When you’re browsing through the grain aisle at the feed store, it can be overwhelming with all the different options available. Terms like ‘high protein, adequate fat, designed to complement a forage-first diet’ can be confusing. One common option you may come across is called a ration balancer. But what exactly is a ration balancer? Let’s delve into some facts about ration balancers.
Curious about what a ration balancer is? Here’s a simple breakdown of this horse feed. Rita Kochmarjova/adobe.stock.com
Forage First
A ration balancer is a low-volume feed that is very nutrient dense. It is specifically formulated to provide the necessary protein, vitamins, and minerals to balance a forage-first diet. A forage-first diet consists of your horse primarily consuming calories and essential nutrients from hay and pasture.
Adding a ration balancer can be a beneficial option to complement a forage-first diet.
Mark J. Barrett/adobe.stock.com
If your horse has access to pasture and is being fed good quality hay, you may not need to provide a complete feed or grain concentrate. However, a ration balancer can help fulfill your horse’s nutrient requirements without adding extra calories. By “balancing out” the forage, a ration balancer supplies high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals that may be deficient in a forage-only diet.
A Ration Balancer Is Not…
- Intended to replace forage as a complete feed.
- Designed for highly active horses with increased calorie needs.
- A high-volume feed.
A Ration Balancer Is…
- A means to provide nutritional balance to a horse’s regular feed ration.
- A low-volume, nutrient-dense feed concentrate that supplies protein, vitamins, and minerals essential for balancing a forage-first diet.
- Beneficial for “easy keepers” and horses with metabolic issues.
Horses That Might Benefit From Ration Balancers
Easy keepers or overweight horses: Horses that easily gain weight on traditional feeds may benefit from ration balancers, which provide essential vitamins and minerals without excess calories.
Horses with metabolic issues: Ration balancers can meet the nutritional needs of horses with metabolic conditions while minimizing nonstructural carbohydrates that should be avoided.
‘Hot’ horses: Horses that become excitable when fed traditional commercial feeds can benefit from ration balancers, providing necessary nutrition without extra energy.
[READ: Is Your Horse Bored Of Your Riding Routine?]
Breeding stock: Young, growing horses, stallions, and pregnant mares can benefit from the concentrated nutrition of ration balancers, supporting healthy growth and development.