In the past,
before added-fat horse rations became universally accepted,
horse-feed concentrates were selected for low fiber content in
order to provide the highest possible amount of digestible energy
(DE) in the total ration (Table 1). These low-fiber feeds
also contained large amounts of starches and sugars compared to forages. However, the
selection of low fiber/high starch feeds was based on two
assumptions:
-
1.
Fiber is
not necessary in horse concentrates, and
-
2.
Starch
in large quantities is not harmful to horses.
|
Feed |
Protein (%) |
Fat (%) |
Crude Fiber (%) |
Calculated Starch & Sugar |
Estimated Digestible Energy (Mcal/lb) |
|
Corn |
8 |
4 |
2 |
67.7 |
1.5 (1.3f) |
|
Barley |
11 |
2 |
5 |
65 |
1.6 (1.3f) |
|
Molasses |
6.6 |
0 |
0 |
62.8 |
1.3 |
|
Oats |
12 |
5 |
12 |
53 |
1.3 |
|
Dehydrated alfalfa |
18 |
2.6 |
25 |
23.9 |
1.0 |
|
Timothy
hay |
9 |
2.5 |
30 |
17.8 |
0.8 |
|
Example
grain pellet |
12 |
6 |
8 |
60.0 |
1.5 (1.3f) |
|
GROSTRONGâ
Ultra-Fiber1 |
13 |
6 |
17 |
16.1 |
1.5 |
Table 1. Nutrient Content of Horse Feeds and
Forages
fActual
value in horses, due to low pre-cecal starch digestibility
1ADM
Alliance Nutrition, Inc., Quincy, IL.
Recent
research has shown that those assumptions are not correct. We now
know that the unique equine digestive tract requires fiber, not
just in the forage, but in the concentrate as well, in order to
function properly. Large amounts of low-fiber, high-starch feed,
fed in meals, have no opportunity to mix with the high-fiber hay
fed earlier or later. They exceed the starch-digesting capability
of the foregut.
Non-structural
carbohydrates, like starch and sugar, have numerous adverse
effects on horses. Starch, from corn and barley, has a low
foregut digestibility, leading to its fermentation in the hindgut,
acidosis and a high risk of colic and founder. Starch fermented
in the stomach contributes to ulcers. Growing horses fed
high-starch rations are at greater risk for developmental
orthopedic diseases. And, easily digestible starch and sugar from
oats and molasses contribute to increased blood glucose and
hyperactivity following meals. High-forage rations are desirable,
because they contain much less starch and sugar. But, how can
horses on high-forage rations get enough energy for maximum
performance?
Fortunately,
high-energy, low-starch options are now available. GROSTRONGÒ
Ultra-Fiber contains 6% fat from soybean oil. It provides
substantial energy to horses in a highly digestible form with
minimal starch. The benefits of low-starch rations in elite
performance horses in all disciplines and in broodmares,
stallions, senior horses and growing horses are being consistently
reported in the scientific literature. Now is the time to take a
new look at fiber, energy and starch in horse rations.
Comparing Feeds for Starch and Fiber Content
When comparing feeds for starch and fiber content (Tables 2, 3),
look for these high-quality, easily digestible (low starch) fiber
sources: soybean hulls, beet pulp
and dehydrated alfalfa. Wheat middlings are a
low-starch feed (about 19% starch). However, they are also
relatively low in crude fiber at 9%. High-starch feeds include:
corn, milo, barley, other cereal grains and the collective term
‘grain products.’ If ingredients are listed in order of
inclusion*, forage (roughage) products will be listed below grain
ingredients in low-starch feeds.
|
Nutrient |
Example grain pellet |
GROSTRONGÒ
Ultra-Fiber1 |
Protein,
% min
|
14 |
13 |
|
Fat,
% min |
6 |
6 |
|
Crude
Fiber, % max |
8 |
17.5 |
|
Estimated Starch & Sugar, % |
60.3 |
16.1 |
|
Calcium, % min-max |
0.6-0.9 |
0.7-1.2 |
|
Phosphorus, % min |
0.6 |
0.45 |
|
Copper, ppm |
55 |
35 |
|
Zinc,
ppm |
220 |
150 |
|
Selenium, ppm |
0.06 |
0.63 |
|
Vitamin A, IU/lb |
3,000 |
5,000 |
|
Ingredients* |
Wheat
Middlings, Ground Corn, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Dehydrated
Alfalfa Meal, Molasses, Soybean Oil, Calcium Carbonate,
Calcium Lignin Sufonate, Salt, Calcium Propionate (a
preservative), Anis, Fenugreek flavor, Vitamin E Supplement,
Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement,
Riboflavin Supplement, Ferrous Carbonate, Niacin
Supplement, dl-Methionine, Lysine, Choline Chloride, Vitamin
A Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate,
Magnesium Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3
Supplement, Cobalt Carbonate, Sodium Selenite |
Soybean
Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Ground
Corn, Cane Molasses, Corn Distillers Dried Grains with
Solubles, Corn Germ Meal, Vegetable Oil Refinery Lipid,
Sodium Bentonite, Corn Gluten Feed, Calcium Carbonate, Salt,
Lignin Sulfonate, Vegetable Oil, Brewers Dried Yeast,
Linseed Meal, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Feeding Oat Meal,
Magnesium Oxide, Sodium Propionate (Preservative), Natural
and Artificial Flavors, d-alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Source
of Vitamin E), Monocalcium Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate,
Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Defluorinated
Phosphate, Ferrous Sulfate, Mineral Oil, Vitamin A Acetate,
Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin
Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement,
Cholecalciferol (Source of Vitamin D3), Cobalt
Carbonate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B12
Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Menadione Dimethylpyrimidinol
Bisulfite (Source of Vitamin K Activity). |
|
|
|
|
|
Table 2. Comparison of High-Starch (ingredients
listed) and Low-Starch Horse Feeds
Many companies
use a least-cost method to formulate horse feeds. With this
method, ingredient amounts change with every batch of feed. Since
horses digest ingredients differently, least-cost formulations can
result in digestive disorders in horses and are not recommended by
the nutritionists at ADM Alliance Nutrition. Contact your feed
company to find out if they least-cost their horse formulas.
|
Nutrient |
Example grain pellet |
GROSTRONGÒ
Ultra-Fiber1 |
Protein,
% min
|
12 |
13 |
|
Fat,
% min |
6 |
6 |
|
Crude
Fiber, % max |
8 |
17.5 |
|
Estimated Starch & Sugar, % |
60.3 |
16.1 |
|
Calcium, % min-max |
0.4-0.8 |
0.7-1.2 |
|
Phosphorus, % min |
0.8 |
0.45 |
|
Copper, ppm |
55 |
35 |
|
Zinc,
ppm |
220 |
150 |
|
Selenium, ppm |
0.06 |
0.63 |
|
Vitamin A, IU/lb |
3,000 |
5,000 |
|
Ingredients* |
Processed Grain By-products, Grain Products, Forage
Products, Molasses products, Soybean Oil, Plant Protein
Products, Calcium Lignin Sufonate, Dicalcium Phosphate,
Roughage Products, Salt, Lysine, Sodium Propionate (a
preservative), Vitamin E Supplement, Anis, Fenugreek Flavor,
Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement,
Ferrous Carbonate, Niacin Supplement, dl-Methionine, Choline
Chloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide,
Copper Sulfate, Magnesium Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3
Supplement, Cobalt Carbonate, Sodium Selenite. |
Soybean
Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Ground
Corn, Cane Molasses, Corn Distillers Dried Grains with
Solubles, Corn Germ Meal, Vegetable Oil Refinery Lipid,
Sodium Bentonite, Corn Gluten Feed, Calcium Carbonate, Salt,
Lignin Sulfonate, Vegetable Oil, Brewers Dried Yeast,
Linseed Meal, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Feeding Oat Meal,
Magnesium Oxide, Sodium Propionate (Preservative), Natural
and Artificial Flavors, d-alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Source
of Vitamin E), Monocalcium Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate,
Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Defluorinated
Phosphate, Ferrous Sulfate, Mineral Oil, Vitamin A Acetate,
Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin
Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement,
Cholecalciferol (Source of Vitamin D3), Cobalt
Carbonate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B12
Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Menadione Dimethylpyrimidinol
Bisulfite (Source of Vitamin K Activity). |
Table 3. Comparison of High-Starch (collective
terms) and Low-Starch Horse Feeds
Many FORAGE FIRST®
rations contain minimal starch, so they are less likely to cause
metabolic disorders like colic, founder, tying-up, developmental
orthopedic disorders, ulcers and increased blood glucose and
hyperactivity following meals. High-energy products, like NATURAL
GLOÒ,
the original, human-food-grade stabilized rice bran, MOORGLOÒ
Triple Energy Supplement, GROSTRONGÒ
Ultra-Fiber and others (Table 4), provide substantial energy to
horses with minimal starch. By utilizing small amounts of these
high-energy products, horses can be fed high-forage rations. And,
high-starch cereal grains, which often result in digestive and
metabolic disorders, can be reduced or eliminated from horse
rations.
|
Feed |
Protein, % |
Fat, % |
Crude Fiber, % |
Estimated S&S*, % |
|
MOORGLO® |
14 |
18 |
14 |
17.8 |
|
GROSTRONG®
Ultra-Fiber |
13 |
6 |
17 |
16.1 |
|
Patriot®
Senior Pellets |
14 |
7 |
18 |
18.8 |
|
NATURAL GLO® |
13 |
21 |
8.5 |
20 |
|
NATURAL GLO® Nuggets |
13 |
21 |
8.5 |
20 |
|
Patriot 16P Junior |
16 |
6 |
14 |
18.2 |
|
SENIORGLO® |
14 |
8 |
20 |
8.1 |
|
Patriot®
14P |
14 |
6 |
13 |
20.0 |
Table 4. ADM Alliance Nutrition®
FORAGE FIRST®
Low-Starch
Horse Feeds and Supplements
*Registered
trademark of Wolcott Farms Inc., Willows, CA.
For More
Information e-mail at
AN_EquineHelp@admworld.com
or call toll free
EQUINE
NUTRITION HELPLINE
1-800-680-8254
7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Central Time
ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc.
1000 North 30th Street P.O. Box C1 Quincy, IL USA 62305-3155
|
