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About Us: An Historical Context 
  
Back in the late 1970’s there was a movement in the US which envisioned energy independence based on every farm having its own alcohol plant. Grain grown for livestock feed would first be fermented for alcohol and then what remained would be fed to livestock.

At a much earlier time, and continuing into the 1940’s, many small farmers steeped barley before feeding to livestock—“slopping the hogs,” as it was called when feeding pigs. 

While both of these areas faded over time due to various influences such as economies of scale, elements relating to the fermented feeds have been embraced and refined by SweetPro Feeds. As an example, early farm scale ethanol plants, which, of necessity, had used low temperature cooking, were unable to distill whole mash, so the liquid portion was screened out separately for distilling. The remaining thick mash still contained significant amounts of alcohol and all the yeast and enzymes used to ferment were never subjected to the killing temperatures of distilling. 

Many of the dairymen using this feed found themselves in the awkward position of overflowing their dairy’s bulk tanks because the cows were so much more productive. 

The steeped barley of yesteryear was often times germinating and thus releasing a multitude of enzymes needed for initial plant growth. Those enzymes coupled with fermented starches made a powerful improvement in feed utilization. But in the end, the cumbersome techniques and difficulty with storage and labor took their toll and these approaches faded away.

The science behind these low tech procedures, however, was anything but low tech. Probiotic proliferation was rampant, yeast and their nutralites increased, phytic acid tie-up of minerals was eliminated. In short, the science was exceptional but the mechanics were too limiting. 

SweetPro Feeds has managed to overcome the mechanical limitation, seize the science and indeed, take the science to new levels with organic complexed trace minerals and prebiotic oligosaccharides to deliver maximum performance potential. Low temperature cooking is standard, natural amylolytic, fibrinolytic and proteolytic enzymes are at work, and a blend of cereal grains (wheat, oats, and barley malt) plus flax are used in fermentation to assure the most complementary amino acid profile is available to help your horse build muscle. 

Everything about SweetPro’s ProBiotein processing is geared toward improving nutrient utilization, which in turn reflects itself in improved animal health, performance and feed utilization. All without “breaking the bank.” 

There are lots of fermented feeds in the marketplace, but nothing quite like SweetPro’s ProBiotein, where the emphasis is on fermentation as the primary objective, not a byproduct. Also a blend of complementary nutrients is embraced over reliance on a single “silver bullet.” EquiPride and EquiLix are especially rewarding products for SweetPro because they do so much for animals that people care so much about. 

The impact has been greater than in production agriculture and the many stories of remarkable recoveries are very gratifying. We are pleased to be part of the equine industry and grateful for the wonderful reception our products are getting. 


Robert Thornberg
SweetPro Feeds

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Barbaro and Laminitis Research Fund

SweetPro Feeds has made the commitment to donate $1.50 per EquiPride or EquiLix sold on the internet towards Laminitis research.

You can join us in the fight against this devastating condition by matching our contribution above.

If SweetPro receives $5,000 or more in contributions during a period of 1 month's time we will again match this amount over and above the $1.50 per item sold on the internet.
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We at SweetPro Feeds were saddened by the news of Barbaro’s passing. Like so many others around the world, we were captivated by the brave colt’s will to live and his protracted defiance of the long odds against him. When he was put down, it was like losing a family member, especially because we’d participated, however distantly, in his care.

SweetPro’s horse supplement, EquiPride, was included in Barbaro’s ration starting in late July, after he’d suffered a serious case of laminitis in his left hind leg. It is impossible to determine how much impact EquiPride may have had, since there were several other treatments, both surgical and nutritional, being employed and the colt refused to eat his full dose at first. Structured formal studies are needed to verify the positive testimonials we have been getting from other owners/veterinarians dealing with laminitic horses fed EquiPride.

We made a commitment in December to allocate a portion of every sale of EquiPride toward laminitis research. Our commitment stands. We know that the body of knowledge has grown because of Barbaro’s extraordinary care and we are anxious to help it continue to grow.

Nutrition and healing are partners. Delivery of the right nutrients, in the right form, to the cells involved in restoring damaged bone and tissue must accompany and complement surgical measures, pain management and emergency care required in treatment of serious injury. Further study of these relationships will help advance the body of knowledge.

Robert R. Thornberg,
President
Harvest Fuel Inc., (dba SweetPro Feeds)
P.O. Box 69
Walhalla, ND 58282
(800) 327 9222 (701) 459 3450 fax (701) 549 3440
www.equipride.biz and www.sweetpro.com