Protein

● Protein is required for growth and repair of tissues and muscle development.
● Quality of protein is as important as quantity.
● Most straight cereals and hays are deficient in good quality protein.

Fibre

● Fibre is essential for your horse. It can be derived from forages or the seed coats of cereals.
● Ground fibre (as in pellets) will pass through your horse’s gut quickly while a length of fibre requires more chewing.
● The fibre declared on bags is known as crude fibre and gives no indication of where in the gut it’s digested or how digestible it is.

Oil

● Oil is a useful energy source, described as slow-releasing energy.
● There are often high levels of oil in performance feeds.

Ash

● Ash is an inorganic material (i.e. anything which isn’t protein, oil or carbohydrate).
● It’s usually an indication of how high the mineral inclusion is.
● High levels of ash in hay analysis suggest soil contamination.

Vitamin A

● Vitamin A plays a role in eyesight and also the formation and protection of epithelial tissues and mucous membrane.
● It also helps the immune system.

Vitamin D

● Vitamin D is required for the maintenance of calcium and phosphate homeostasis
● It affects bone formation.

Vitamin E

● Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which helps to maintain packed cell volume in blood.
● It’s also used in cell membranes.

Copper

● Copper is needed for bone growth, haemoglobin formation, and anaemia when there’s a deficiency.

Fibre providers

Oatfeed, wheatfeed, nutritionally improved straw, wholegrains, grass, alfalfa, sugar beet

Energy providers

Oats, wheat, barley, maize, oil, molasses

Protein providers

Soya, grass, alfalfa, peas, linseed