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 with the “nots.”

WHEAT MIDDLINGS are not the same as whole grain wheat. Neither is WHEAT BRAN. Middlings are byproducts of the wheat milling process and are a source of energy, fiber, and protein. It is a useful ingredient for binding the components of a pellet together and reducing the dust that would result from pellets breaking down. Bran is a byproduct of the production of flour and is another good source of fiber. Both are high in NSCs and low in fat and have an inverted calcium/phosphorous ratio. They are popular feed ingredients, and a good quality feed will be balanced to account for the nutrients that they lack.

WHEAT RED DOG Just what is wheat red dog, anyway? It’s another by-product of milling wheat for flour, just further along in the process than that which creates middlings and bran. It’s very low in fiber and is used in feeds as a source of plant protein.

DISTILLERS GRAINS (or distillers dried grains) are what is left of corn, oats, and barley after those grains are fermented and have had the alcohol or ethanol extracted. They are a good source of protein and energy, and this energy comes from the remaining fat instead of sugar. They are a popular ingredient in low NSC feeds because of the low sugar level. You’ll also find them in higher calorie feeds.

BEET PULP is probably one of the most misunderstood ingredients because it isn’t a grain at all. It is closer to a forage. Many people mistakenly think that because it comes from sugar beets it is high in sugar. Not true at all…it’s what is left after the sugar has been extracted from the beets, so it contains very little sugar. Much to my dismay, one person told me that her vet said that it’s high in sugar…I’m really hoping that she misheard the vet! It is a highly digestible fiber source that is low in NSCs, so it is a popular ingredient in senior feeds and complete feeds. While low in protein, it is (SURPRISE!) high in calcium. It should not be considered as a sole fiber source though, as it is deficient in many other vitamins and minerals. Beet pulp comes in shredded or pellet form. Shredded pulp can be plain or can have added molasses. The molasses is sprayed on, so the sugar content, while higher than plain beet pulp, still isn’t high. It helps to make it tastier to picky horses. Contrary to a firmly held belief, shreds do not need to soaked. Personally though, I like to soak the shreds because they hold lots of water and can help you keep a difficult drinker hydrated. Pellets are hard and benefit from soaking as well, especially for older horses with dental issues.

SOYBEAN BY-PRODUCTS can be soybean meal, hulls, or oil. Soybeans are legumes, not grains. The meal is what is left after the oil is extracted and is considered primarily a good source of protein and secondarily, a source of complex carbs. More importantly, the protein has a nearly ideal level of essential amino acids, especially lysine, which the horse cannot produce himself. Because amino acids are the building blocks of protein and protein builds muscle, this is important for muscle development. Soybean by-products figure prominently in most ration balancers because of their unique protein profile. Hulls are a highly digestible fiber source that is low in starch. The oil is a good fat source as well as a binder that can help reduce the dust and fines generated by the dry ingredients.

RICE BRAN is similar in that it is a by-product of rice. With its high level of fat, it’s a popular ingredient for weight gain. It may be part of a commercial feed and can also be purchased separately as a supplement. If you choose to supplement your horse’s diet with it, be aware that it has an inverted calcium/phosphorous ratio and you will need to make sure that sources of calcium are available. Rice bran can become rancid so look at the bag and verify that it is labeled as stabilized.

MOLASSES can come from two different sources: sugar cane or sugar beets. It’s the liquid that is left after the sugar crystals are precipitated out. True molasses is sugary and very thick, so it is mixed with another liquid to make it easier to handle. Most feed mills no longer mix it into the feed; instead, it is sprayed on the ingredients. That is why many textured feeds no longer “brick” in cold weather. Because it is sprayed on, many textured feeds now contain fewer NSCs. To be sure though, read the tag. Molasses is used in many textured feeds as a source of energy, to help with binding ingredients together, and to make the feed taste better to the horse.

ALFALFA MEAL, like alfalfa hay, is a great source of plant protein, fiber, and calcium. It is frequently added to high fiber feeds and complete feeds. Contrary to myth, it does not make your horse “hot”, cause kidney damage, or cause colic. Horses love the taste so it can be helpful if you have a picky eater.

RATION BALANCERS By now you may have noticed that I always mention ration balancers! That’s because they are such a useful product in your horse feeding toolkit, if you understand how to use them. Ration balancers are not feed. They are supplements. They contain protein, vitamins, and minerals. They are not high calorie or high fiber sources. They are intended to give your horse the nutrients that he needs if he is on pasture or hay and not eating any commercial feed at all. If you are committed to feeding a grain-only diet, such as COB (corn-oats-barley), balancer can help fill in the nutrients that the grains lack. If you are feeding less than the recommended rate of a commercial feed, they can help fill in the nutrients. It’s good to repeat this- ration balancers are not feed. You don’t feed the same amount as commercial feeds; you feed less. Take a moment and look at the feed recommendations on the back of the bag before you scoop it out- and feed it by weight, not by the coffee can. Many feed companies have their own weight cups (for free!) that will help you measure the correct amount.

SUMMARY: When it comes to feeding horses, we have so many more options than our predecessors did. We now know that feeding straight grains will leave our horses deficient in critical vitamins and minerals and can overload them with unnecessary carbohydrates. Through years of research, we know understand what a horse needs to stay healthy and perform well. We can find a feed to address any activity level, age, life stage, and special dietary needs. To make a good decision though, you should understand the ingredients. It means looking at grains and byproducts in a different light and being willing to try something new. The biggest takeaway from this article is that better nutrition means a healthier horse…and you are well on your way if you understand what better nutrition means.