Tribute Kalm N Ez [Original & Plus GC]

 Tribute Kalm n EZ

14% Protein - 8% Fat - 20% Fiber
14% NSC; 1,470 kcal/lb
870 Million Microorganisms/ lb
Ingredients: Beet Pulp, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Ground Extruded Whole Soybeans, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Soybean Oil -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 ||

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’.

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.

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.

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At $16 a bag Tribute Kalm N Ez is the absolute best maintenace grain you could provide your horse. The guaranteed analysis [vitamins & minerals & microorganisms] is extensive and very well rounded. The nutrition is dervived from healthy ingredients, and with a low sugar & starch will not make your horse hot and will also support a healthy gut. The 'plus GC' also provides joint support in the form of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and MSM.

Glucosamine HCl 1,250mg/ lb
Chondroitin Sulfate 440mg/ lb
MSM [Sulfur] No Guarantee

Assuming you are feeding the recommended dose for an adult 1,000lb horse in light work, you would be feeding 6-10lbs a day. This would provide 7,500mg - 12,500mg Glucosamine daily which is as potent as popular joint supplements. 2,640mg - 4,400mg Chondroitin also follows the same pattern. This makes for a basic, maintenance joint supplement that is a good preventative for horses in work. If your horse has arthritis is needs more support I recommend a supplement that contains Hyluronic Acid [ex. Actiflex 4,000].

As a whole, Tribute Kalm N Ez is a fantastic grain and 'plus GC' is even better.