Energy is the first consideration in balancing any equine ration. A horse consuming a very energy- dense concentrate will need to consume fewer pounds of concentrate per day than when it is fed a low energy-density concentrate. Reducing the amount of concentrate consumed allows the horse to eat more forage, which works to promote gastrointestinal health and reduce the risk of colic.

The crude fiber content of a feed can give us a clue about its energy density, as there is an inverse relationship between fiber and expected digestible energy content. Just as commercial feeds with a high fiber content typically contain less digestible energy than those with a low fiber content.

Fat is another source of energy in concentrates. A traditional concentrate usually contains 3 to 4 percent fat, but many feeds now list higher crude fat values in their guaranteed analysis as manufactures add supplemental fat to their formulations. A feed with a minimum crude fat content of 8 percent would be considered an added-fat feed, as it contains 4 to 5 percent supplemental fat. This increases the energy density of the feed, as a concentrate with 5 percent additional fat will have up to 8 percent more energy than a similar concentrate with no supplemental fat.

Energy is the first consideration in designing a feeding program, but crude protein is often the first nutrient horse owners look for when selecting a specific horse feed. One needs to keep in mind that a concentrate should be selected to complement the forage the horse is consuming. Testing the hay is the best way to determine the nutrient profile of the forage, which will aid in selecting the right concentrate for your horse.

The energy-to-protein ratio should also be considered when selecting a concentrate. Horse nutritionists keep this ratio in mind when formulating horse feeds, assuming that horse owners are following the feeding instructions on the label. Fat-added concentrates are designed to have higher protein content in order to keep this ratio in balance.

The next section of the feed tag is the list of ingredients. Ingredients are usually listed in order from greatest to least amount in the formulation. Some companies will specifically list the various grains and protein supplements (oats, corn, alfalfa meal) while others use general ingredient categories for these feedstuffs (grain products, plant protein products). The first four or five ingredients will commonly make up the bulk of the formulation, with vitamins, minerals, and flavorings constituting a small portion of the total concentrate.

It is possible that feed designed for another species of livestock may meet the nutrient needs for a horse, such as a creep feed for calves. However, read the label carefully! Feeds that contain ionophores (like Rumensin or Bovatec) or medications are toxic to horses. If the guaranteed analysis matches what your horse needs, and the feed is free of medication, such a concentrate may be a lower-cost alternative to commercial horse feeds.

The final section of the feed tag is the instructions for feeding. This is the manufacturer’s recommendations for using their product to maximize its performance. Note that feeding instructions are written in terms of pounds of hay and concentrate per day—horse feed should be measured by weight, not volume. Read the feeding instructions carefully, as not all horse feeds are designed to be fed alike. A true “complete feed” is one that is formulated to be fed as the horse’s sole source of nutrition and satisfies forage needs. Other concentrates may be designed to be paired with a specific commercial mineral supplement in order to meet the horse’s needs. Still another class of “balancer” concentrates is intended to be fed in very small amounts as they provide a very dense source of protein, minerals, and vitamins designed to complement high forage diets.