Maximising digestive health
A balancing act
The horse has evolved whilst roaming vast plains eating mainly grass and if allowed, will eat for 16-18hrs each day. Domestication has led to horses living in a very different environment to how they would live in the wild, often with limited opportunity to graze, and fed high energy feeds based on cereals. Whilst a horse may be large, its digestive system is delicate and digestive health is vital for the overall health of the horse (Geor, 2005).
Why you should control starch intakes
Modern management has placed many challenges on the health of the digestive system; the work we ask them to do often demands energy intakes above those supplies by fibre alone, resulting in higher energy feeds based on cereals being fed. The feeding of large meals of cereals may overload the digestive capacity of the small intestine, resulting in the cereal starch flowing into the hindgut where it is then rapidly fermented creating acidic conditions. Signs of a starch overload range from loose droppings through to more serious conditions such as colic, laminitis and tying up.
Why you should increase fibre intakes
The horse’s stomach produces acid continuously yet the horse only produces acid – neutralising saliva as it chews, many horses have limited grazing opportunities and may stand stabled for long periods of time with nothing to eat. These factors are therefore associated with the development of gastric ulcers. With exercise also contributing to ulcer development it is not surprising that gastric ulcers are common amongst competition horses.
Optimal hindgut health can be achieved by maximising fibre intake whilst reducing the intake of sugar and starch. Keeping meal sizes small and feeding little and often will also reduce the risk of starch overload (Meyer et al, 1995).
There are several ways to maximise digestive health;
- Ensure appropriate levels of energy from oil with an optimum blend of slowly, moderately and rapidly fermentable fibres, plus carefully controlled levels of sugar and starch; features which are not seen in traditional feeds.
- A diet that delivers a unique blend of fibres can support a balanced rate of hindgut fermentation that helps guard against fluctuations created by variable forage supplies.
- A feed with a long fibre format will help to increase chewing time, thus encouraging saliva production and increasing the horse’s ability to buffer damaging stomach acid.