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The Basics
What do we usually learn from reading about a particular feed from its bag/tag?
WHY are
these things added?....The reason why is primarily to gain
your business...What? "How could adding those ingredients
gain my business?" you might say...They are all cheap filler
products that can be added to the feed keeping the price low
and attractive to horse owners. Never mind the fact that
there is little to NO benefit to the horse that those
products are present in their feed, it fills their gut,
makes them feel full,...and a horse that's not hungry makes
an owner feel like their doing a good job... but it all just
turns to poop piles out in the pasture. Poop 'you' paid for,
thinking you were saving money... Most feed manufacturers
explain away the additional filler products as being usable,
necessary fiber....?....Ok, it is fiber,...necessary though?
I mean how much is necessary for goodness sake?? In
comparison, Aussie Logic is a perfect balance, and
'again' at about 95% digestibility, meaning more of what you
buy is utilized and less just gets "plopped out on the
prairie". The fiber they need is contained in the quality
ingredients we already put in it. You may have not of
thought about all of this before. After all, there are lots
of people using feeds that have ingredient lists like the
above, friends tell friends, and if their horse seems to be
doing relatively well on those feeds it can seem to make
sense.
Aussie
Logic has NO vague descriptions on
its label (i.e. "roughage products", "protein products",
etc...)
What we
say is in it, is in it year round!
Top
Quality Ingredients do cost more, however your utilizing
more of what you've purchased, and in the long run you'll
have a healthier horse, and that definitely saves you money!
Horses are different from Cows, Kool and Kalm feeds your horse the way a horse needs to be fed.
Feeding Principles Horses are short forage eaters. Short forages can have higher protein of 16-25%, more free sugars (NSC) up to 22%, and less lignin (high lignin = lower digestibility). The basic principles of forage eaters still apply. Microbes do the work, breaking down the fibers into simple sugars and VFA's . They produce energy and are the building blocks for protein. Feed the microbes & you feed the horse.
Key principles - Saliva Saliva has no alpha amylase - an enzyme that breaks down starch. Instead, saliva is an alkaline buffering agent. We shouldn't acidify the digestive tract with starchy/sugary feed. The stomach is small and has rapid throughput. In the small intestine, less than 30% of free starch is digested. Some digestion of starch takes place, simple sugars are also absorbed, then the feed is prepared for cecum digestion.
Key Principles - Microbes
Feeding the Microbes Feed the microbes and you feed the horse! Protein microbes like digesting protein - it is a preferred energy source. For maximum efficiency, it needs 15% or more in feed. High quality protein is needed as horses can't handle bypass protein like a cow. Most grasses and grass hays are low in protein, but high in potential energy from fiber. Watch out for poor fertilizing practices and poor harvest practices.
Feeding the Microbes Starch Sources of starch include grains, grain sorghum, oats, barley, rice, milo, and wheat. They are poorly digested in the small intestine in its raw form, then are passed into the cecum. Partially processed grain is better absorbed in the small intestine. In the cecum, microbes utilize starch and in the presence of enzymes help break it down rapidly into simple sugars. This process drops the pH of the cecum and this in turn depresses the microbes so they can not break down the fibrous sources of energy. The drop in pH can lead to sub clinical acidosis or full blown colic, and that will cost you more money.
Feeding the Microbes Fiber Plants have 3 basic types of fiber that have potential for processing by the microbes. Cellulosic material is the fiber mostly digestible and desirable. Hemicelluloses fiber is in some forms digestible, such as the brown midrib types. Lignin fiber is indigestible and sometimes inhibitory to the whole fiber breakdown process. The older the plant the more lignin it has.
Sources of Plant Fiber
Fats and Oils Fats and oils are very low in most plant materials ( 2-2.5%). They are high in calories and relatively cheap. They are not well digested by the horse. Fats and oils can thicken the blood and therefore limit the amount of work a horse can do.
Working Horses Working horses need more energy than the fiber digestion process can provide. Therefore, they need to be supplemented with good quality feed
Choosing a Good Feed To Supplement Grazing A good feed needs to complement and enhance the natural digestive system of the horse to optimize the value from grazing or hay. It should provide adequate protein for the microbial flora as well as provide a full set of vitamins and minerals. Most forages are lacking in these. A good feed, such as AUSSIE LOGIC is processed to obtain maximum digestibility.
Feed Processing Textured feeds, such as sweet feeds, rolled oats, etc., require minimal processing and are 50% digestible. Pellets require some processing (low pressure, low temperature) and are 65% digestible. Extruded feeds, like AUSSIE LOGIC, offer the best processing, and are highly efficient at 95% digestible!
Bottom Line
Horses are made to eat grass. The more they rely on this the better! Grasses and hay may not have minerals in the correct ratios. Horses in work need feed supplementation, so choose a feed that complements and makes the best use of good quality hay and pasture. The best feed will be higher in protein (15-20%), lower in fat (< 5%), and optimally processed. It will offer a balanced mineral package. Remember, it's not the price per bag that is important it's the price per lb of usable feed!
Pricing Examples This section is being updated. Please email rhasler@circlehfeed.com for current pricing.
Summary
Contact one of our Authorized Dealers today!
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