Title: Evaluate a commercial horse feed.
Course: Equine Science, Advanced (18104-II) > Section: Managing Horse Nutrition

Evaluation should include examining the label to determine the following:

- Brand or product name
- Commercial feed class
  - Textured concentrates (e.g., sweet feed)
  - Processed concentrates (e.g., pelleted or extruded)
  - Complete feeds (i.e., designed to feed as the sole ration and high in fiber)
  - Supplements (e.g., minerals and/or vitamins, fat, protein)
- Purpose statement (indicates the classes of horses)
  - Mature non-working horses
  - Growing foals
- Guaranteed analysis (amount of specific nutrients in the feed)
  - Crude protein (CP)
  - Crude fiber and fat
  - Maximum and minimum percentages of calcium (Ca)
  - Minimum percent of phosphorous (P)
  - Additional minerals (e.g., copper [Cu], zinc [Zn], and selenium [Se] reported in parts per million [ppm])
  - Vitamin A (international units per lb [IU/lb])
  - Essential amino acids (e.g., lysine, methionine, and threonine)
- List of ingredients
  - Grain
  - Grain byproducts
  - Fiber sources
  - Sources of vitamins and minerals
  - Additives
- Name and address of the manufacturer
- Quantity statement
- Feed directions.

Process/Skill Questions:

- Why is the purpose statement on a feed tag important when evaluating a commercial feed?
- What are the differences between processed concentrates and textured concentrates?
- What information is required in the guaranteed analysis and how is this information helpful when evaluating a commercial feed?