MISUNDERSTOOD FEEDS 

MISUNDERSTOOD FEEDS  Last month we looked at feeding myths and explained why some of the long-held beliefs about feeding horses aren’t true. This month we’ll continue along this line and talk about a few of the grains and grain byproducts in feed, and what they do- and can’t do. First, though, let’s look at definitions. Grains are the seeds produced by plants. Examples are corn, oats, and barley. Feeds are the mixture of grains and other ingredients, such as fiber, vitamins, minerals, oils, and more. You may see feeds also called commercial feeds or concentrates. I don’t like to call them concentrates though, as that term is also used to apply to other food items consisting of only one ingredient such as oil. We tend to label anything that we place in our horse’s feed pan as “grain,” but unless it is a seed, the correct term is “feed.” We’ll start with grains. In our part of the country, the most common ones that are fed to horses are oats, corn, and barley. OATS have been a staple in the equine diet for many years, both in mixed feeds and as a stand-alone. Many people believe that oats are the perfect feed for horses but that is not true. Oats vary widely in their nutrient value, depending on where they are grown, the type of oat, managing and harvesting techniques, soil quality, and other variables. Oats have an inverted calcium/phosphorous ratio, meaning that they contain more phosphorous than calcium. (Horses need a ratio of 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorous, or 2:1. There is wiggle room there, but an inverted ratio means that the phosphorous level is higher than the calcium and that unbalance can affect bone and muscle development.) Oats can vary in the amount of starch that they contain, but even a low starch oat variety is higher than the commercial “low starch” feeds available today. The digestibility of starch can vary depending on the grain source, and oat starch tends to be more digestible than that found in other grains. The amounts of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein (and therefore muscle) can vary widely and in no way can be guaranteed. Digestibility can also be an issue. Even if oats are rolled, crimped, or otherwise processed, it is a minimal increase in the horse’s ability to break down the grain. If you see oats in your horse’s manure, examine them closely to see if they are actual whole oats or the hulls (outer covering.) If they are whole, those are grains that made it through the digestive tract without providing any nutrition. Oats are good source of fiber though and have a lower energy level than corn. TAKEAWAY: Feeding straight oats can’t provide all the nutrients that your horse needs. Consider too that oats aren’t consistent from one crop to the next. If you really like the idea of feeding oats, consider a commercial feed with oats as a primary ingredient that also provides other nutrients. If you feel committed to feeding only oats, consider the idea of adding a ration balancer to help provide needed protein, vitamins, and minerals. If your horse has metabolic issues, it’s a good idea to discuss his oat-based diet with your vet. CORN is a great source of energy, but it comes with risks. This is because it has a very high level of starch, and starch breaks down into sugars. You should take that into account if he needs a low NSC (non-structural carbohydrate) diet. If your horse has metabolic issues, you will want to discuss his diet with your vet. Too much corn can lead to starch overload which overwhelms your horse’s digestive tract and can cause colic or laminitis. Whole corn can be difficult to digest so it is usually processed in some way before being added to textured feeds. Because corn is high in digestible energy, it is high in calories too, meaning that it can add weight to your horse. Corn will not keep your horse warm in the winter- that is an old-timer’s tale- and that is because corn is low in fiber. It’s the digestion of fiber, such as hay, that keeps your horse warm. Corn is an inexpensive ingredient though, and that is why it is so popular in feeds. Since the nutrient values can vary from crop to crop, corn is tested before it is incorporated into feed. It is also tested for toxins that can infect the grain. If you ever see moldy corn in your feed, or it smells “off,” do NOT feed it! Take the bag back to your feed store. The feed store will want to see the lot number, which may be on a tag or printed directly on the bag. This helps them track down the source of the problem. Takeaway: Like oats, corn can’t provide all the nutrients that your horse needs. It has a place as an ingredient in feed but isn’t recommended as a stand-alone feed. BARLEY is not an ingredient that we think about often, probably because it is “middle of the road.” In terms of nutrition, it tends to fall between oats and corn, with a high starch level. For a whole grain, it has a high protein level but is low in essential amino acids, so it isn’t a muscle builder. It also has a decent fiber level for a whole grain, but the fiber is mostly in its tough outer hull which must be processed before mixing into feeds. Some people like to mix their own feeds using barley and other ingredients. If you decide to do this, make sure that your feed store has access to a steady supply of barley, as it sometimes can be hard to get. Takeaway: You likely would not feed barley by itself, but it is a useful ingredient in mixed feeds due to its digestible energy. Let’s look at some of the other ingredients. We’ll start