Amber Moffett, MS, PAS currently serves as Research and Development Management MARS Horsecare US, Inc. in Dalton, Ohio
Buckeye Nutrition has been feeding Ohio’s horses for 100 years. The company traces its beginning to 1910 when the prestigious Pocock Family of Massillon opened a flour mill operation in that city, The Buckeye Cereal Company, to supply flour to growing population centers in the east.
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The Buckeye Cereal Company acquired a grain buying station in nearby Dalton to purchase ingredients, using the by-products of those commodities—wheat middlings and bran, corn gluten and meal—to produce livestock feeds, including horse feed. Products were marketed under the Buckeye Quality Feeds name.
Greater focus on horses
As the pleasure horse industry continued to expand during the 80s, Buckeye made its debut in the high quality feeds market with its signature “Gro N’ Win” product, which was developed as a supplement for horses fed grass or alfalfa. Buckeye had already expanded into Kentucky and the farm where Queen Elizabeth stabled her horses fed “Gro N’ Win” and other Buckeye feeds to the Queen’s 28 thoroughbreds.
When the Queen learned the mares dropped larger foals after their return to England, she asked Buckeye to ship feed to the United Kingdom. Shipping costs, however, proved prohibitive, which led Buckeye to designate G R Bailey Ltd as a licensed manufacturer in England. G R Bailey Ltd also expanded into Ireland and France.
Both the Stults & DaHinden families remained involved in Buckeye Feed Mills ownership and management until the company was sold in 1996. In September 2005, another family owned company, Mars, Inc., purchased Buckeye and concentrated the company’s focus on equine nutrition. Mars, Inc. is a global leader in confection (Snickers and M&M’S®) and pet nutrition with nearly 65,000 associates worldwide. Today, the Dalton company operates as Mars Horsecare US Inc., with products marketed under the “Buckeye® Nutrition” brand.
“Buckeye has fed millions of horses—including Kentucky Derby Winners, reining and hunter-jumper champions, winners in pleasure and trail and backyard pets,” said Ed Yuhas, General Manager, Mars Horsecare US Inc. “We will continue to prosper by committing to be the best at what we do—providing the highest quality products to horse owners and their horses.”
Under Mars ownership, Buckeye Nutrition invests heavily in product quality, research and development, marketing and sales. Mars Horsecare US Inc. employees nearly 60 people, primarily in Dalton, with its products distributed through an independent dealer network. Popular clinician and champion reiner Stacy Westfall serves as company spokesperson.