Most compounds are formulated to provide a complete, well-balanced diet, to be fed with forage and water only. They also contain vitamins and minerals. By adding grain or other ingredients, this balance can be upset. Reputable suppliers will specify details of the contents and their analysis, on each bag. Compounds are consistent, economical to store and transport, and need no mixing. Many of them include a syrup to make them more palatable.
Nuts, or cubes, are made from a variety of ingredients, which are ground up, steamed and compressed. They are convenient, although individually prepared feeds are perhaps more appetising, more adaptable, more digestible and less expensive.
Complete nuts, or a complete mix, combine concentrates and roughage as a total diet. This makes feeding easy, and helps to prevent allergies to hay and dust, but more natural roughage would aid their digestion.
Concentrate nuts or mixes contain varying amounts of protein, energy, vitamins and minerals. They may be fed on their own with hay.
Coarse mixes range between a simple mixture of cereals and forage fibre to a high-protein mix containing soya meal, beans, peas, and linseed. The ingredients may be rolled, flaked, or micronised, and they are balanced with suitable levels of oil, vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
Assorted nuts: (a) foal pellets; (b) stud nuts; (c) alfalfa nuts; (d) competition (horse and pony) nuts.
Types of mix: (a) coarse mix, one of many varieties; (b) convalescent, for resting or injured horses; (c) stud mix, for mares and youngstock.