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September 2016 THE HORSE TheHorse.com
reliably producing safe equine feed, but
they have specific requirements that they
must follow beginning as soon as Sep-
tember 2016, depending on the size of the
facility," Norris says. "As a horse owner,
you will probably not visibly see changes,
but knowledge of the new requirements
is helpful in being able to ask your feed
mill what specific steps they are taking to
comply with the new PCAF rule."
Knowledge is Power
We all want peace of mind when it
comes to feeding our horses. And we
hands-on horse owners can rest assured
that some of the responsibility to make
the safest feed decisions falls into our
own hands. Ask your feed manufacturer
the following questions:
1. What standards are in place for choos-
ing feed ingredients? For example, does
the feed mill purchase ingredients from
sellers known for producing grain of
consistent quality and nutritive value?
2. Does the feed mill test incoming grain
for any natural contaminants?
3. Does the feed mill produce or store
any medicated feeds or supplements,
including ionophores?
4. Does the feed mill produce and store
horse feed separate from medicated
feeds, if they produce both? This
includes all aspects of feed production,
from intake and processing to mixing
and pelleting to bagging and packaging.
5. Does the feed mill use third-party
manufacturers to produce any of the
ingredients in their horse feed? If so, do
these manufacturers produce, package,
or store any medicated products?
Feed transport services and stores also
play vital roles in feed safety by handling
and storing products responsibly. Person-
nel should transport and store medi-
cated feeds separately from horse feed to
prevent contamination. Inquire with your
manufacturer and feed store about their
procedures for handling horse feed safely.
Take-Home Message
Production of safe, contaminant-free
feed happens in the many steps from
farm to feed bucket. With the implemen-
tation of the FSMA, the FDA is able to
require feed manufacturers to recognize
potential hazards and set the standards
for risk-based preventive measures. While
these changes might not necessarily be
noticeable to you as the consumer, know
that regulators are working behind the
scenes to keep your horses safe.
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