Feed freshness is a concern for many horse owners. We all want to feed our horses the best we can.
When it comes to freshness, there are several factors involved. One of those is the expected shelf life of feed. Horse owners and barn managers who understand these factors and practice good inventory rotation will be able to provide their horses fresh feed on a regular basis.
First, what is shelf life?
Shelf life is the length of time a feed is considered to have the nutritional quality and physical characteristics that were intended when it was produced by the manufacturer.
In food terms, you may see “Best if used by” or “Sell by” followed by a date. Human food is tightly managed. There are regulations that food processors, distributors, and retailers need to follow to make sure the food they put on their shelves is within date.
Most horse feeds do not have a “Use by” date because of the process of manufacturing and the different storage conditions that feed is exposed to, from when it’s made to the time it is in your scoop.
Therefore, understanding what affects the shelf life can help you to provide your horse with fresh feed on a regular basis.
The form of feed you purchase has an impact on its shelf life. For example, a feed in the form of a pellet has undergone a process that involves cooking with heat and steam, followed by the use of centripetal force to push it through a die before it is cooled and dried. This high temperature cook and cool helps to make the nutrients more available for digestion. And it improves the shelf life.
On the other hand, “textured” or grain-based feed (oats, barley, or cracked corn), which has had oil and/or molasses added, has not undergone the same amount of “cooking” as a pellet. Therefore, it has a shorter shelf life. Alone, the dry grains have a good shelf life. But when oil, molasses, or other liquids have been added, it is shortened.
Generally speaking, a pelleted feed stored in ideal conditions won’t begin to lose nutritional quality until it is approximately six months old. That’s a long time for a feed to still be good! On the other hand, textured feed tends to lose nutritional quality around 90 days from the date of manufacture.
One of the biggest risks regarding storage of feed is the potential growth of molds. Molds are present in low levels all around us, but when exposed to certain conditions, mold can proliferate.
Mold loves an environment that is warm and moist. Therefore, you should store feed in a cool, dry place.
So what can you do to make sure your horse gets the best nutrition from the feed you buy?
This article was originally posted by Megan C. on Nutrena’s horsefeedblog.com.
For all your horse feed needs, use the Blain’s Farm & Fleet drive-thru service. Simply order online, wait for the confirmation email, and pick up your feed in the drive-thru at your selected local store.
For more tips on caring for your horses, visit our Hobby Farming Blog.
