Sportmix 24/20 or 26/18, Which do you prefer?

[stoked]

My dogs have been putting on a little weight, and so has their owner! ha ha..

I was just wondering, should i switch to 26/18 or stay with 24/20 and just feed less. I feed a small folgers coffee can a day and it's stacking weight on my dogs. It's hard to believe that the little amount i feed can put that much weight on. Of course, i haven't been hunting lately due to the heat. In the winter, 24/20 seems to keep them just about right.

Kinda wondering if i should feed 26/18 in the summer, and switch back to 24/20 in the winter.

Protein builds muscle, so would that be better all year around? The thing is, if you run your dogs a lot, it's hard to keep weight on them.

I like a few ribs showing, but not too skinny.

What kind of fat protein ratio is the best and most popular with hog dogs?

[Hog stalker]

   I feed sportmix 26/18 all year and just feed a  little less at times but it keeps mine just right, I been feedin  the sportmix for almost two years now and I really like the 26/18 ratio.

[Mike]

I feed and prefer the higher fat content for working dogs. Just cut back and bump up accordingly during the summer and winter.

[TColt]

I was feeding sport mix (24 20) and switched to diamond performance (30 20) which is a little more expensive but i noticed a big difference in the look of my dogs after just a week or two. Diamond Performance is the best I have gotten for money spent. This is during the summer when the dogs dont get a whole lot of exercise. Im ready to see what they look like this winter when they are running more. I have tried diamond hi-energy, diamond sporting dog, sportmix, and diamond performance.

[lonewolf]

I feed diamond! I tried to keep the dogs on the 12% fat this summer but it did'nt work very well. The dogs just did'nt look good. I switched to the 26-18 premium adult and in just a little while they picked up and started looking better. A lot less clean up in the kennel also.

[rafterfpuncher]

I feed a custom feed that is 26\18 year round.  My dogs are used year round, but they stay in excellent shape on the one pound can per day.  I have a dealership on this feed, if anyone is interested it's running $16.00 a bag for 50# fob Turkey, Texas.  If I could put together a good load, I would bring a load to East Texas once a month or so.  If interested, call my cell phone @ (405)397-1789.



                                                                      Thanks,  Wes

[lonewolf]

Hey Wes who is making this feed and what's the ingrediants?

[rafterfpuncher]

Pied Piper--51% lean beef and bone meal--very good feed, very little waste

[txmaverick]

just go hunt run some of it off

[matt_aggie04]

Pied Piper--51% lean beef and bone meal--very good feed, very little waste

Do you get that at the mill in Hamlin?

[rafterfpuncher]

yes sir

[TX HOG]

just keep them in shape and exercise them in the hottest part of the day to build up their tolerance to heat. i like to run them behind the 4wheeler and have a 5 gallon bucket of ice water.
as far as food goes id feed more protien less fat for non working dogs. the protien will help maintain the muscle they have

[TColt]

Not really sure how much "heat tolerance" you can put on a dog. Dogs are just like hogs, they dont sweat. They disperse most their heat through their breath. Exercise  is always good for your dog. I wouldn't run them to hard in the heat of the day though. The way I see it if it is too hot for you to jog its WAY too hot for your dogs. I have a friend that is an vet at an emergency clinic and she has old ladies, out of shape people, so on and so forth come in with their dogs that they were walking during the heat of the day and the dog had a heat stoke. The people dont understand why their dog had a heat stoke when they were just fine. To me its not worth the chance, a dog will fall over out of nowhere. If I exercise my dogs during any hot part of the day I am taking them to the lake for a swim. Other than that i get them out in the morning or in the evening.

[kevin]

just go hunt run some of it off

.
  That would be my way.

 I use the 24/20 and just cut them back.

[Hippy]

i feed star premium 24/20 year round. just take your dogs out to run or put em in a bay pen just keep em active.

[make-em-squeel]

For energy which is what hunting dogs need the higher the fat content the better, the quality of the protein is what allows their muscle to repair after breaking it down from exersize, the fat is more important than the protein for energy stamina and prevention of heat stroke secondary to minerals.

[stoked]

thanks for the info guys!!

[TT]

I feed a custom feed that is 26\18 year round.  My dogs are used year round, but they stay in excellent shape on the one pound can per day.  I have a dealership on this feed, if anyone is interested it's running $16.00 a bag for 50# fob Turkey, Texas.  If I could put together a good load, I would bring a load to East Texas once a month or so.  If interested, call my cell phone @ (405)397-1789.



                                                                      Thanks,  Wes
[/quote
that's wat I feed two very good food

[Eric]

They are running a special right now and I got the black and white Sportsmix for $18 a bag today.

[BoggerCountyHogHunter]

  I feed the high energy 26/28 and it's about $21 a bag. My dogs are kinda fat but I feel that's because they haven't seen a lot of hunting lately   I would love to find something just as good and cheaper.