re: high fat feeds=MEAT

[Kim <mathew@redhorsetech.com>]

Animal-based fat versus plant-based:  You run into the problem of
economics versus value.  Pound for pound, animal-based fat has *almost*
the same Caloric density of plant-based fats (such as corn oil, etc.),
but costs a heck of a lot less to obtain.  Plant derived oils are not
cheap compared to the "leftovers" of the meat processing industry, and I
don't know if the tallow-workers also contribute to the fat supply for
horse feeding purposes or not in the United States (just one of those
things we've always wondered about ;-)). 

We want our high-preformance, high-octane feeds to be affordable, and
sometimes unrealistically cheap so we can fit other "horsey" things or
life's necessities in our budgets.  So, to meet our "demands", the mills
need to find places to cut costs, and the savings obtained from animal
fats versus plant oils can be significant.  
I remember developing feed rations for a large feedlot where a fraction
of a penny per pound was extremely important and was not to be
overlooked.  With the horse market though, the mills also have to come
up with some really enticing packaging (have you looked at a Purina sack
lately?), marketing, and other promotional strategies to compete well in
the marketplace, which increases costs.  Think back to discussions on
Ridecamp... how many of us compare feeds based on nutrients:price per
pound... instead, we relate our feed experience based on how it works
for your horse, taste, quality, ease of feeding, real or assumed
benefits, and so on.  But I have yet to see one solid discussion on
price versus nutrient content in the many years I have read Ridecamp
(please correct me if I am wrong... thanks!).

So, if you want to eliminate animal fat from your horse's ration, read
your labels and expect to pay a little extra per pound.  Of course, that
thought doesn't guarantee quality feed products that make up the rest of
the feed (I just *love* labels with the first (main) ingredients listed
as 'plant products' --- geez, that could be anything!).  Personally, I
assure quality by mixing my own feeds, but you have to admit, those
prepackaged complete feeds DO seem enticing so early in morning!

Have a good ride, folks!

Kim (and Lee)

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On Sun, 30 Aug 1998 17:28:03 -0700, "Mary K. Krauss"
<kraussberner@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> 
> Since my horses are way too fat, I don't fight the fight some of you are
> discussing--but I am curious, since looking into feeds, I've discovered
> that many of the supplements and the mixed feeds contain _animal_ fat, ie,
> fat from horses and cows.... Doesn't that seem a bit of a mean trick--
> turning our beloved herbivores into cannibals??  I don't have a problem
> with humans eating meat, but tricking my horse into eating meat seems
> repulsive.  The weird thing to me is how few people seem to know what
> they're feeding--my vet recommended using LMF for instance, and blanched
> when I showed her the contents--hadn't dawned on her that the fat content
> was from anything but plant sources.... Any thoughts?