The details on this page have been extracted from the Spillers™ Brochure which has been reproduced as accurately as possible but with slight visual changes for the web arena. Should you wish to use the Spillers brochure for any form of guarantee or similar, then you should request a hard copy brochure i.e. one that Spillers have produced. Spillers and their product brand names are registered trademarks of Spillers. Their information is re-produced here for the purposes of promoting the Spillers brand and should not be re-produced for any other purpose without their permission |
Spillers Expertise
Spillers has been a household name for over fifty years. Compound horse feed was invented by Spillers, with the introduction of Horse and Pony Cubes in 1958. Since then many specialist feeds have been introduced to meet the needs of a wide variety of equines. Our whole range is featured on the following pages.
The range now includes compounds, provender (straights), forages, supplements and treats. All this is backed up by the expertise for which Spillers is famous. Our Helpline is manned by qualified nutritionists, who are on hand to help with any feeding query, small or large. So, if you can't find the answer you need here, just give us a call, we'll be pleased to hear from you.
HOW much should I
feed?
Estimating bodyweight
When calculating a diet, a good starting point is to know the bodyweight of your horse.
The most practical way is to use a Spillers' weighband. After actually weighing some 2000
horses and ponies, and measuring their girths; we can estimate bodyweight to within 2-3%
for average horses and ponies, and to within 6-8% for the rest. You can purchase a
weighband, which works everything out for you, via the Spillers Helpline.
So what's next?
Next you calculate how much food your horse needs in total per day. This is around 2-2.5% of bodyweight, In normal work 2% should be ample, but if he's in hard work, then 2.5% is more like it. A weighband will tell you the appropriate amount of feed relative to bodyweight. This total is not just hard feed, but forage as well. This table gives you a guide as to how the feed should be split.
So for example for a 500kg horse in light work the total ration will be 500 x 2% = 10 kg, of which 7kg will be forage and 3kg will be hardfeed.
Also remember to weigh your feedstuffs. Typically a slice of hay weighs about 2kg but feed scoops come in all shapes and sizes, so its best to double check what weight of cubes or mix your scoops hold
GUIDE TO FEED REQUIREMENTS
Staying in control
You should be able to feel your horse's ribs fairly easily, but not see them. There
shouldn't be pads of fat around the tail, or along the neck, but he should have a smooth
covering over the hips and point of shoulder.
If you find that he's putting on weight, then reduce the hard feed slightly. if he still
gains weight, then change over to a feed one or two Factors lower.
If he's losing weight increase
the hay ration first. If that doesn't work, you can move up a Factor if need be.
just make sure that the overall hard feed percentage doesn't exceed the figures given;
every horse needs a good base of forage in order for his gut to function correctly
THE SPILLERS FACTOR SYSTEM
To get the best out of any horse
it is important to choose the right feed. This is not always easy, so Spillers have
devised a totally new system to help: The Spillers Factor System.
Our
compound feeds are now colour coded, relative to the power of the feed. Then, each feed
has been given a Factor number which accurately
describes its overall feed values (not just energy, but source of energy, fibre, protein
and micro-nutrients as well). These Factor numbers are clearly printed on the front of
every sack.
So, simply look at the Category and Function column on this
page to find the Factor band which most accurately matches your horse. Then, look across
and choose your preferred energy source from Superfibre Blends, Classic Blends or
Growth and Gain.
If your first choice
is not quite right, you can just move up or down one, within the
same group, or, change to a feed with different energy source, but the same or similar
Factor. Whatever you decide, you'll know exactly where you are, all the time.
Category and Function
A unique new
colour-coded system to help choose the right feed for your horse, at every age and level
of work.
Factor 1
Ration bulking and appetising
Factor 2
Hay replacement or ration bulking
Factors 3-4
Maintenance
Light to medium work
Good doers and native breeds
Out-wintering or box-resting animal
Factors 4-5
Light to medium work
Horses that "heat-up" on grain feeds
Good doers in hard work
Barren mares and 1st, 8 months in-
older horses
Factors 6-8
Showing and conditioning
Weight gain (horses in work)
Horses who tend to run up light
Broodmares and Stallions
Factors 9-10
Horses in hard work and full training
Racing, Polo, Eventing and Endurance
Thoroughbreds and lighter breeds
Growing Youngstock
Factor 15
Concentrate for balancing grain, in performance and breeding stock
