Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Dr. Getty
Hello Fresianlady,
McCauley’s Feed is made from oats and corn, and some of their products have added molasses. Because this feed is very high in starch, it is potentially dangerous if fed in large quantities. Starch that doesn’t get completely digested in the small intestine will enter the hind gut where it will be fermented by bacteria into acidic products. This acidic environment can kill the bacterial, resulting in the formation of endotoxins that can lead to laminitis.
I particularly do not like feeding corn to horses because it is very poorly digested in the small intestine and therefore, the risk of it being fermented in the hind gut is much greater than with oats. However, oats can also be problematic if fed in the recommended quantities.
Rather than feeding a grain-based feed, such as this, try finding a product that is made from rice bran, soybean meal, flax, and alfalfa. If you want to supplement with a grain-based feed because your horse is requiring a great deal of energy for work or performance, you can generally safely feed up to 4 to 6 pounds of such a feed each day (with no more than 2 lbs at each meal). However, if the horse is overweight or has a history of laminitis, I would not recommend feeding grain at all.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
