A look at why feeds and supplements containing sugar and starch aren’t ideal, and how high-quality fermented products without these ingredients are better for you, your horse and your land!
In the last 20 years, there has been a significant change in our understanding of horse’s digestive systems and nutritional needs. The negative impacts of high sugar and starch content on equine GI tracts has become apparent. As a result, many feed companies are offering “low starch” feeds and molasses-free fermented supplements. These next generation products provide significant benefits to the horse – but they also benefit the horse caretaker, and the land on which the horse lives!
Distillers grains for horses
Originally produced only for cattle, distillers grains contain less starch and more fiber and protein than corn-based feed. Until CDS (Condensed Distillers Solubles) DDGS (Distiller Dried Grains with Solubles) product stability technologies improved, the benefits of feeding distillers grains were unavailable to non-bunk fed animals.
Many small farmers steeped grains before feeding which made the distillers grains safe for horses – but now, mechanical limitations have been overcome and fermentation processes have been refined on a large scale, making this type of feed widely available for horses!
A better understanding of horses’ GI tracts
Our understanding of dietary and prebiotic fibers in the equine digestive tract has also become more widely understood. Prebiotic fibers usable in the equine gut tract include AXOS, XOS, MOS, FOS and Beta-glucan. These fibers feed the good bacteria and support healthy populations. The fiber, MOS, attaches itself to pathogens and supports their removal from the digestive tract. Protein and chelated trace minerals combine with fiber to deliver maximum equine performance potential. When horses are fed high-quality distillers grains, all of these internal processes can occur without the negatives of sugar and starch in the stomach, small intestine and cecum.
When healthy fiber is combined with the right vitamins and minerals, horses will benefit from improved energy and overall health. This is especially important when forage is of poor relative feed value (RFV).
Wide-reaching benefits of fermented supplements
Ultimately, feeding high-quality fermented supplements and grains benefits the horse caretaker by reducing feeding costs. Meanwhile, pasture and grazing lands benefit from improved equine feed efficiency because it results in an even spread of softer, nutrient-rich stools. These stools dissipate faster and are also easier for dung beetles to work into the soils. Pasture fertility can be increased markedly over time.
ProBiotein is a blend of strategically fermented ingredients, designed to aid your horse’s digestion and promote better health. Made from all-natural oats, wheat, barley and flax, ProBiotein is included in EquiPride and EquiLix®. To learn more about these distillers grain-based supplements and how they can benefit you, your horse and your land, visit sweetpro.com/equine.
