This is just a PSA: If you buy cubes from Tractor Supply you need to carefully check them for mold. Two Louisiana locations (that I know of) have been selling moldy cubes in both the Dumor and Standlee brand… for weeks.
The staff doesn’t seem particularly concerned about it either. I had to explain that horses were not capable of vomiting up these moldy cubes if they got sick and got a very surprised reaction. I realize they are the Walmart of feed stores, but come on…
Fire off an Email to TSC Corporate and call Standlee. I’ve called Coorate and feed companies more than once,moved the years.
thanks for the heads up ---- I’m in southern Middle Tennessee and buy the heck out of Standlee Timothy pellets.
The Standees hay pellet & hay cube bags are sealed so they had to have been wet when processed. That or there are pinholes in the bags.
hay pellets, white salt blocks, and bird seed are about all I buy from TSC anymore. I think corporate is responsible for the “spreading” of a non-caring work ethic, since one of the TSC’s near me operates like that. They also cater more to suburbia.
This is something that has happened to me so many times I can’t even count!!! I have gotten moldy cubes in every brand from TSC. I’ve also returned bags, only to watch the staff tape it up and put it back on the shelf!!! I’ve emailed, I’ve complained, I’ve called. It still happens.
I feel 99% sure it happens either at the local TSC stores themselves (like leaving pallets on the loading dock in wet weather) or in transport. I do not think it’s a problem on the manufacturers’ ends.
The other thing I have to be careful of is checking expiration dates on cubes and other products purchased there. I’ve picked up bags of cubes and pellets that were bagged over two years prior and those tend to be pretty gross and stale if you accidentally buy them. Treats and feed that sits around are frequently riddled with grain mites.
Unfortunately, boycotting TSC doesn’t work super well when you are limited in your choices. Believe me, I’ve tried… I have such a love/hate relationship with that store.
I had a couple of bags of moldy pellets, Ducor, iirc. I took them back and exchanged them for pellets that were good. The clerks were very helpful–thought it was probably something from transport. I would like to go on record as urging any company who has nation-wide outlets to NOT try to run things strictly at the corporate level.
I just returned a bag of dumor alfalfa pellets, they did not smell good and bought the standle brand I have had better luck with standle
Yikes! Thanks for the heads up!
[B]Happened to me too ! Too many times !
While the store staff seemed concerned and replaced the product …[/B]
[B]Standlee - couldn’t care less -
I contacted them with documentation - pics of moldy cubes , pics of hay netting pieces hanging out of the cubes … bag identification numbers
I told them I don’t want a replacement bag that is not safe •
The mold was unacceptable but the long pieces of big hay bag netting was Frightening
a serious colic waiting to happen !
I simply quit purchasing the product.
Not taking any chance with the cr_ _. [/B]
I have also had this issue recently in Florida, with Dumor Alfalfa Cubes.
Even with the bag sealed, it only takes one tiny hole to allow water into the bag which would then cause mold and with how Tractor Supply handles their pallets it would not surprise me that things get moldy.
Good luck in getting anything changed. I’ve been complaining for YEARS DIRECTLY to the grain manufactures, distributers and local merchants about molds, foreign matter and off smells that even the horses refused to eat. This is with Alfalfa cubes and no molasses Beet Pulp - the main sources of my feeding program. I wish I could just simply remove any and all grain from my horses diet. It’s all really reprocessed from by products anyway.
I’ve returned many bags of Dumor Alfalfa cubes due to mold, I don’t buy them any more. I haven’t had any problems with StandLee pelleted products, and minimal issues with the FSI alfalfa bermuda cubes. The problem with corporations is only a handful of customers care enough to return moldy product so its a numbers game for them: the majority of customers are obviously content to feed mold to their horses so no need to change the current systems of manufacturing, distribution or handling of product in order to please a couple of picky customers.
So I too am in Middle TN. and almost got a job working for the TSC factory in KY (right over the stateline). They are the most ill informed, unethical group of humans I have ever met! My position was an “in office” type, but I still ran through the group interview with the warehouse workers. So, my first reaction of the warehouse was “Oh. This is clean and actually nice” but then through out the tour my reactions were “There is no way that is safe” and “how many times can that bag be thrown before it busts?!” Their motto is “move it fast or we will move you out” as in they will fire you if you do not preform loading and unloading pallets and a very high rate. But I thought to myself “well maybe you can go fast and still maintain the product, after all, this isnt what I am being hired to do, so it’s clearly out of my skill set”
To top it all off, they hired me and gave me my start date. I told them I needed two weeks before I could start so I could give notice to my current employer. They gave me a 4 week out start date. Awesome! Ill take two weeks and go on a vacation! So on the day before I start, they call and push back my start date. One week. Again, the day before I start, they call and push back another week. and then a third time! Finally I lose my mind and they tell me they decided not to fill the position. Umm… what? Ive quit my job… at this point over a month ago and they were just like “Oh well. Most people we hire dont give two week notices, so its your fault you quit your job before starting this one”
They do not care about their employees nor their consumers and it clearly shows in their moldy feed! Now the only time I will shop their is if I ABSOLUTELY have to, as in "its an emergency and I need something NOW!
FWIW Standlee products are not currently a part of my feeding program but I used to buy them regularly from Family Farm & Home (a local chain here in Michigan/upper Midwest) and was always satisfied with the quality…I can only remember a few iffy bags, over years of feeding, and I figured those were probably my fault.
Very fortunate here to have a quality alternative to TSC…same product categories, much better quality and service…
Loyal Family Farm customer here!
OMG yes. I was at the local TSC this weekend and every. single. bag. of alfalfa cubes (all brands!) was taped up. No thanks. I bought Standlee pellets instead but I haven’t opened them yet and reading this thread, I’m nervous about what I’ll find.
I am always amused when I go to buy pellet bedding and there is a bunch of bags all taped up on the pallet that are clearly not full bags anymore, but they are not marked down.
I buy them by weight, I do not want 30lbs for the price of 40lbs, thank you very much.
I’ve actually bought taped-up bedding bags before and they will mark them down at the register if you ask!
I guess I will ask next time. The few (very few) times this store has had the taped up bags marked down the mark down does not equal the amount of loss. There was a bag that was less than half full that they took $1 off the price.
Buy the seminole freeze dried alfalfa cubes. No other alfalfa cubes are as good as those.
The last bag of timothy pellets I bought from TSC was half dust and lacked that “I’ve got a rabbit!” smell - they were obviously sitting too long. I won’t buy from them anymore.
There should be a directive of how to mark down torn bags. If I remember correctly, less than half full bags are supposed to be thrown out.
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