Laminitis
When it comes to choosing the most appropriate feed for horses and ponies prone to laminitis, the general principle is to keep sugar and starch levels to a minimum. Dengie fibre feeds are all based on high fibre ingredients which are low in starch compared to cereal-based options. All the feeds in our range selected for those prone to laminitis contain less than 10% non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and are lower in sugar than grass hay and so are all considered safe to use. Each product has specific features that make them particularly useful for different situations. We’ve highlighted these below along with some of the key nutrient levels. More information on feeding a horse or pony prone to laminitis can be found here.
Feeding the good doer
Meadow Lite with Herbs
- 5 MJ/kg Digestible Energy
- 3% sugar
- 5% starch
- A blend of grass and straw which provides maximum chew time whilst keeping calorie intake to a minimum
- Includes cinnamon and thyme to tempt fussy feeders
- Ideal low calorie forage replacer which also contains added postbiotics to promote gut health
Click here to learn more about Dengie Meadow Lite with Herbs.
Hi-Fi Lite
- 5 MJ/kg Digestible Energy
- 7% sugar
- 5% starch
- A short chopped fibre feed with no added pellets to provide increased chew time whilst remaining low in calories
- Includes a light molasses coating to tempt fussy feeders
Click here to learn more about Dengie Hi-Fi Lite.
Ulser Lite
- 8 MJ/kg Digestible Energy
- 5% sugar
- 2% starch
- Contains chopped dried grass for natural sweetness alongside good quality straw and tasty herbs
- Includes prebiotics and added alfalfa pellets for supporting gastric and digestive health
- Approved by BETA for horses and ponies prone to Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome
Click here to learn more about Dengie Ulser Lite.
Hi-Fi Molasses Free
- 5 MJ/kg Digestible Energy
- 5% sugar
- 5% starch
- A blend of chopped and pelleted nutritious alfalfa and good quality straw
- Lowest sugar option, without the inclusion of any grass or molasses
- Mint, fenugreek and fibre pellets make this a tasty option for fussy feeders
Click here to learn more about Dengie Hi-Fi Molasses Free.
Healthy Hooves Molasses Free
- 5 MJ/kg Digestible Energy
- 5% sugar
- 5% starch
- Nutritionally balanced when fed to recommended quantities, so no need to add a balancer or supplement
- Contains MSM and biotin for healthier hooves and stronger joints
- Includes garlic to tempt fussy feeders
Click here to learn more about Dengie Healthy Hooves Molasses Free.
Feeding the poor doer prone to laminitis
Alfa-Beet
- 10.5 MJ/kg Digestible Energy
- 5% sugar
- 2% starch
- A high-fibre feed combining alfalfa and unmolassed sugar beet pulp, two sources of highly digestible fibre, which should be soaked before feeding to make a tasty mash
- Ideal for aiding hydration and promoting weight gain
- Perfect for older horses or for those with poor dentition who struggle to chew
Click here to learn more about Dengie Alfa-Beet.
Alfa-A Molasses Free
- 5 MJ/kg Digestible Energy
- 5% sugar
- 2% starch
- An ideal option for horses prone to laminitis who struggle to maintain weight and condition
- Pure alfalfa – helps to support digestive health
- Mint, fenugreek and added alfalfa pellets are perfect for tempting fussy feeders
Click here to learn more about Dengie Alfa-A Molasses Free.
Alfa-A Oil
- 5 MJ/kg Digestible Energy
- 5% sugar
- 2% starch
- The highest calorie feed in the Dengie range, supplying a comparable energy level to a conditioning mix or cube, but with 10x less starch
- An ideal choice for underweight horses and those needing weight gain and condition
- Naturally low in sugar and starch with no added molasses
Click here to learn more about Dengie Alfa-A Oil.
An area that often causes confusion is that products that are lowest in energy (calories) can still be higher in sugar. It is important to remember that all of the Dengie feeds are relatively low in sugar, it’s just that when they are compared to one another, some contain more sugar than others. For example, alfalfa is naturally very low in sugar but contains more energy (calories) than other fibre sources such as straw, and so using alfalfa helps to keep the sugar content down, but the energy (calorie) level will be slightly increased.
Grass and molasses are two ingredients which contribute higher levels of sugar to feeds. However it is really important to assess the total sugar content of a feed, rather than just the ingredients list, as grass may be combined with other fibre sources such as straw which helps to dilute the sugar content within the feed as a whole. Molasses may also be included at low levels, meaning that the overall sugar content within the feed could still be relatively low.
If a feed doesn’t contain molasses, then a light oil coating will typically be added. This is because fibrous ingredients such as grass, straw and alfalfa are very prone to shattering and can make a feed look very ‘bitty’. The coating provides some moisture to reduce the shattering and also helps to disperse other ingredients such as herbs, vitamins and minerals through the feed. Oil coatings provide more calories than molasses which is simply because oil is more energy dense than carbohydrates such as sugar.
More information on the different ingredients used in horse feeds can be found here.
If you would like the Dengie nutrition team to review your horse or pony’s diet and help you select the most appropriate feed, get in touch by calling us on 01621 841 188 or by completing our feed advice form.