How to Read a Horse Feed Tag: A Line-by-Line Guide

Every bag of horse feed carries a tag packed with numbers. Once you know what to look for, you can compare feeds in minutes, spot the right type for your horse, and ask sharper questions. Here's how to read a horse feed tag, line by line.

What's on a horse feed tag

Feed labels in the US follow model rules from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), adopted by each state. Most horse feed tags include:

1. Product name and brand
2. Purpose statement: who it's for, like "for mature horses" or "for senior horses"
3. Guaranteed analysis: the box of nutrient numbers
4. Ingredient list
5. Feeding directions
6. Manufacturer name and address, and net weight
7. Warnings or cautions, if any

Let's go through the parts that matter most.

The guaranteed analysis

This is the heart of the tag. Each line is a minimum or a maximum, and values are "as fed," meaning they include the feed's natural moisture (usually around 10–12%).

Crude protein (min)

Protein supplies amino acids for muscle, hooves and repair. Most adult horses' protein needs are met largely by hay, so the feed's protein percentage matters most for growing horses, broodmares, hard-working horses and seniors. Ration balancers are often 25–32% protein because they're fed in small amounts.

Lysine (and other amino acids)

Lysine is usually the first limiting amino acid for horses, meaning it's the one most likely to run short. A tag that guarantees lysine (and sometimes methionine and threonine) tells you something about protein quality, not just quantity.

Crude fat (min)

Fat adds calories without sugar or starch. Typical feeds range from about 3% to 14% fat; high-fat supplements go much higher. Higher fat is often used for hard keepers and some muscle conditions. Easy keepers may not need the extra calories.

Crude fiber (max), ADF and NDF

Fiber comes from ingredients like beet pulp, soy hulls and forage. Higher fiber generally means slower-burning energy. Some tags also list ADF (acid detergent fiber) and NDF (neutral detergent fiber). Very roughly, lower ADF means more digestible fiber, and NDF relates to how much the horse can eat. Complete feeds, which replace hay, are higher in fiber.

Starch and sugar (max)

These aren't required, so many tags omit them. When listed, add them for an estimate of NSC (sugar + starch). This matters most for horses with insulin resistance, PPID, laminitis, ulcers or PSSM.

Minerals

• Calcium and phosphorus: both build bone. The balance between them matters across the whole diet; ask your vet if you're mixing several feeds or supplements.
• Copper, zinc, manganese, selenium: trace minerals for hooves, coat, immunity and muscle. Hay is often low in copper and zinc, which is one reason feeds are fortified. Selenium varies by region and can be toxic in excess, so count every source.

Vitamins

Vitamin A and vitamin E are the most commonly listed. Fresh grass is the main natural source of vitamin E, so horses without good pasture may run low. Natural vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) is generally better absorbed than synthetic forms.

A worked example

Here's a made-up senior feed tag, and how to read it:

Try our interactive tap-to-learn feed tag to explore each line.

Reading the ingredient list

Ingredients are listed in order by weight, from most to least. A few things to watch:

• Collective terms. Names like "grain products," "processed grain by-products," "plant protein products" and "roughage products" are allowed on labels. They let a mill switch ingredients (oats for corn, for example) without changing the tag. If consistency matters for your horse, look for feeds that name each ingredient or are sold as a "fixed formula."
• Molasses adds sugar and potassium, and helps with taste and dust.
• Fiber sources like beet pulp, soybean hulls and alfalfa or grass meal provide energy with less starch.
• Fat sources like vegetable oil, rice bran and flaxseed add calories.
• Mineral forms. "Proteinate" or "amino acid complex" forms of trace minerals are often marketed as better absorbed; research is mixed but generally supportive.

Our ingredient analysis explains dozens of common ingredients in plain English.

Feeding directions: the most skipped section

Feeding directions tell you how much to feed for your horse's weight and work, usually in pounds per 100 lb of body weight or pounds per day. This matters more than people think:

• The vitamins and minerals on the tag assume you feed the full amount. If you feed half the recommended amount, your horse gets roughly half the fortification.
• Many easy keepers are fed far below the label rate. In that case, a ration balancer may supply nutrients better without extra calories. Ask your vet.
• Directions are by weight, not scoops. A quart of pellets can weigh nearly twice as much as a quart of a fluffy textured feed. Weigh your scoop once on a kitchen scale.

Safety notes

• Only feed horses products made for horses. Some feeds for cattle and other livestock contain ingredients, like certain ionophore additives, that are dangerous or deadly to horses.
• Check the date and lot on the tag, and don't feed moldy or musty feed.
• Store feed securely, since a horse that breaks into the feed room can develop colic or laminitis.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and further reading

• Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Model regulations for commercial feed labeling.
• National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 6th revised edition (2007).
• University extension horse programs on reading feed labels (for example, Penn State and University of Minnesota Extension).
• American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP): owner resources on nutrition.