Although corn is used as a calorie source due to its starch content, corn also provides essential nutrients such as copper, lysine and manganese. To reach the same nutritional value for each of these nutrients found in 1 lb. of Gro 'n Win^® (but with no starch), you would have to feed your horse the following amounts of corn:

A TOTAL OF 108 LBS. OF CORN
75 LBS OF CORN FOR COPPER
25 LBS OF CORN FOR MANGANESE
8 LBS OF CORN FOR LYSINE

Copper is a component of several enzymes involved in the synthesis and maintenance of elastic connective tissue, the mobilization of irons stores, synthesis of the body pigment melanin, as well as being involved in the health and preservation of cellular mitochondria.

Lysine is the first limiting amino acid in horses, and is an essential building block for protein formation. Lysine is one of the most crucial amino acids, especially in growing horse rations.

Manganese is essential for the synthesis of the chondroitin sulfate needed for cartilage formation, and is necessary for lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. These are both functions involved mostly in reproduction and growth.

Molasses is typically added to horse feed to make it more palatable because of its sugar content. However, adding molasses to a feed can enhance the nutritional value, as minerals such as zinc and lysine can be utilized by the horse. These same minerals can be found in Gro 'n Win®, with no added sugar. One difference between Gro 'n Win® and a sweet feed is how much you have to feed . The nutritional value of lysine and zinc in 1 lb of Gro 'n Win® is equal to:

A TOTAL OF 6.5 GALLONS OF MOLASSES
4.5 GALLONS FOR LYSINE
2 GALLONS FOR ZINC

Lysine is the first limiting amino acid in horses, and is an essential building block for protein formation. Lysine is one of the most crucial amino acids, especially in growing horse rations.

Zinc is present in more than 100 enzymes in the horse's body that assist in the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates. Zinc is considered to play a role in growth and prevention of developmental orthopedic disorders.

Oats, like corn, are a good calorie source for horses. Vitamins A & E, along with minerals such as cobalt can also be found in oats. These same vitamins and minerals are fortified in Gro 'n Win® (without the starch). The nutritional value of cobalt, vitamin A and vitamin E in 1 lb of Gro 'n Win® is equal to:

A TOTAL OF 2,599.5 LBS OF OATS
66.5 LBS FOR COBALT
2500 LBS FOR VITAMIN A
33 LBS FOR VITAMIN E

Cobalt's only known function is as an integral part of vitamin B-12. Cecal and colonic microflora of the horse use dietary cobalt to synthesize vitamin B-12.

Vitamin A, also called retinol, is important for maintaining good vision. It is also important in bone and muscle growth of young horses, in reproduction, and in healthy skin. New research has revealed that vitamin A has a key role in immune response to infection as well.

Vitamin E enhances immune function, is essential for cellular respiration, involved in DNA synthesis, and improves the absorption and storage of vitamin A. Most importantly, vitamin E and selenium are anti-oxidants that help protect the horse's body tissues from the damaging effects of oxidation.

As a source of fiber, beet pulp is high in calories and will help horses gain weight. Beet pulp also contains manganese, which can also be found in Gro 'n Win®. To obtain the same amount of manganese from 1 lb of Gro 'n Win®, your horse would have to eat:

27.5 LBS OF BEET PULP

Manganese is essential for the synthesis of the chondroitin sulfate needed for cartilage formation, and is necessary for lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. These are both functions involved mostly in reproduction and growth.

Forage is often the base of a horse's diet, but doesn't have enough essential nutrients to be fed alone. Gro 'n Win® is the only thing you need to provide in a horse's diet besides forage. That's because Gro 'n Win® balances minerals, such as zinc, that are deficient in forage. For example, to get the same zinc levels in 1 lb of Gro 'n Win®, your horse would have to eat:

62 LBS OF PASTURE
OR
25 LBS OF GRASS HAY

Zinc is present in more than 100 enzymes in the horse's body that assist in the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates. Zinc is considered to play a role in growth and prevention of developmental orthopedic disorders.