My local feed mill has a new low starch feed that I have questions about. The tag claims it has 12% protein, 9% fat, 16% crude fiber. No NSC figures, or any other nutritional analysis. It claimes to have "limited starches and high Omega 6 fats and digestible fibers, to feed to horses with Cushings and those susceptible to laminitis."

Ingredients are:
Distillers grains, soybean meal, wheat bran, alfalfa meal, ground beet pulp, soy hulls, flaked soybean, wheat germ meal, ground flax seeed, corn meal, wheat middlings, salt, yeast culture, kelp meal, monosodium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, dried whey, choline chloride, brewers yeast, calcium carbonate--well, a whole long list of vitamins and minerals I don't feel like typing.

My main question about this feed is the NSC content, and where could I get that analysis done myself? The next question is whether it seems worth the effort--some of the main ingredients seem less than ideal to me. I had read that distillers grains (a byproduct of biofuel production) are being fed to cattle instead of whole corn, and it's causing them to become ill, so I wonder if it's safe to feed horses. The corn meal and wheat bran concern me, too.

This feed is a whole lot cheaper than the Triple Crown I've been buying, so it would be nice to save a few bucks, and the higher fat content is a nice plus. Does it seem like it would be worth getting it further analyzed? Where would I get that done?

Here's what I had read about the illness occurring in cattle who are fed distiller's grains, compliments of Grist Magazine:

"Turns out that distillers grains seem to make cows even more susceptible to E. coli 0157 than whole corn. As the USDA recently admitted, the distillers grains craze at least partially explains last year's spike in meat recalls (though the agency has no plans of regulating distillers grains use).

Evidently, the ethanol waste product also puts cows in danger of sulfur poisoning. Here is the Coloradoan:

Increased sulfur in the distillers grains comes from adding sulfur to the ethanol machines ... High levels of sulfur can cause sulfur toxicity in cattle. While that doesn't taint meat, cattle suffer neurological damage that causes the animals to ram their heads into the wall, stare up at the sky and, if not treated, die."

Has any research been done to see if this stuff is safe for horses?

Tina ; If they are making this themselves then they should have a nutritionist in house, who should know all the answers to your questions. The mill I buy from has a nutritionist in house that formulates all their feeds and she can tell me everything not on the label, so I'd call them and ask to speak to whoever developed the feed. While you have them on the phone ask if they can make a hi-fat feed , around 20% or higher. Good luck .

High levels of sulfur in feed or water can disrupt the microorganisms in the rumen of cattle and cause loss of the B vitamin thiamin. This is the proposed cause of sulfur induced brain damage in cattle. A similar problem does not occur in horses. As to feed labels, by law feed companies cannot put the NSC (non-structural carbohydrates), starch and sugar, or even the calories per pound. They can only give the protein, fat, and fiber content. Butch is right, though - contact the company for not just the NSC content, but specifically the starch and sugar oomponent of the NSC. If they can't provide this information and don't offer to immediately send to the Ithaca, NY laboratory (Equi-analytical laboratories) that most companies use for analysis, then I'd worry about the product. From the label, though, it sounds OK to me. I will ask a nutritional friend about the distiller's grains, though, just to be sure.

I asked Dr. Bob Van Saun your questions and he agreed that having an analysis of this feed for starch and sugar would be best. As regards the distillers grains, here is what he said:
"As far as the distillers grains, these have been fed to cattle, horses, sheep and many other herbivores without problems. The only issue we are seeing with distillers coming from ethanol production is the higher fat content (good for horses) that induces some changes in the rumen and alters milkfat content. I am not aware of other health related issues associated with distillers in cattle."

Thanks Butch and Dr. Beth, I called the mill and they didn't know if there was more detailed nutritional data available and said they'd call me back. Still waiting, but when I find out, I'll post the answer, since this might help other EPSM horse owners here, too, if they live in southeastern PA.

Tina , I didn't know where you were located ,but you may find a dealer that handles a hi-fat feed made by Farmer's Co-Op from Frederick Md. their number 800-255-0023 ,their nutritionist is Arlene Atkins , I know that they have dealers in Pa . that sell their feeds , call them and they can tell who is closest to you . Frederick is less then 1/2 hour from Gettysburg , Pa. , off of Rt. 15 . Arlene knows everything about their feeds as she formulates them.

Thanks for the tip Butch, but the nearest Farmer's Co-op dealer is hours away--I can get Triple Crown easily and that's working out, it just keeps increasing in price, along with the oil, so if I could save a few bucks with the local mill I'd do it. But they seem uninterested in disclosing any additional info, so I think I'll stay with the Triple Crown, at least I know what's in it and the dealer is only 15 minutes away.