Blue Seal Sentinel LS vs Nutrena Pro force fuel

[LookmaNohands]

Just wondering if anyone else has feed both of these at different times. Sentinel LS has 12 protein, 12 fat and 20 fiber. Pro force fuel has 12 protein, 13 fat and 10 fiber.

The first few ingredients of Sentinel LS are: Soy bean hulls, dried beet pulp, wheat middlings, soybean oil, wheat flour, alfalfa meal.

First ingredients of Pro force fuel are: Wheat middlings, wheat red dog, cane molasses, soybean oil, Corn distillers dried grains with solubles, calcium carbonate.

Looks to me that the Blue Seal Sentinal LS is superior to the Pro force fuel.

Currently the Pro force fuel is $1 more per bag than the LS.

I am trying to convince someone that the LS is better for her horses and that you don’t need to feed as much.

Any comments?

[cutter99]

Is starch an issue with the horse that is being fed? Pro Force Fuel is actually a great feed, it is just higher in NSC than the Blue Seal product. If the horse that does not have issues with NSC, it might not be an issue to switch. The difference in NSC is not much- BS is 16% versus Nutrena at 20%.

[Simkie]

For what its worth, the Sentinal LS made two of my four horses hiiiiiiigh. Dangerously so. They aren’t usually prone to hysterics and the feed isn’t high in NSC, so I really have no idea what about it was fueling their idiocy, but wow. Stopped feeding it and they went back to normal. The other two were totally themselves on it.

It’s also a light feed–takes a lot of volume to hit the weight. Wasn’t ideal for my herd, as I do have one (sometimes two) who just get bored and will walk away from their bucket. Something denser works a lot better for me.

I’d much prefer the Fuel over the Sentinal LS.

[candyappy]

What is she hoping to accomplish by feeding it?

[ryansgirl]

Both are good feeds. I personally don’t care for high NSCs as I have a metabolic horse so neither would be appropriate. My old TB was on the LS for many years up until the day i put him down at 31 and did extremely well on it - kept his weight, easy to soak, and his coat shined like a copper penney, I did try TC Senior with him which is a great feed but it made him absolutely lose his mind - no clue why as it’s low NSCs. I put him back on the LS and I instantly had my old stoic guy back.

I don’t feed Nutrena (& never have) so I can’t comment on their feed.

Why do you have to convince someone to change feed? Does their horse have issues?

[LookmaNohands]

I don’t think she is concerned about about NSC. My horses are on Blue Seal and they just look better than her horses I also don’t have to feed as much. She thought the Fuel was high in beet pulp but it doesn’t actually have any in it. Her horses are in light work as are mine.

I have not had any problem with LS causing them to be high. Really, the opposite I think.

[Palm_Beach]

@LookmaNohands

Just wondering if anyone else has feed both of these at different times. Sentinel LS has 12 protein, 12 fat and 20 fiber. Pro force fuel has 12 protein, 13 fat and 10 fiber.

The first few ingredients of Sentinel LS are: Soy bean hulls, dried beet pulp, wheat middlings, soybean oil, wheat flour, alfalfa meal.

First ingredients of Pro force fuel are: Wheat middlings, wheat red dog, cane molasses, soybean oil, Corn distillers dried grains with solubles, calcium carbonate.

Looks to me that the Blue Seal Sentinal LS is superior to the Pro force fuel.

Currently the Pro force fuel is $1 more per bag than the LS.

I am trying to convince someone that the LS is better for her horses and that you don’t need to feed as much.

Any comments?

I think the GA and rate of feeding would count significantly in deciding which feed was “better.” I would think you need to feed more of a high fiber feed than one that is more concentrated, so even if it is $1 less a bag (which is to be expected since fiber is cheap) you may have to feed more of it. If you post a link to each product maybe you will get a better response.

[candyappy]

@LookmaNohands

My horses are on Blue Seal and they just look better than her horses, I also don’t have to feed as much.

I have not had any problem with LS causing them to be high. Really, the opposite I think.

The fact that your horses look better and that your horses are not high is not proof that her horses will benefit from the feed as well. Do you both board at the same barn ? If not, there are differences in care that may contribute to your results being favorable and the reasons her horses don’t look so great.

As with anything you try " Your results will vary" . Her horses may not do near as well and they may end up as high as a kite.

[Hilary]

those are quite different to me. the LS has much more fibre due to the beet pulp, and contains both soy meal and alfalfa meal. the Fuel gets it’s “fuel” from the corn distillate products. Some horses do not do well on alfalfa or soy (although both have soybean oil) and fuel is supposed to be a good feed for horses who need more fat and moderate protein.

My horses do extremely well on the Fuel - shiny, dappled, in good weight etc and not high. I know someone who swears by LS. Others swear by Cavalor. There are many possible reasons her horses don’t look as good as yours, and by that what do you mean? Are they less shiny? Thinner?

Hers could need to be wormed, her hay could be lesser quality, maybe she isn’t feeding enough - grain or hay?

[walktrot]

I’ve had my 23 y.o. gelding on LS for over a year because he needs some extra calories to hold his weight. He is doing great and all it takes is a bit over a scoop, which is 3 lbs. Another owner tried another brand, I think Nutrena, for about $12 a bag more. She is switching over. Blue Seal owns the store where I buy it, and they have a points program that sent me a coupon for a free bag a couple of months ago. Between the store and their Equine Affaire booth I am usually able to put together enough coupons to get the price down by about $3 per bag.

Blue Seal is low in starches and sugars, and it is extruded like their senior is. Molasses in the third spot on the ingredients would make me think twice. It looks like you are feeding way too much sugar. If the point is to get more calories I’d go for something that has more fat/oil than sugar.