With the cost of the block added in, overall day-cost dropped 22%.

Ron and Laura Miller from Westcliffe, Colorado

Straight From The Horse's Mouth!

January 2000 • SweetPro¨ lick blocks have been used in the beef industry many different ways, but can the superior qualities of SweetPro supplements be used in a horse production program? Ron and Laura Miller from Westcliffe, Colorado, who knew the benefits of feeding SweetPro to cattle, decided to put SweetPro¨ to test on horses.

The Millers lease their horses for outfitters, guest ranches, and private individuals, so they need to maintain a high level of performance. With SweetPro, their horses showed the energy and endurance to perform at the Miller's high expectations. "With the SweetPro block, we noticed that our horses had more endurance but without becoming excitable - or Ôhot'."

A horse's physical appearance is also an important feature when leasing to clientele. With SweetPro blocks, Ron and Laura noticed immediate positive results. "They showed great coat shine within the first two weeks of using the block. They also had a noticeable change in mane and tail hair quality." Ron further commented that even when the horses are not clean, they still maintain a shiny, quality hair-coat.

Feeding SweetPro 16 also changed their horses' feeding efficiency, too - for the better! The Millers normally feed their horses hay every seven days, but when fed SweetPro, the hay would last ten days.

Laura figured they saved 24% on their hay cost per day, and with the cost of the block added in, she determined that the overall day-cost dropped 22%. Consumption of the block was one half to three quarters of a pound per day. "We could really tell that the horses were eating less because there was less hay stem and grain in the feces."

The Millers also noted that during the last three months of a mare's gestation, her nutritional requirements double. Consequently, they normally feed about twice as much hay and grain to meet their mares' nutritional demands. But when given the SweetPro block, the mares continued to eat regular amounts of grain with only a slight increase in hay - all while eating one pound of SweetPro per head per day.

Horse health was also improved with SweetPro blocks. The Millers' horses are wormed and given shots on a regular schedule. Before they used SweetPro, Ron and Laura had to treat for infectious diseases. However, since they began using SweetPro, the Millers have not had to treat outside of their normal schedule.

Laura also noted that "due to the changes in weather, area horse owners have noticed a green discharge in the noses of their horses, but we have yet to see this with our horses." She added, "another thing we noticed since we started using the block, is that our horses' eyes instantly cleared up. The eyes went from a reddish pink to a bright white."

With everything they saw with their horses, the Millers are convinced that proper nutrition is essential in general health and a horse's ability to perform physically. "When you have good genetics, feed quality hay, and properly supplement with a product such as SweetPro, there's nothing that you can't do with a horse."

Ron and Laura Miller can be reached by phone at (719) 429-2684
or e-mail at rancholoco@aol.com.

• New "Tool" nets $110 more per calf - Jan.1996
• Faster Pasture Gains with Tubs - Mar.1997
• Golden Glover - Not Your average Cow Puncher - Dec.1997
• Fresh Start for Stress Calves, with Sweet Pro Kaf Starter - June1999
• Straight From The Horse's Mouth! - Jan. 2000
• Heifer Breed-back Improves Sharply With SweetPro Tub - June 2000
• Stressed Calves Never Look Back, with SweetPro¨ Kaf Starter. - Jan./Feb.2001
• Weaning Bigger, Healthier Calves After Year 'round Supplementing with SweetPro¨ Lick Blocks - Sept./Oct.2001
• Breedback and weaning at the 7P - March 2004
• Stalwart Ranch - September 2004
• Dairy Cows recover from DA - March 2005
• A.J. Starr's Story - July 2005
• Milk Production came up and stayed up - August 2005
• Dairy Calves recover and mature faster on Fresh Start - May 2006
• Double O Charolais - June 2006