TC Senior - hard clumps

[li_l_bit]

For those feeding TC Senior. Does your TCS always have hard clumps in it. When I buy it, the bag is not flexible at all, it is like one big heavy brick. When I dump it into the feed bin I always get some big clumps that are very difficult to break apart. It isn’t even winter yet and I am dreading dealing with these clumps when it is frozen.

I would change to another Senior feed, but my gelding has been doing very well on it and I can’t find a substitute that doesn’t have a much higher NSC value.

Any tips on how to eliminate these “bricks”?

[Macimage]

Our TC Senior is all loose.

We did get one bag that was hard as a brick (the entire bag).

The feed store exchanged it. We only had the one bad bag in all the years we’ve been using it.

Happy Trails~
Joyce

[li_l_bit]

Thanks. I need to have a talk with my feed store. I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t just me being picky.

[LauraKY]

Ours are always hard. We just throw the bag on the floor a couple of times to loosen everything up. Works like a charm. Now, in the winter, when it’s frozen, that doesn’t work as well. I keep a maul by the feed bin.

[Janet]

@li'l bit;5157228

For those feeding TC Senior. Does your TCS always have hard clumps in it. When I buy it, the bag is not flexible at all, it is like one big heavy brick. When I dump it into the feed bin I always get some big clumps that are very difficult to break apart. It isn’t even winter yet and I am dreading dealing with these clumps when it is frozen.

Often, but not always.

[jn4jenny]

That happens because of the molasses content. You’ll find the same hardening effect in Purina Equine Senior.

Between a rubber mallet and throwing the bag on the floor, you can usually loosen it up.

Edited to remove the word “high,” but I still maintain that compared to many other low-NSC feeds, TC Senior has more molasses than is typical. I don’t consider that bad or a problem, it’s just a fact. The other ingredients in TC Senior are extremely low in NSC, so on balance, it’s a low-NSC feed.

[whbar158]

It doesn’t have that high of a molasses content or the NSC wouldn’t be so low. Part of what happens is because of the texture the and when the bags get stacked its gets very compact, esp for the bags on the bottom. My friend feeds the TC complete and knocking it around on the ground helps a lot even in the winter.

[Rockfish]

mine never has unless I leave it in my car overnight in the winter and not in our much warmer feed room.

[naters]

OP: Yes, most of the time. It is a pain in the a$$. But the horses look good on it!

[jn4jenny]

[QUOTE=whbar158;5157762]
It doesn’t have that high of a molasses content or the NSC wouldn’t be so low.[/QUOTE]

It doesn’t have a HIGH molasses content but there’s certainly molasses in there as a binder.

Find a feed with no molasses in it (like TC Low Starch) and surprise surprise, it doesn’t freeze or clump in the winter.

But considering how some horses really thrive on TC Senior, it might be worth breaking out the mallet/dropping the bag on the floor instead.

[whbar158]

That’s because low starch is a pellet, how many pellets clump together? Safe choice has molasses in it does it clump together? I am not trying to be rude or mean, I just don’t like people claiming it has tons of molasses and that is why it is sticky and clumps, some of that is due to the oil in the feed as well. Fact is that most textured feeds clump together some regardless of the molasses content.

[S1969]

Yes, mine is usually a brick; obviously in winter it freezes but also in other seasons when it’s been in a stack of bags. My feed store guys are great - they usually get it loosened before loading it for me, especially in winter. The key is not to lay it back down on its side or it will compact again. But my horses love it so it’s worth it.

[Dreamburger]

I just put the bag on an edge and kneel into it along the side. Breaks it up nicely. It’s a little more difficult in the winter but still works. Our guys LOVE the stuff. We have 15 horses on it!

[FatDinah]

I’ve been feeding it since January and love TC Senior, everyone has noticed how good my old girl looks.

Lumps vary and I think it is a result of the bags getting compacted, i.e., if a particular bag is at the bottom of the stack it has more.
Maybe your dealer doesn’t sell as many so they stay in a stack longer?

But I don’t find any big issue with breaking it up.

[bizbachfan]

our Purina Senior is usually like that we put it in a big resealable tub and break it up with scoop. Even when its hot it is like that.

[mammadoc]

i posted a comment last week about the molasses in tc sr., i notice that it is the 5th ingredient. seems like the nsc would be higher. the ls has NO molasses and according to the tc website it is higher nsc than the sr.- go figure. a couple of the horses i care for are on the senior and it often is a brick.

[fivehorses]

I spoke, or rather had a few email exchanges with triple crown.

For those of us who now get it from cargill, the way they manufacture it and the way blue seal did is different. thus the bricking. It is the same amount of molasses just added at different times between the two manufacturers.

I have stopped using it. I love triple crown senior, but I also like my wrists. I would spend 15-20 minutes breaking it up. I go through at least 200 pounds a week, so this is not something I want to deal with.

they said cargill is working on it, they are very aware of it. But, in all honesty, there is no way, even if it was in the house, that the rock they call senior is going to work for me.
shame, because I loved it, but not how cargil makes it.

I have found a reasonable replacement, a bit higher in nsc, around 18 vs the 11 of tc senior.

Where I use to buy the tc senior, it was always fresh, like within a couple of days of manufacture. The tc senior I am now buying is dated almost 30 days old. I went to 3 different stores to see if I could buy it fresher. Another reason I won’t buy it. My feed store told me, they will only be buying from cargil every other month…no way am I feeding grain that old.

[sweetpea]

Didd you know that some makers of TCS having a Winter Formula

Oh after my first winter with TCS I thought YIKES. I live in the Midwest.
Competed in FLorida for the winter - bought some TCS down there and thought hmmm different-- now yes it was warmer but at the time I go to Ocala we get in the 25 -35 degrees at night. SO I asked the grain store and they told me “Oh Southern States has a winter formula” Seemed dryer to me .
Back before the change to Cargill I had the option from dealers that made it from Kent or Kalmbach. Kent had a winter formula. So now you guys made me think I should find out if the new place does one.

AND NO I AM NOT SWITCHING–
Tried and my horses said" Hey Lady what do you think of the ground "

[Loves_to_ride]

Timely thread.

Never had an issue for 3 years until the bag I just opened.

I was wondering if it was because of the change in manufacturers?

Very annoying! I had to take a boot hook to break the stuff up. Not even throwing it on the ground worked (neither did swearing at it).

Hopefully this is my 1st and last bag with this issue.

[li_l_bit]

Sorry I couldn’t get back sooner. I realize it is because of the molasses and oil (TC Senior has more fat than a lot of the others) and the textured ingredients. But its still a PIA!!

I’m one of those people that like to streamline my feeding process as much as possible. Working through and around the packed together clumps is frustrating and time consuming. I have been breaking it up with a big paddle that I bought a long time ago. My scoop won’t even budge it.

Alas, the gelding does better on it. I have tried all of the feeds available to my area and the TC Senior is the one that does it for him.

So now I will be throwing it on the floor, getting a maul, working it on an edge, and talking to my feed guys to see if they can loosen it up a bit before loading it. If I figure out an easier way, I’ll be sure to let you all know.