With recent looming price changes on USA-products, many Canadian equine caretakers are looking for Canadian equine feed alternatives - and we can help! In this blog post, we'll tackle some potential ration balancer options to try instead!
What is a ration balancer?
Ration balancers are incredibly useful to top off requirements without oversupplying energy. Hay often cannot meet vit/min requirements due to soil mineral deficiencies and storage vitamin losses. Depending on the hay quality, the horse’s workload and overall diet, the horse may lack a quality protein source with key amino acids. Ration balancers contain protein, vitamins and minerals to balance hay, and other feedstuffs in the diet. For instance, ration balancers are useful additions when feeding below the minimum feeding rate of a fortified performance or maintenance feed.
Buckeye Gro N Win ($1.09 - $3.02 per day) and Tribute Essential K ($0.81-$1.80) are some of the most popular, USA-made ration balancers, with the following attributes:
Low NSC content
Low feeding rates (450g+)
Mix of inorganic and organic trace minerals
Quality protein source with added amino acid(s).
Added digestive health ingredients (Tribute Essential K)
No Added Iron (Tribute Essential K)
What Canadian options can I use instead of Essential K or Gro N Win?
Using the attributes listed above, we have listed some ration balancers produced by Canadian feed companies. The listed products all contain 20-30% protein to help provide quality protein in the diet, as hay can sometimes lack key amino acids, depending on the hay quality and type.
Harmony Ration Balancer Pellets: Low NSC; feeding rate of 900g; mix of inorganic & organic trace minerals; quality protein/amino acids (Lysine, Methionine, Threonine); additional digestive health ingredients, omega-3 supplementation, and no added iron. | $2.20 per day. British Columbia based, products are currently only available out west.
Brooks All Phase 20: Marketed as low NSC, feeding rate of 700g+, mix of inorganic & organic trace minerals; quality protein/amino acid source (Lysine); added benefit of digestive additives and natural Vitamin E. | $1.08-2.17 per day.
Purina Optimal: Marketed as low NSC; feeding rate 665g+; mix of inorganic and organic trace minerals; quality protein/amino acids; added digestive support ingredients. | $1.20-2.99 per day.
Masterfeeds VTM 20: Controlled NSC; feeding rate 1.25kg+; organic trace minerals, quality protein and added Lysine; with probiotic and prebiotic active ingredients. | $1.67+ per day.
Note that this list is not an exhaustive one, and may be updated when new information is received on product availability, formulation and manufacturing locations.
A Reminder About Feed Changes
Feed changes should be made slowly to reduce the risk of digestive upset as your horse adjusts to the new feed item. Introduce the new feedstuff gradually, with increases no greater than 25%, and taking 7-10 days is strongly recommended.
Need help selecting the best ration balancer for your horse? We can help! Get in touch for a free discovery discussion, or explore our individualized equine nutrition plans.
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