The Fodder Solutions system has sales of over 1100 systems worldwide, and makes it the leader in fodder production systems. Now manufactured here in the UK, the users of the system are reporting great improvements in their horses since switching them onto a fresh fodder diet. The feed is based on placing barley seed in specifically designed trays inside the system, and as the trays slide through the system from one end to the other, the seed is irrigated and temperature controlled providing the ideal conditions for the seeds to sprout into an 8Kg mat of grass.
Clayton and Lucinda have been using the feed on some of their top performers for several months, and have seen great changes since switching them onto the fodder. They are excited at the prospect of having the whole yard on a fresh fodder diet.
Clayton explains why they have decided to switch to the Fodder Solutions system: “I wanted to try it on the mare, BE My Guest. She is not the easiest in the world and if anything would be a good test for keeping a horse quiet. And it worked. She is relaxed and can work really well with plenty of energy, galloping really well without all the fight at the beginning. The benefits are huge, not just the cost saving, but it is better for their digestion, their coats are doing really well and there is still the flexibility of altering the seed mix for more protein”
There are many benefits to feeding fodder, including:
- Alkalinity – helping to combat gut acidosis and ulcers
- Enzymes – improving fermentation and bacterial environment in the gut
- Hydration – 80-85% moisture means excellent natural water intake, and good hydration levels aiding performance and recovery
- Nutrition – basic format nutrition means it is easily broken down, and easily assimilated:
- Protein: amino acid format, giving excellent muscle condition and recovery
- Oil: fatty acid format, giving excellent coat condition and strong hoof growth
- Starch: simple sugars, giving excellent energy levels
Clayton describes the horses’ nutritional requirements and how the fodder provides it: “These horses are top athletes, and like any athlete they need to have a lot of protein to produce strong muscles, tendons and ligaments. They are actually getting higher protein levels than they would from a traditional processed feed. I like the fact that I can increase quite significantly the amount of protein in their diet to build muscle without the risk of tying up. On the day after galloping, I might expect them to come out a little tight and sore in their muscles, but they are actually coming out soft and supple, so I am sure that the feed is having a beneficial effect on moving the lactic acid build up after hard work.”
Feeding the fodder is easy, the 8Kg mat is pulled from the system, put in a trailer and taken to the stables, there the mat is put in the feeders and the horses happily get stuck in, eating the whole mat with no waste. For those in competition, additional seeds can be sprouted, including sunflower and lupin, these seeds are sprinkled on top of the barley seeds and provide higher levels of protein, oil and starch required for the work that top competition horses are required to perform.
Clayton recalls how much the horses enjoy the fodder: “The feed is very palatable – it is a bit different to eat and to begin with they did not seem quite sure about eating the whole mat – but once they know how to eat it they just chuff in! If you walk down the stables carrying a mat, they all want it! I wanted something that was cost effective and Fodder Solutions seemed to make a lot of sense. Initially it was the cost benefit that attracted me, and even if it was not for the top horses I felt that it still made sense as the basis for feeding the yard”
The Fodder Solutions UK website can give you more information – and you might like to see this recent coverage.
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