Revised:  09/15/2008

 

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Nutrition

Grain and Feed Mixes

Can beet pulp cause colic?
 

I have a bit of a dilemma about beet pulp. My vet says that there is some new research about it causing stomach stones and colic if fed on a daily basis. He recommends feeding beet pulp every other day or so. I have been feeding soaked beet pulp to my older horse for over a year now with no problems, but I am concerned that it might become an issue. Could you tell me if you have read or done any research on beet pulp, and what the findings are?

I am not aware of any reports of beet pulp causing stomach stones or colic if fed regularly. I usually hear about the benefits of feeding beet pulp regularly!

Beet pulp is very high in fiber. If fed without added molasses it will not greatly increase the caloric density of the diet. Most horses that can’t consume enough hay in their diets do well from eating beet pulp to help replace the missing fiber. Obese horses or ponies that do not need grain yet need supplements in their diets can have a small amount of moistened beet pulp to serve as a carrier. Overall I particularly like beet pulp because it is a universal feed. Keep in mind that there is also a myth about moistening beet pulp. There have been studies done on beet pulp based feeds (up to 50 %) and no problems have been found with feeding it dry. The benefits of feeding it moistened include the ability to make it sticky to prevent sorting out of supplements, etc. Moistened beet pulp also increases water intake in horses that are prone to dehydration, especially in strange environments, etc.

So overall I would not be concerned at all about feeding beet pulp; I actually frequently recommend it.

Answer provided by Carey Williams, Ph.D., Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

Is a warm bran mash safe for arthritic horses?
 

Is it safe to feed a warm wheat bran mash on the weekends to a 7-year-old horse with arthritis? I hear mixed things about how good it is for them and that it can disrupt a horse’s calcium/phosphorus levels. My mare does not have any digestive problems- the bran is just given as a treat in colder weather.

That is exactly what bran mash is for them…a treat. It is really neither good nor bad if given on occasion. It is more of a “comfort food” for both them and us. It will not throw off their nutrition if only given on weekends or before hauling or on cold days. It usually just makes us feel better to give our horses something warm to eat, much in the same way a bowl of hot oatmeal feels good to us on a cold morning.

Answer provided by Carey Williams, Ph.D., Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

Is it okay to feed corn and wheat to horses?
 

How do you feel about feeding 50% sweet feed and 50% whole corn kernels off the cob? Where I live shelled corn is abundant and inexpensive; therefore I would like to add it to the sweet feed. I normally feed 5-6 pounds per horse in the cooler months and pasture the horse when the season allows. I don't want to colic the horses on the corn. Also, can I feed wheat since that is also readily available?

Whole corn is an acceptable feed for horses as long as it is not moldy and is introduced slowly. If a horse has dental problems they may not be able to chew it effectively. It is very energy dense. One pound of corn contains about 25% more calories than the average sweet feed, which also usually contains corn in addition to many other less energy dense ingredients. The amounts you are feeding should not be a problem if divided into two separate feedings. If you are group feeding the horses I would worry about individuals getting more than they should. They should also have hay if pasture is not available and free access to salt and water should always be provided.

Wheat is much less digestible and not very palatable to horses. It should be processed (flaked and/or steamed) to increase digestibility. I'd prefer corn to wheat. That being said, the concern regarding mold in corn is very serious - the type of mold that commonly affects corn can kill a horse. Make sure you get corn that is guaranteed not to be moldy. If the seller can not test it you should contact your local county Extension agent to see if they can help you get it tested.

Answer provided by Dr. Sarah Ralston, VMD, Ph.D., dACVN, Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

Is it safe to feed cottonseed to horses?
 

I was wondering why cottonseed shouldn't be fed to horses? Does it cause blindness? I have fed a mixture in the past that contains 10% cottonseed without any adverse reactions over about a 4-month time period in the winter.

There have been many questions regarding the adverse effects of feeding cottonseed to horses. Cottonseed meal is the most popular form of cottonseed fed to horses. Raw cottonseed and cottonseed meal contain a substance called gossypol that interferes with digestion. Therefore cottonseed is particularly undesirable for feeding foals. Adult horses can tolerate the gossypol if fed cottonseed in moderation. Monogastrics (e.g. horses, pigs and poultry) seem to be more affected by gossypol than other species. Research in other species has shown cottonseed meal to decrease sperm production in males and slow growth in young if fed in high levels.

It was at one time thought that blindness in cattle was caused by gossypol. I have never seen proof of cottonseed as a factor in night blindness. However, cottonseed meal and hulls are low in vitamin A, which plays a significant role in vision. It is a major vitamin requirement for horses, and if a horse is experiencing a vitamin A deficiency one of the most common problems experienced is night blindness.

The nutrient composition of some feeds can be altered by different processing methods. Feeds like corn, for example, can be fed whole, ground into a meal, or even made into silage. There is a difference in the digestibility of cottonseed if it is fed raw or if it is made into a meal but this does not seem to affect its vitamin content. Moreover, cottonseed oil and its gossypol can be removed from cottonseeds by extraction with ethyl ether. It has been shown that using cottonseed with 0.2% or less gossypol has had no toxicity effects.

Cottonseed meal, at about 40 % protein, is ranked second to soybean meal in high protein supplemental feeds for horses. It also has half the lysine of soybean meal. About 25% of the protein source in a ration can be made up of cottonseed meal before you run into problems. Therefore, it is recommended that high quality cottonseed is combined with other forms of protein and lysine supplements.

If you choose to feed cottonseed, follow these guidelines:

1. Make sure the cottonseed doesn’t comprise more than 25% of your protein source


2. Supplement with either a source of protein that is high in lysine (such as soybean meal), or with a pure lysine source.

This answer was prepared with the help of Nicole Fiorellino, Animal Science Research Student at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University.

Are distillers grains a good feed for horses?
 

Can you tell me if there is any recent information on feeding distillers grains to horses? Are they a good, safe feed for horses?

Distillers grains (the solids remaining after fermentation in brewing and distilling processes) are a good protein supplement to the horse’s diet, but not recommended in large amounts. They are typically high in protein (25-30%) and their respective amino acids, and they also have a moderately high level of fat (5-10%) and B-vitamins.

The problem is that many of these grains don’t have adequate, balanced levels of minerals for horses. For example, horses require a 2:1 calcium/phosphorus ratio (two parts calcium to one part phosphorus). Most distillers grains contain more phosphorus than calcium (1:5 or higher). Feeding distillers grains in large amounts could throw off the mineral balance of the diet. Typically, a daily ration containing 10 to 15% distillers grains (about 2-4 lbs per day maximum for an average 1000-lb horse) will adequately provide supplemental protein without affecting the mineral balance.

I have found two recent publications on the use of distillers grains in horses at http://www.ddgs.umn.edu/info-horse.htm. Studies along these lines are ongoing; more research should be published within the next year.

Answer provided by Carey Williams, Ph.D., Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

Is feeding rice bran and barley safe for a foundered horse?
 

Is it okay to feed soaked barley and rice pollard to a horse that has foundered in the past? I have recently started feeding these feeds. My horse is looking great and putting on weight, but I just began to wonder if this diet was safe for him. I am working at feeding split in two feedings 2 kg (before soaked) barley, 2 kg of rice pollard with mixed chaff and Equilibrium and cup of soy powder plus hay. Your help would be very much appreciated.

Rice pollard (known as “rice bran” in the USA) is a high fat (19 % or higher) and fiber supplement. Barley, especially if soaked, has the lowest starch/sugar index of the grains. If your horse has not foundered on this regimen I doubt if he will in the future! However, 2 kg of rice bran a day is a bit much. It is also very high in phosphorus. Unless your hay is Lucerne (alfalfa) or another legume mix, or your rice bran is a “stabilized” product (which will have additional calcium added to it), you run the risk of feeding more phosphorus than calcium. The Equilibrium Mineral mix does provide some extra calcium, but I'd suggest strongly backing down to 0.5 kg rice pollard per feeding. Hopefully you are feeding Equilibrium in the recommended amount of only 1 scoop per day - it is very high in a lot of minerals and certain vitamins that can be toxic if fed in excess. Also, don't let your horse get obese. If he starts getting too fat you should decrease the barley and rice bran accordingly. Obesity does predispose to laminitis/founder.

Answer provided by Dr. Sarah Ralston, VMD, Ph.D., dACVN, Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

How do you feed millet to horses?
 

I know that millet is good for the bones because it is rich in silica. How do you feed it? Does it have to be cooked or can horses eat it raw?

There is another concern with feeding millet to horses, however. It contains a glucoside (a plant-derived chemical derived from sugars) called setarian, which causes considerable kidney irritation and excessive urination in horses. This can be especially problematic in horses with existing kidney problems.

Feeding an adequate level of calcium in the correct ratio with phosphorus (2:1) will provide adequate nutrition for young horses establishing proper bone growth. Older horses that have finished growing don’t need to establish bone, just maintain it. This can be done with a balanced diet and no less than a 1:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus.

Answer provided by Carey Williams, Ph.D., Rutgers Cooperative Extension.