Molasses Bone
Molasses free
<!– p.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”; } –>
Is your horse sweet enough?
Dengie’s new molasses free products are indicative of the trend for low sugar diets for horses. Senior Nutritionist Katie Williams explains the role sugar plays in the horse’s diet and possible reasons for reducing the amount of sugar you feed to your horse.
What is molasses?
Molasses is a dark brown syrup produced as a by-product from the sugar industry, and can come from either sugar cane or sugar beet – with sugar cane more widely used in horse feeds. Rich in simple sugars, molasses is traditionally added to horse feeds in order to make them more palatable by adding a bit of sweetness – remember that grass contains sugar and so sweetness is a flavour that naturally appeals to the horse.
Despite the fact that the horse’s natural diet contains higher levels of sugar than oil, many of the diet-related diseases affecting domesticated horses are linked to sugar and starch. Therefore, low sugar and starch diets are recommended for reducing the risk of problems such as colic, gastric ulcers and laminitis.
What are carbohydrates?
There are three distinct groups of carbohydrates:
• Simple sugars – e.g. glucose, fructose
• Storage sugars – e.g. starch, fructan
• Structural polysaccharides or ‘fibre’ – e.g. cellulose
Simple sugars are also referred to as water-soluble carbohydrates. The most common sugar in plants is sucrose, a double sugar (disaccharide) consisting of glucose and fructose. It is important to remember that grass is actually the greatest source of sugar in many horse’s rations. A lot of the sugar is lost from grass when it is made into hay, but soaking hay prior to feeding can remove even more sugar and so is advisable for horses and ponies requiring a low sugar diet.
Plants make sugar to use for energy for growth. Any sugar that is surplus to requirements is stored – in temperate regions excess sugar in the grass is stored as fructan in the leaves and stems and as starch in seeds. If paddocks are regularly grazed the grass rarely gets the opportunity to go to seed, keeping starch levels in grass relatively low. Fructan meanwhile tends to accumulate when the grass plant isn’t growing. For example, cold bright mornings can result in high levels of fructan accumulating – the light required for sugar production (photosynthesis) will be present but the temperature will be below the 5°C needed for growth. Because cereal grains such as barley and wheat are the seed of the cereal plant, these types of feed contain high levels of starch.
The final group of carbohydrates is fibre, also referred to as structural carbohydrates. Cellulose is the most abundant carbohydrate in the world, making up between 20 and 40% of the dry matter of plants. Cellulose, like starch, is made up of glucose molecules, but it is the bonds linking the glucose together that differ. Enzymes produced by mammals are unable to break down these bonds, and horses rely on a population of bacteria present in the digestive system to break down the bonds and release the energy.
Fibre should form the basis of every horse’s ration. Due to its complex structure, it takes the bacteria a long time to break it down and so fibre provides slow release energy, compared to the quick release energy provided by starchy cereals.
Why do Dengie use coatings on their feeds?
Dengie uses coatings on its products to help with the manufacturing process and enhance the palatability of the feed. During the manufacturing process the alfalfa used is high temperature dried; which makes the alfalfa leaf very brittle and prone to shattering. The alfalfa leaf is the most nutritious part of the plant and it is important that this is not lost, and so minimal levels of coating are used to help bind the alfalfa leaf to the stem.
Alfalfa is naturally low in sugar and starch as is oat straw the other ingreidnet in Hi-Fi Lite. Although a light molasses coating is added the sugar level is still only 5% which is about half of the level found in average hay. Dengie’s new Hi-Fi Molasses Free on the other hand uses a light soya oil coating with no added sugar or molasses and so has a total natural sugar level of just 2%. It is important to bear in mind that the energy or calorie level of oil is much higher than molasses and so although Hi-Fi Molasses Free is lower in sugar, Hi-Fi Lite is much lower in energy.
Palatability is another reason that coatings are used. As stated earlier, horses have a natural preference towards sweeter feedstuffs, making molasses a very useful product for improving the palatability of a feed. Though a soya oil coating will provide a good source of energy, oil may not be as palatable as molasses. For this reason, adding tasty, palatable herbs – such as fenugreek and mint such as in Dengie’s Molasses Free range – to a molasses-free feed will tempt even the fussiest of eater yet will still be much lower in sugar.
Low sugar, low starch
A diet that is low in both starch and in sugar is recommended for certain types of horses and ponies – such as those who are overweight or those suffering from laminitis.
Laminitis used to be associated with overweight native ponies grazing lush spring grass, but it is now evident that laminitis can occur all year round to any type of horse or pony. Fructans (sugars) in the grass is thought to be the most common culprit, though an overload of starch from cereal grains can also be a cause. Too much starch, broken down too quickly, can result in the production of stronger acids that kill off the bacteria resident in the gut. This can release toxins into the bloodstream which seems to result in the disruption of the blood flow to the sensitive laminae in the hoof ¬– insufficient blood supply can damage the sensitive laminae and may cause rotation of the pedal bone.
Horses and ponies prone to laminitis therefore should be fed a diet that is as low in sugar and in starch as possible, whilst still remaining high in fibre.
New Dengie Molasses Free
Dengie has launched a new range of molasses free chopped fibre feeds. Designed to cater for horses that require a very low sugar diet, Alfa-A Molasses Free and Hi-Fi Molasses Free are ideal for horses and ponies prone to conditions such as laminitis and metabolic syndrome.
Both Alfa-A Molasses Free and Hi-Fi Molasses Free provide high levels of fibre, a dressing of soya oil for a shiny coat and natural vitamins and minerals for good health and condition. They also contain herbs and pellets for palatability and interest. It should be noted that they are straight feeds and so a broad spectrum source of vitamins and minerals should be fed alongside. Dengie Alfa-A or Hi-Fi Balancers would be ideal as they are also molasses free.
If you would like further information then please do not hesitate to contact the Dengie Feedline on 0845 345 5115 or e-mail feeds@dengie.com
About the Author
To know more about Dengie‘s new molasses free products visit http://www.horsetraderonline.co.uk/is-your-horse-sweet-enough.php
How To Make Baking Soda Molasses Cancer Protocol Solutions
|
|
Blue Dog Bakery Natural Low Fat Dog Treats, Peanut Butter & Molasses Flavor, 20-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) $20.10 Our original Peanut Butter & Molasses treats come in a variety of fun animal shapes and are made with real blackstrap molasses. Made with no additives or preservatives, you can rest easy knowing your dog is getting the best treat all-natural ingredients can bake. Our Original Flavor: Peanut Butter & Molasses Peanut Butter & Molasses Flavor treats are made with Blue Dog Bakery’s original re… |
|
|
Blue Dog Bakery Natural Low Fat Dog Treats, Peanut Butter & Molasses Flavor Doggie Paws, 10-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) $14.04 Blue Dog Bakery Doggie Paws are made with our original peanut butter & molasses recipe that receives barking ovations from dogs big and small. Blue Dog Bakery natural, low fat treats are a perfect reward or snack for any lucky dog and are made with the highest quality bakery ingredients. Doggie Paws : Great for training! Peanut Butter Doggie Paws are perfect for small dogs, puppies or any pooch … |
|
|
Blackstrap Molasses with Iron 29 mg 120 Caps by Swanson Premium $3.49 Since the dawn of the natural health movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Blackstrap Molasses has been a popular product, used by many as a natural source of iron. Back then, we developed a fortified, tablet version supplying a specific amount of elemental iron (levels in pure molasses can vary). Now, due to changes in manufacturing and advancements in encapsulation technologies, we’re repl… |
|
|
Jax and Bones Plush-Velour-Nest Plush Velour Nest Dog Bed in Molasses Jax and Bones Plush-Velour-Nest Features: -Dog bed. -Heavy weight velour fabric. -Extra-long nest bed for dogs who like to stretch. -Center mat can be removed and used as a crate pad. -Sustainafill™ allergy-free eco-friendly fiber filling. -Removable and machine washable cover. -Proudly made in the USA. -Molasses fabric. -Available in four sizes. Specifications: -Small dimensions: 7″ H x 18″ W x … |
|
|
VPS Equi-Chews (Apple / Molasses Flavored Soft Chews) Joint Care for Horses, 240-Count $53.12 VPS Equi-Chews Joint Care is a full strength nutritional supplement for healthy joint support …. |