Wheat bran for horses
Is Wheat Bran useful or not ?
Is it relevant to believe everything we say about wheat bran and feed it to our horses ? This is not so sure.
To answer this question I will :
- examine the scientific data with you
- compare them to the qualities that we attribute to wheat bran
What are horses traditionally given wheat bran for ?
We give wheat bran to "refresh" the digestive system ... It is low in energy and high in fiber. It is even said that you should avoid giving too much for too long as this can cause diarrhea. As he is rich in phosphorus and poor in calcium it is also given to balance the phospho-calcium ratio.
BUT...
The tables of the National Agricultural Research Institute tell us the opposite :
Compared to oats, it does none of the qualities touted. We can even blame him for being too rich in protein and very rich in starch.
- In equine permaculture we seek to meet the natural needs of the horse :
Wheat bran is a residue from the processing of wheat. This small envelope is the most exposed to chemical products used in conventional agriculture (the budget for organic wheat bran is doubled).
What about the horse's digestion ?
Examining the food intake by food should not make you lose sight of what is happening overall for the horse.
Let's continue the comparison :
- the horse digests oats in the anterior part of the small intestine: its digestion does not cause acidosis ;
- for wheat bran it is in the large intestine: its fermentation causes a acidosis which has an impact on the intestinal flora and compromises the proper digestion of fiber.
So ...if we are looking for a natural diet, respecting the horse's natural needs, wheat bran is not the best candidate, but he's not the only one who deserves our full attention. We will come back to that.
- Come discuss it on the our Facebook Group page !
- We are also here to help you during practical workshops at Val de Vie
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