27th March – 4th April 2021
Following a challenging year that resulted in the postponement of FAW 2020, this important campaign is back earlier in the year than usual for 2021, but comes just as Spring arrives and the competition season unfolds.
BETA say…
“With a worrying rise in unqualified or would-be nutritionists on social media, it is essential that owners are able to source sound, professional advice. Feed Awareness Week ticks all the boxes and ensures that trustworthy nutritional information is easily accessible for all. The information provided will help develop existing knowledge and what is learned will remain with people for life.”
Here are some of the top feed facts supplied by leading professionals:-
Feeding older hay doesn’t necessarily mean it’s lower in sugar
The sugar level of hay is determined by the types of grass the hay is made from, the environmental conditions during growth, the time of harvest, but certainly not the length of time it has been stored for. The only way to know how much sugar hay contains is to get it tested.
Feed by weight, not volume!
Although we tend to measure our feed out in bowls, you should always calculate your horse’s requirements by weight, not volume. This is because a bowl of fibre weighs less than a bowl of muesli, which then weighs less than a bowl of cubes. Weigh out appropriate containers or bowls with the different feeds you use, putting markers to indicate various weights. Then, write the weights of each feed on your feed chart. You only need to do this once.
It’s not true that horses should be fed in mangers and hay nets high off the ground
Horses are better feeding at ground level. That way the head and neck are in a more natural feeding position, with neck muscles stretched and the horse’s lower jaw able to move down and forwards, encouraging the natural wear of teeth. Smaller mouthfuls are taken and chewed thoroughly, as well as being mixed with more saliva than if fed at chest level. This should reduce the risk of choking unless the horse is very hungry and bolting the feed.
Medical claims are prohibited
Under UK and EU law all feed, which includes feed supplements, are closely controlled for what can and can’t be said. All claims must be legal and substantiated; and references to diseases, treatments, medical terms or making medical changes are prohibited. This explains why most manufacturer’s research goes unseen by the general public.
Cut calories, not nutrients!
Whilst forage alone may meet or exceed your horse’s energy (calorie) requirements, it’s unlikely to provide a balanced diet. Balancers provide a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals and protein, but contribute a negligible level of calories, starch and sugar to the total diet due to the low feeding. This makes them the ideal solution for horses and ponies that maintain weight easily (or too easily!) on forage alone.
Feed additives – What are they?
They are defined as substances, micro-organisms or preparations intentionally added to feed or water to perform a particular function. They are only required in very small quantities to be effective and must be authorised for use in horse feed. Manufacturers only legally have to declare them on the feed label if there is a restriction on how much can be added, or if they talk about them on the bag or in any literature.
Why are additives important?
Their function can be:
Nutritional (e.g. vitamins) – to make sure the nutritional needs of your horse are met.
Sensory (e.g. flavours/aromas) – to improve the palatability of the feed for fussy eaters.
Technological (e.g. antioxidants) – to help maintain the quality of your feed.
Zootechnical (e.g. live yeasts) – to positively affect the gastro-intestinal flora of your horse’s intestine.
Myth: Microbes don’t matter
This is simply not true. The microbes in your horse’s gut are vital for health and wellbeing. They break down fibre, extracting energy from the diet, protect against bad bacteria and other pathogens, produce key vitamins, and keep the gut lining healthy.
For further advice or information on feeding your horse, speak to a member of staff In Store or follow the campaign on Social Media throughout the week.