Grain Shortage

[enjoytheride]

My local grain dealer was just contacted by Purina and was told that they wouldn’t be getting their full order, but it “should” come in next week. This is due to some people panic buying grain.

I feed Purina Impact Professional Performance so no problem, I can go to TSC and swap it out for Strategy (not as nice but similar enough it won’t be a big change). Nope TSC is out of both Strategy, and Senior since of course someone just dropped a 27yo horse in my lap.

Anyone else experiencing similar issues?

[Wanderosa]

I haven’t heard of any issues here yet. Any independent mills in the area you could try? We have one that mills the equivalent of several TC varieties from grain grown locally. Failing that, a smaller non-GMO feed supplier. I thought Hiland Naturals made horse feeds (they don’t). But my local Hiland supplier carries a brand of alfalfa pellet that is hands down the best I’ve ever found. Maybe search out small brand non-GMO and organic brand reps and see if they have anything?

[IPEsq]

I went today to get a few bags for myself and a couple of friends (trying to help reduce everyone’s trips out). Got TC Complete and Progressive’s grass balancer. Shipment of TC senior and 30% was arriving shortly… I was to get 5 bags of 30%. Feed store said they got shorted on the order and even though I was buying for 3 people and 5 horses, they would only sell me 2 bags. Texted my friends and told them another shipment was coming next week and they needed to find their own.

At least they said the Gold line of products was now available to order. I was considering switching to that RB. But holding on to my 2 bags of 30% for now.

[enjoytheride]

Our TSC has Triple Crown but it’s so different from what I normally feed I wasn’t sure about subbing it on a temp basis. Our TB is 17 hands and he was hard for me to put weight on and does great on a small amount of my current grain so I’d like to stick with something similar.

[skipollo]

Our TSC was fairly well stocked yesterday with everything except for Strategy. That’s one of the two grains the barn I board at feeds, but they bought a giant palette about a week or so ago.

I buy my own grain in addition to what the barn feeds, and I also have a large hard-keeping OTTB. I was down to Ultium or TC Complete, and the calories/lb in Ultium was my final deciding factor. TC Complete is still a great option for a harder keeper though. If they didn’t have Ultium in stock, that’s what I would’ve bought.

[enjoytheride]

@skipollo

Our TSC was fairly well stocked yesterday with everything except for Strategy. That’s one of the two grains the barn I board at feeds, but they bought a giant palette about a week or so ago.

I buy my own grain in addition to what the barn feeds, and I also have a large hard-keeping OTTB. I was down to Ultium or TC Complete, and the calories/lb in Ultium was my final deciding factor. TC Complete is still a great option for a harder keeper though. If they didn’t have Ultium in stock, that’s what I would’ve bought.

Thanks, I assume it’s a nationwide temporary shortage on Purina. I have three easy keepers, one hard keeper, and one senior.

This is what I feed to three out of four

https://www.purinamills.com/horse-feed/products/detail/purina-impact-professional-performance-horse-feed?utm_campaign=2708913&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=purina%20impact%20performance&utm_content=2708913_Purina_Horse_C_NH1_Google_Horse_All_Brand_DMT_Secondary_LeadGen^Impact&gclid=CjwKCAjwguzzBRBiEiwAgU0FT5UH82axgu_LqME9zmIlpLRufp9SvqRSBsMy70LOLwwZxt3nnHsSXxoCwioQAvD_BwE

[Gainer]

Our local mill asked anyone wanting to buy more than normal to please let them know ahead of time so they can order accordingly. Most mills/stores use “just in time” ordering in order to keep their stock fresh. When people come in and panic buy, it throws the whole system off.

[skipollo]

@enjoytheride

Thanks, I assume it’s a nationwide temporary shortage on Purina. I have three easy keepers, one hard keeper, and one senior.

This is what I feed to three out of four

https://www.purinamills.com/horse-feed/products/detail/purina-impact-professional-performance-horse-feed?utm_campaign=2708913&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=purina%20impact%20performance&utm_content=2708913_Purina_Horse_C_NH1_Google_Horse_All_Brand_DMT_Secondary_LeadGen^Impact&gclid=CjwKCAjwguzzBRBiEiwAgU0FT5UH82axgu_LqME9zmIlpLRufp9SvqRSBsMy70LOLwwZxt3nnHsSXxoCwioQAvD_BwE

So I did some Googling. That feed is only ~1400 cals/lb? TC Complete is just under 1600 cals/lb and Ultium is 1800-1900 cals/lb. More sources have it closer to 1900 cals/lb. Both are also about 4% higher in fat than the Purina Impact Pro.

I also found that the NSC % for the Impact Pro is 33% :eek: Not sure how reliable that is, I found it on a COTH thread from 2017.

Ultium is 15%-19% depending on who you ask. TC Complete is ~20%.

[enjoytheride]

@skipollo

So I did some Googling. That feed is only ~1400 cals/lb? TC Complete is just under 1600 cals/lb and Ultium is 1800-1900 cals/lb. More sources have it closer to 1900 cals/lb. Both are also about 4% higher in fat than the Purina Impact Pro.

I also found that the NSC % for the Impact Pro is 33% :eek: Not sure how reliable that is, I found it on a COTH thread from 2017.

Ultium is 15%-19% depending on who you ask. TC Complete is ~20%.

I’m not asking for a critique of my grain.

Also, I have no idea where you got that NSC from but Impact Pro Performance is 17%.

[Simkie]

@enjoytheride

Also, I have no idea where you got that NSC from but Impact Pro Performance is 17%.

FYI that if you’re feeding something with a NSC of 17%, Strategy is a significant jump up to 24% NSC. Senior Active might be a better choice–15% NSC (if you can find it!)

[enjoytheride]

@Simkie

FYI that if you’re feeding something with a NSC of 17%, Strategy is a significant jump up to 24% NSC. Senior Active might be a better choice–15% NSC (if you can find it!)

Thank you, that is helpful. I’ll look for that.

[skipollo]

@enjoytheride

I’m not asking for a critique of my grain.

Also, I have no idea where you got that NSC from but Impact Pro Performance is 17%.

I literally said “Not sure how reliable this is, I got it from a COTH thread in 2017” but okay that’s fine. I tried to offer help with %s and such for alternatives you could buy that may help a hard keeper, and the snappiness/rudeness in your response is not appreciated.

But that’s fine, that is a reflection of you and not me.

[Ponycatraz]

I’ve been getting shipments to my door from TSC (free shipping if you do autoship) with no issues. I called to check because my feed always has supply issues in the spring and TSC said their autoships get priority. No issues getting my food on time.

[Equibrit]

TSC sell this too; https://www.nutrenaworld.com/product/proforce-senior-horse-feed

[enjoytheride]

@skipollo

I literally said “Not sure how reliable this is, I got it from a COTH thread in 2017” but okay that’s fine. I tried to offer help with %s and such for alternatives you could buy that may help a hard keeper, and the snappiness/rudeness in your response is not appreciated.

But that’s fine, that is a reflection of you and not me.

If you really weren’t critiquing my grain then I apologize. It’s a stressful time and I don’t want to be judged about my care when I’m doing my best with what we have available. I did look at the complete but it’s very sweet smelling and a big change for my horses, and the lite I didn’t think would have enough calories for my TB. I’ve never had a horse that would eat the Ultium.

[enjoytheride]

@Simkie

FYI that if you’re feeding something with a NSC of 17%, Strategy is a significant jump up to 24% NSC. Senior Active might be a better choice–15% NSC (if you can find it!)

Thanks. I did call TSC and since they are a major retailer they will have their order in 2 days late but it will show up. My local co op got the short end of the stick and won’t get a delivery until next week.

[IPEsq]

@enjoytheride

If you really weren’t critiquing my grain then I apologize. It’s a stressful time and I don’t want to be judged about my care when I’m doing my best with what we have available. I did look at the complete but it’s very sweet smelling and a big change for my horses, and the lite I didn’t think would have enough calories for my TB. I’ve never had a horse that would eat the Ultium.

I started feeding Complete last year when mine went off of Senior. I have my new guy on a small ration of Complete top dressed with a RB. I tried him on Senior at first (needed to gain weight) and with both horses, they were much gassier on the Senior. I have found Complete to be more digestible. Since the NSC is not far off from the range you are already feeding, I would recommend it. It is a textured feed that has some molasses, but I don’t think it’s exceptionally sweet. It has good oil content, and I think just having oats in it is part of why the NSC bumps up. Anyway, I would recommend it as a possible alternative.

If you need a pelleted feed, Purina Senior Active would be a good choice. Or if you can get Progresive, the Premium Performance pellet would be similar. I don’t have experience with that particular feed, but all the other ones by Progressive appear to be very palatable.

[enjoytheride]

I checked on the Purina Senior Active and it’s only available by special order so wouldn’t get here in time.

My local in store choices are:

Strategy, safechoice original, safechoice, safechoice senior, Dumor senior, Triple Crown senior/lite/complete, safe choice maintenance, Dumore equistages, Safechoice special care, safe choice perform, Dumor calm and steady, dumor maintanance, Purina Junior, Purina Strategy, Purina senior, Purina healthy edge

[candyappy]

I would find out what is almost the same and go with that. Can you special order enough of what you normally feed to get you through the next time? I hate to switch back and forth so often.

[Simkie]

TC Senior is always a solid option at 11% NSC, and Safechoice Special Care is 13%. I fed the Safechoice Senior for years and was really happy with it.

Kinda interesting they carry Purina Junior and Senior but not Adult. The Adult is really similar to the senior (protein might be less?) but it comes in at 15% NSC.

I’d personally not worry much about subbing to stuff with lower NSC, and TC Senior is really a safe choice. Fwiw, I’ve occasionally gone straight to that when I can’t get to the “good” but far away feed store and the nearby but “meh” store is out of stock of my usual stuff. I’ve never had any issues.