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 Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
   
Location: SW North Dakota | 2017 was a terrible year for hay in my country, and my square bales are dry and rather rank because of the drought. A friend of mine started dealing Danco cubes, so I did a search, as I know hay cubes are discussed a lot here.
I have zero experience with blister beetles- I am not sure if they are a "thing" here in ND. Some of the stuff I read on previous threads talked about concerns regarding BB poinsoning in from hay cubes. Sounds like it isn't very fun...
I'm looking for honest, factual reviews on Danco cubes specifically. We have fed cubes in the past (standlee from TSC- the quality is inconsistent), when we've had tough years for nice horse hay. I'm wondering if I'd be better to travel with rank (not moldy or dusty, just dry and stemmy) square bales, or feed cubes.
Not for daily feeding, we have beautiful round bales that are 80% grass, 20% alfalfa for that... |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | I've been feeding the Omnis cubes and nothing else (no additional grain or hay whatsoever) for about 7 or 8 months now and I couldn't be any happier with them and how my horses are doing on them. The only time I give any extra grass hay is when we have the 50 degree temp drops and it get super cold for our region. These pics are from this past weekend and fresh out of the pasture. I don't blanket or anything, so excuse the fluff and dirt. My two mares are FAT on them. I love these cubes, love that they have the whole oat and flax added in, but don't have any additional synthetitc vits or acid buffers or anything else. I'm very happy with these cubes for my crew.
Edited by Herbie 2018-01-17 10:19 AM
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | I used to be a dealer waaaay down here in South Louisiana, if it weren't for the freight being so stinking expensive to haul them this far I would still be using and selling them. My horses never looked better on the Omnis cubes and I had several people driving 2-3 hours to buy them from me and they said the same thing.
?The only other problem I had with the Omnis is that this area is heavily populated with mostly TB (some QH) trainers and race people do not use cubes, ever! So it took me a while to use and sell an entire semi load. During the summer our humidity, bugs, mice etc. would ruin a few tons because I couldn't move them fast enough. As far north as you are, you should have no problems and they come from Canada so no worries about blister beetles. Also, every truckload I got was always very fresh and made my whole barn smell good, even in our climate they stayed fresh for 2-3 months. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I have been feeding them since November 2016 and have been very happy with the quality. Horses eat them good, look great, and they’re so soft I don’t have to soak them for the old horses. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| If you go to their Facebook page they say their hay comes from north of the 49 parallel where the long sub zero temps make extremely hard for blister beetles to survive. I am also very worried about blister beetles and I use the Mustang Sally cubes from Danco. They break apart easily too so I don’t have to soak them. The horses look good on them and I don’t have any pawing over feed tubs and the horses have quit gobbling their food and are eating quietly and slowly which I am told is much better for their digestion . |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| Closest dealer to me is about a 7 hour drive...... I would love to try them. The Tractor supply stores around here only stock 2-3 bags of the Standlee at a time.. PITA. My mare is having quite a time this winter with hay allergies. THe hay I get is beautiful but dusty as Heck !!! So I have been soaking it and using a net rather than tub she has to stick her head down in.. SUCKSSSSSS |
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Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | They are the Omnis cubes. Another quick question. We bought a horse this fall who (according to the breeder/original owner) cannot tolerate oats. She fed him Nutrena Fuel, which I bought and have been feeding him, although I'm not a nutrena fan. She said she ran blood on him and was told he doesn't handle starches very well...
At 15% oats, I'm wondering if he can tolerate this? I hate to trial and error, as he's a pretty nice barrel horse and feed through issues can take a while to show up and resolve.
Thoughts? |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | ND3canAddict - 2018-01-17 10:37 AM They are the Omnis cubes. Another quick question. We bought a horse this fall who (according to the breeder/original owner) cannot tolerate oats. She fed him Nutrena Fuel, which I bought and have been feeding him, although I'm not a nutrena fan. She said she ran blood on him and was told he doesn't handle starches very well...
At 15% oats, I'm wondering if he can tolerate this? I hate to trial and error, as he's a pretty nice barrel horse and feed through issues can take a while to show up and resolve.
Thoughts?
IMO there is a big misconception about oats. I have fed whole oats for several years with alfalfa and either flax or BOSS and have never had any issue. I also know others who said the same thing about oats, but when they fed oats as they should be fed, about a pound per feeding, they have not had issues either. I know PSSM horse who have done well on alfalfa and whole oats. It's all about the volume of oats and if utilized correctly, it's very beneficial in the performance horse diet.
Danco also offers the Omega cubes that do not have the whole oat in them, but rather double the flax and a blend of alfalfa and another grass hay, either brome or orchard grass (not sure here), for those who are adamant their horses can't tolerate the oats.
I personally want the oat in the diet for many reasons and that is one of the main things I love about this cube in particular. |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | ND3canAddict - 2018-01-17 10:37 AM They are the Omnis cubes. Another quick question. We bought a horse this fall who (according to the breeder/original owner) cannot tolerate oats. She fed him Nutrena Fuel, which I bought and have been feeding him, although I'm not a nutrena fan. She said she ran blood on him and was told he doesn't handle starches very well...
At 15% oats, I'm wondering if he can tolerate this? I hate to trial and error, as he's a pretty nice barrel horse and feed through issues can take a while to show up and resolve.
Thoughts?
I would think it would depend on the actual reason he "doesn't handle starches well". Because of the way the oats are mixed into the cubes, they don't get the carb/sugar dump in their gut or bloodstream. |
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Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | Generally all I feed is a couple pounds of oats, RG and good grass hay pitched off a round bale. They don't have 24 hour access to the bale, but we pitch enough where they have most of it cleaned up before the next feeding. I sorta feel like "no oats" is one of those weird, trendy, crazy horse lady things... haha!
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | Where in ND are they being sold now?
Edited by MidWest1452 2018-01-17 11:06 AM
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Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | MidWest1452 - 2018-01-17 10:00 AM Where in ND are they people sold now?
Watford City/Keene |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | ND3canAddict - 2018-01-17 11:03 AM MidWest1452 - 2018-01-17 10:00 AM Where in ND are they people sold now? Watford City/Keene
Ally AS FAR AWAY FROM US AS POSSIBLE....like always. lol   |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | SmokinGirlie - 2018-01-17 12:04 PM
ND3canAddict - 2018-01-17 11:03 AM MidWest1452 - 2018-01-17 10:00 AM Where in ND are they people sold now? Watford City/Keene
UGH! I know! Haha!  |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | I tried becoming a dealer in Central ND, as the cubes pretty much mimic what I feed to my herd and after, messages, emails and calls no one would call me back 
IMO, I would not worry about the oats, I'm thinking the results of oats, MIGHT show up early-as in "hot" horse?? (I too feel like the crazy horse lady has struck) I think they would be an excellent cube that really should fit right in with your needs (provided what they claim is true) If I'm not mistaken, you should be able to feed them without soaking which would be a great thing when traveling. Annnd, I think you should check bisman, I've noticed a few "new" ads for some nice hay that have popped up in the last few weeks-I think people were stockpiling it if they had good stuff. |
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Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | MidWest1452 - 2018-01-17 12:29 PM SmokinGirlie - 2018-01-17 12:04 PM ND3canAddict - 2018-01-17 11:03 AM MidWest1452 - 2018-01-17 10:00 AM Where in ND are they people sold now? Watford City/Keene UGH! I know! Haha!
What are you talking about?! You guys are closer to a lot more action over there! haha. I'm happy they are less than 2 hrs and get my way often. They gave me a bag to try, I might get 20 bags and not worry about hauling my sad square bales this spring! YAY |
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It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | ND3canAddict - 2018-01-17 2:22 PM MidWest1452 - 2018-01-17 12:29 PM SmokinGirlie - 2018-01-17 12:04 PM ND3canAddict - 2018-01-17 11:03 AM MidWest1452 - 2018-01-17 10:00 AM Where in ND are they people sold now? Watford City/Keene UGH! I know! Haha!
You guys have all the cool stuff though lol! |
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Expert
Posts: 1207
| From my understanding you do not soak the Omnis cubes as they have flax in them, the Mustang Sally cubes you can soak, the new cube out by Danco I believe you can soak. Any of these you really shouldn't have to soak as they are a softer and smaller cube. My horses have been on the Omnis cubes for about a year and a half and they still are totally in love with them. I do give them the Standlee alfalfa/oat cubes soaked in the mornings especially in the winter as they are a harder cube and it is easier for my 27 year old to chew plus it gives my supplements something to stick to. It is not mushy just a little wetness to the cube. I also still feed a grass hay in their round bale ring for something to keep them out of trouble as the grass has pretty much dried up. In the spring/summer (depending on rain) I do not feed much (if any) hay. Of course mine are all pasture ornaments at the present time. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | does anyone know of a dealer thats in Ohio?? ive been looking into feeding these but cant seem to find anyone near me. Id really like to add these to their diet considering our hay was less than good for this year.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | MidWest1452 - 2018-01-17 1:29 PM SmokinGirlie - 2018-01-17 12:04 PM ND3canAddict - 2018-01-17 11:03 AM MidWest1452 - 2018-01-17 10:00 AM Where in ND are they people sold now? Watford City/Keene UGH! I know! Haha!
Sooo....is SD off limits or something?! LOL. There is a dealer is Sisseton (closest to all of us!!) and Miller. Ive spoken to Mark in Sisseton before but it didnt really sound like he was an actual dealer. He just had a ton on hand because he uses so much. But I'm sure money talks!
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