When you speak of pelleted feeds for horses, you have to be specific as to what type of pellet feed you mean. There are at least four basic types of pellets. One type is the pelleted single ingredient such as dehydrated alfalfa meal. Another is the pellet grain mixture. The third is the pellet supplement which may contain high levels of protein, minerals, and vitamins. The fourth type is the complete pelleted ration. The complete pellet contains roughage and grain and is designed to meet all the nutrient requirements of the horse. The advantages and disadvantages as they relate to two of the four types –- the pelleted grain mixture and the complete pelleted feed -- follow:
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Advantages of pellet feeds 1. Reduce dust 2. Reduce waste 3. Require less storage area 4. Reduce the appearance of hay belly 5. Prevent horses from sorting feed |
Disadvantages of pellet feeds 1. Decrease eating time, creating more boredom 2. Decrease the amount of fiber a horse receives 3. Increase the cost of the feed due to the pelleting process 4. Poor-quality feed ingredients can be hidden in a pellet 5. Excessive heat during the pelleting process may decrease the availability of amino acids such as lysine and may destroy some vitamins 6. Greedy eaters may be more prone to choke, colic, or other digestive disorders |
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