what is sweet feed?

I mix a handful into my chicken's feed .. along with a handful of black oil sunflower seeds

Quote:

What makes you think, "It is basically junk food for animals"?

Chris

Quote:

What makes you think, "It is basically junk food for animals"?

Chris

From what we've been told by a few feed stores, sweet feed came about as a way to hide "old" ingredients and make it palatable to the animals again. We avoid it.

Quote:

What makes you think, "It is basically junk food for animals"?

Chris

From what we've been told by a few feed stores, sweet feed came about as a way to hide "old" ingredients and make it palatable to the animals again. We avoid it.

Might be the difference a "Feed Store" and a Feed Mill because I know that the mill that I use will go through tons of " Sweet Feed" a week and they mix's it fresh every week.

They carry 3 types a 12% 14% and a 16% protein and the only real difference between the 3 is the amount of Corn and Mixer Pellet.

12% -
1340 - Corn
300 - Oats
260 - Mixer
100 - Molasses

14% -
1210 - Corn
390 - Mixer
300 - Oats
100 - Molasses

16% -
1075 - Corn
525 - Mixer
300 - Oats
100 - Molasses

Mixer Pellet -
Protein 38.0%
Fat 1.5%
Fiber 5.0%
Calcium min 2.0%
Calcium max 2.5%
Phosphorus min 0.6%
Salt min 2.0%
Salt max 2.5%
Potassium min 1.7
Selenium min 1.7 ppm
Zinc min 300 ppm
Vit. A min. 43000 IU/lb
Vit. D min. 6000 IU/lb
Vit. E min. 155 IU/lb

Chris

Quote:
From what we've been told by a few feed stores, sweet feed came about as a way to hide "old" ingredients and make it palatable to the animals again. We avoid it.

Might be the difference a "Feed Store" and a Feed Mill because I know that the mill that I use will go through tons of " Sweet Feed" a week and they mix's it fresh every week.

They carry 3 types a 12% 14% and a 16% protein and the only real difference between the 3 is the amount of Corn and Mixer Pellet.

12% -
1340 - Corn
300 - Oats
260 - Mixer
100 - Molasses

14% -
1210 - Corn
390 - Mixer
300 - Oats
100 - Molasses

16% -
1075 - Corn
525 - Mixer
300 - Oats
100 - Molasses

Mixer Pellet -
Protein 38.0%
Fat 1.5%
Fiber 5.0%
Calcium min 2.0%
Calcium max 2.5%
Phosphorus min 0.6%
Salt min 2.0%
Salt max 2.5%
Potassium min 1.7
Selenium min 1.7 ppm
Zinc min 300 ppm
Vit. A min. 43000 IU/lb
Vit. D min. 6000 IU/lb
Vit. E min. 155 IU/lb

Chris

Two of those stores mix their own as well. If you know the source and know for sure they use fresh ingredients, then I would imagine it's ok to feed. But if you're buying stuff that is bagged god-knows-where, it's probably stuff the manufacturer is trying to hide/get rid of.

It sounds like it would be easy enough to mix your own at home. I can buy molasses pretty cheap by the gallon at a local restaurant supply store.

our sweet feed is always fresh.. smells so good I have been tempted to eat some myself!

Quote:


Me 2.

It may be fresh, but it's still junk for horses because:

Too much starch. In order for a healthy hindgut to be maintained, horses need diets stemmed mostly from forages (Low starch, high fiber). Oats alone have about 44% starch. In a bag of sweet feed, imagine 3 or 4 pounds of pure SUGAR. Sweet feed, really, is like people eating a snickers bar. Does it have nutrition in it? Sure. But it's also got a lot of negative nutrition.

Insulin resistance is becoming more and more common in horses (people too) because of diets consisting of too much starch.

When a high starch meal is given, insulin spikes. 6-8 hours later, when the insulin comes down to a desired level again, we feed them again, and again it spikes. Years later, horses end up with Cushings like symptoms=Insulin Resistance. Not a lot different than diabetic people who ate junk food primarily

I agree with people who say to give it sparingly as a treat for chickens (although I've never thought about it myself )

As for use in horses, I hate it.

I run a feed store, and I generally don't carry the stuff because if it doesn't get sold, I have to feed it to my horses or waste it...

A few years ago when I started selling, I stocked up on what my vendors told me were good sellers. When my main customer of sweet feed moved from the area, I either needed to feed it to my own horses or risk it going bad (No real store front at the time for ideal storage). It was winter time, so I figured "why not?"

Two farrier visits later, my horses were total nut bags. It was an embarrassing confession when I told the farrier why...and as soon as I cut out the sweet feed, the next farrier visit they stood statue still again.

Not only is it healthier for their dispositions, it's healthier on their guts. The higher the starch, the higher the acidity it causes on their hindgut. The higher the acidity, the more risk of ulcers, founder, colic, etc.

Ok, stepping off soap box :-D

thanks guys I learned a lot!