horses with heaves are benefited. Pellets don't mold unless they get wet. People with hay fever will enjoy handling pelleted feeds.

7. Horses feel great when fed a good pellet ration properly. Many large farms are now feeding pelleted feeds to all their horses. There is no hay on any of these places.

8. Pellets are safer to feed than baled hay and grain. The horse that gets into the feed room is unlikely to founder by overeating. You can say good-bye to hay bales full of weeds, mold, bits of wire, rocks, sand, dead rabbits, and old rubber inner tubes. The fire hazard is eliminated and there is no wire or rope to dispose of.

9. Old horses, and horses with bad teeth, thrive on pellets. This type of feed can mean years of additional life to many fine old horses that can no longer subsist on ordinary feed. For horse with really bad teeth, the pellets can be soaked before they are fed to make them much easier to chew and digest.