Understanding Horse Feed Nutrition Labels and Guaranteed Analysis
From label to stable, demystifying the nutritional information on your horse’s feed.
One of the best ways to ensure your horse is getting everything they need to thrive is by taking a closer look at what goes into them. Literally.
Beyond forage, that means breaking down their horse feed into basic components, which you’ll find on the label. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you navigate what, on the surface, may seem like a complicated read.
Start with the basics
First things first, the basic information on the front of the bag will generally include:
- Product and brand name
- Purpose statement: This describes the species and class of animal the feed is for.
- Feed form: Sentinel® offers a full line of extruded feed for horses of all ages and activity levels.
What’s extrusion?
Extrusion is the process of pressure cooking ingredients by combining moisture, heat and pressure to form easily chewed nuggets, which helps to promote increased digestibility and a healthy rate of intake, which may help lower the risk of feed-related choke and certain digestive disturbances. Watch our video on extruded feed to learn more.
Decoding the guaranteed analysis
This section is a breakdown of key ingredients and nutrients in the horse feed. To meet regulations, the following nutrients must be guaranteed on a horse feed label: Crude Protein, Crude Fat, Crude Fiber, ADF, NDF, Calcium, Phosphorus, Copper, Zinc, Selenium and Vitamin A.
What to look for
What are min and max?
Ingredients and nutrients are expressed as the minimum or maximum amount included in the feed and do not specify an exact amount.
Crude protein
Measured as a percentage, this shows the feed’s protein content. Horses in heavy work, growth or breeding stages may need higher levels.
Look for higher protein levels in a product like Sentinel Safe Start.
Crude fat
A source of energy, higher fat feeds may be ideal for performance horses or hard keepers.
High fat Sentinel products include Sentinel Performance LS.
Crude fiber
Providing energy and healthy digestive function, high-quality fiber sources promote gut health.
All Sentinel feeds contain quality fiber sources, including Sentinel Grow & Excel.
Check the ingredient list on your horse feed
The ingredients and nutrients on the list are usually listed in descending order by weight.
What to look for
Fixed-formula vs. least-cost formula
A fixed-ingredient formula uses a particular set of quality ingredients limited to a precise range to ensure the product always meets nutrient specifications while providing a consistent diet supporting healthy digestive function. In a fixed-ingredient formula, you’ll typically see specific ingredient names (alfalfa meal, oats, soybean hulls), ensuring your horse is getting consistent feed bag after bag. Least-cost formulas typically use nonspecific grouped ingredient names (grain products, plant products, grain by-products) and the order of the ingredients tends to change.
Vitamins and minerals
Look for key minerals like calcium and phosphorus that are important for metabolic health plus minerals like copper, zinc, manganese and selenium which are vital for bone development and immune system support. In addition to Vitamins A, D and E, look for B-vitamins including Biotin & Niacin. Pay particular attention to the biological forms of trace minerals and look for the more biologically available organic forms such as amino acid complexes which are more readily available.
Specialty ingredients
Search for specialty ingredients like flaxseed, which contains Omega-3 fatty acids for skin and coat health, joint health and immune system support. Also look for “yeast extract,” which is a highly beneficial prebiotic. And don’t be thrown by big words like Enterococcus Faecium or Lactobacillus Acidophilus. These are important probiotics for digestive health. In fact, look for words like this on the Guaranteed Analysis to ensure the manufacturer is guaranteeing the levels of important probiotics in the feed.
Understand special additives
Modern feeds often include:
- Prebiotics and probiotics: Help maintain digestive health and microbial fermentation for sustained nutrient digestibility, absorption and assimilation.
- Marine sourced calcium: Supports gastric pH and health, especially during times of stress, which is especially beneficial if your horse has ulcers or a history of ulcers.
Assess feeding directions
The feeding directions guide you on the amount of feed to provide based on your horse’s weight and activity level.
What to look for
Life StageFoal, adult and senior
Activity LevelLight, moderate and heavy
Physiological ConditionsPregnancy and lactation
Special ConditionsRescue, hard keeper, easy keeper and metabolic conditions
Look at the net weight
This gives you a good estimate of your feed cost per day. It’s also useful for comparing different feed options by determining how long each bag will last based on your daily feeding rate.
Know the manufacturer
In case you experience an issue with your horse’s feed, it’s a good idea to know the manufacturer and their contact information. Look for the feed’s lot number or date code for tracking purposes. Also, be sure the manufacturer offers a product guarantee. For example, if you are not completely satisfied with any bag of Sentinel Horse Feed, the product can be returned for a replacement or refund.
Need help?
Ask an expert
The Sentinel team can help you make the best nutritional decisions for your horse. Our team of nutritionists is available to answer all your equine nutrition questions, from the right feed for your horse to the best diet for different digestive health concerns.
