Triple Crown Senior
14% Protein - 10% Fat - 17% Fiber11.7% NSC; 1,546 kcal/lb
1.725 Billion Microorganisms/ lb
Ingredients: Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Wheat Middlings, Shredded Beet Pulp, Soybean Hulls, Cane Molasses, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Soybean Oil, Distillers Dried Grains, Stabilized Rice Bran, Flaxseed -partial listing-
Non Structural Carbohydrate (NSC); used to describe the sugar and starch content of the feed, the digestible carbohydrates. Horses with lamanitis, founder, metabolic, etc require a low starch low sugar diet. 11% NSC and below is recommended for that population of horses. While full working performance horses should have 22% NSC or below as to not cause any digestive upset or unwanted 'hotness' that is usually associated with some grain. To put this in perspective, corn has a 73% NSC with the glycemic index of 100. Corn is basically straight sugar and starch, very bad on the horse's body.
Ethanol soluble Carbohydrates (ESC) is composed of the simple sugars glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Water soluble Carbohydrates (WSC) is glucose, fructose, sucrose and fructans. If you take the WSC minus the ESC then you get the fructan content. Fructan is digested in the hind gut, too releases endotoxins in the bloodstream which is a cause of lamnitis. Simple sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) are digested in the foregut and raise insulin levels. Too much can be a contributing factor towards laminitis.
Starch is needed to build muscle glycogen stores and provide the explosive energy needed during training and competitions. Though too much starch can be a bad thing, contributing to the pH disturbance in the hindgut that causes released toxins and ulcers. There are different forms of starch, for example there is corn starch and oat starch. Corn is 70% starch and a majority of it passes through the foregut undigested and digests in the hindgut. This is where you run into problems, and can actually GIVE your horse ulcers. Oat is 50% starch and a majority is digested in the foregut, so it is gentler and healthier on the digestive system. Though as a whole, it's important to be conscious of the starch content in a horse's grain, especially if they aren't performance horses.
Ingredient Dissection ||
Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal || Approximately 19% protein and 28% fiber, with low sugar [4.5%], starch [3.3%], higher amounts of minerals [mainly calcium, but also magnesium, potassium, sulfur, iron, cobalt, manganese, and zinc], and proper amino acids. Though like all legume, protein content varies on the variables of harvest; can vary from 17% to 25%. Alfalfa has a low carbohydrate content though “The energy content of alfalfa…” “…should not be underestimated (Bruce et al., 2008).”
Wheat Middlings || Wheat Middlings offer properties of the wheat grain though with considerably less starch. At a 14% protein, wheat middlings offer more digestible energy than legume hay. Ground Extruded Whole Soybeans || An extremely high quality protein [36%], fat [18%], and decent fiber [6%], soybeans are a superior ingredient. Under high temperatures & pressure, the anti-nutritional factors are destroyed and turned the soy into a high digestible nutrient.
Beet Pulp || Beet pulp is a ‘super fiber’ and has nearly as much digestible energy and calories as oats, with considerably lower NSC [Non-Structural Carbohydrates; sugar + starch content] at 12% [versus oats 54%]. Due to lack of lignin in the fiber, it is very easy for the horse to digest. 7 Contains approximately 900 to 1,200 calories per pound.
Soybean Hulls || Approximately 13% protein and 38% fiber, with low sugar [1.6%] and starch [5.5%]5 with an amino acid profile. A premium grain will always choose soybean products over cottonseed products, which has considerably less amino acids [building blocks of protein] and a toxin gossypol. Higher in digestible energy compared to other hull products, is similar to alfalfa in energy content. Is also on equal grounds with beet pulp; considered a ‘super fiber’.
Cane Molasses || Molasses is a type of sugar that is used as a binding ingredient and to increase the feed’s palatability. Most pelleted feeds do not contain enough molasses to make a significant difference in the NSC. Molasses actually contains calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium.
Dehulled Soybean Meal || Soybean meal is the most important protein source available for use in farm animal feed. “Representing two-thirds of the total world output of protein feedstuffs.” Protein content ranging from 43% to 53%, contains high amounts of lysine, tryptophane, threonine and isoleucine.
Soybean Oil || Contains 248 calories and 28g of fat per ounce with 51.5mcg of Vitamin K and 2.3mg of Vitamin E. Has about a 1:7 Omega-3 to Omega-6 ratio14; additional effects for skin and coat in addition to blood pressure regulation. The 2nd best oil, beat only by Flaxseed Oil. Pellets are known for using oil to aid in binding the pellets together.
Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles || During the distillation process of corn, starch is converted to ethanol. The leftover solubles [liquid] and distiller grains [semi-dry] are combined to produce DDGS which is commonly used in livestock feed. High protein [25%], decent fat [8%], low fiber [7%], and decent calories [1,400kcal/ lb]. Containing decent levels of lysine, an amino acid, isn't the best ingredient and should not be used as a filler or to replace other nutrition.
Stabilized Rice Bran || 20% Fat & 1,200 calories per pound [.45kg]; “Raw rice bran has a very short shelf life due to its high fat content and a potent lipase enzyme, which immediately begins to break down the fat once the bran is separated from the rice kernel. To prevent rice bran from becoming rancid, it must undergo a stabilization process. Stabilization subjects the rice bran to heat and pressure which inactivate the lipase enzyme without destroying the nutritional value of the rice bran.” “In addition, fat in rice bran contains gamma oryzanol which has been suggested to have muscle building properties in horses.” “A potential problem with many rice brans is that they contain more phosphorus than calcium. This may create an imbalance in rations that use grass hay as their primary forage source.” Rice bran is not fortified with vitamins and minerals, though adds additional fat and calories.
Flaxseed || High in Omega-3 [anti-inflammatory that increases skin and coat condition] and low in Omega-6 [essential in the diet; in large quantities causes inflammation]. Contains vitamins [Vitamin K, Folate, Choline] and minerals [Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium], but no starch or sugar.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Triple Crown Senior is the best feed you can commercially buy. High protein, high fat, high fiber, low starch & sugar, high calories, nutrient dense, healthy ingredients, high microorganisms. Contrary to what some may say, a high protein grain will not harm a healthy horse. Anything that the healthy adult horse does not use is simply eliminated by form of urination. If your horse develops urinary trouble, then there may be an underlying issue that must be addressed. Unless your equine is in this predicament, 14% protein will only help their bodies.
High fat doesn't always men what our minds think. Fat is a cool and healthy energy that also have a lovely side effect of making a horse's skin and coat absolutely gorgeous. This is due to the Omega content that fat usually has. Fats also tend to be calorie dense, which goes hand in hand with the fact that fats provide 'cool' energy; since there is no sugars or starch.
High fiber is wonderful to see in any feed, though with adult horses that eat 2% of their body weight a day in forage this isn't an issue. Though with true senior horses that eat this feed, fiber is a MUST! Triple Crown Senior easily turns into a mush when you add water for equines with no teeth to eat. The 1.725 BILLION microorganisms per pound of this feed, which is more potent than even the best probiotic supplement, creates a healthy gut that keeps the pH in check and maximizes nutrient absorption. Happy tummies equal happy ponies!
This feed is not only the best, but most diverse on the market. It can be fed to maintenance horses, working horses, performance horses, senior horses, metabolic horses, it's perfect for many scenarios. Often, Triple Crown goes above and beyond expectations and even dominates the competition in the vitamin & minerals. Here is a comparison chart that you can use as a visual aid. If you wish me to add something to the chart, feel free to message me!
 |
| Click to enlarge, green indicates in that category Triple Crown Senior is the best |
Facebook: Hannah Foraker
Twitter: HunterProbss
