Fibre-fat feeding
The counter-trend to grain feeding is called fibre-fat feeding.
Grain is a palatable energy source for working horses. The energy-supplying nutrients raise blood sugar levels and require regulation by the hormone insulin. Horses in which this regulation is disrupted by being overweight, due to metabolic disorders (e.g. EMS, insulin resistance), genetic conditions (e.g. PSSM) or age-related diseases (e.g. Cushing’s, ECS, PPID) must receive grain-free feed.
Fibre-fat feeding also benefits horses suffering from stomach problems such as gastric ulcers. This is because the bacterial fermentation of grain in the stomach increases the acid concentration there, which attacks the stomach walls. If no grain is fed and oil is added to the feed instead, this can dampen the development of bacteria in the stomach and thereby counteract excess acidity.
What is known as “low-carb” in human nutrition is called “fibre-fat feeding” in horses.
Here, the energy is supplied on the one hand by plant fibres of all kinds, which are only broken down into volatile fatty acids in the large intestine by gut microbes. Their digestion does not affect blood sugar levels. In addition, oils and fats from oilseeds, such as soya beans*, linseed or rapeseed, increase the energy density of the feed. This means that even high-performance or senior horses can be fed an energy-rich diet without grain.
See also: Microbes, EMS, PPID, PSSM, Glucose, Insulin
You can find more information on feeding horses with stomach problems or gastric ulcers in the specialist article: Which feed helps with gastric ulcers?
* Both German manufacturing plants of marstall are members of the Verband Lebensmittel ohne Gentechnik e.V. (VLOG), produce according to its standards, and their production facilities are VLOG-certified.
