HORSES IN TRAINING MIGHT BE EATING MORE STARCH THAN THEY CAN EFFECTIVELY DIGEST
This could be a lost opportunity to harness more energy from feed.
It might also have dangerous consequences.
A RACEHORSE'S STARCH INTAKE
- The intake of starch for a horse in training is highly variable.
- The upper safe limit for starch is set at 2g/kg of bodyweight per meal. The safe limit refers to risks associated with ulceration and acidosis.
- The ideal target intake for reduction of risk is 1g/kg/bodyweight of starch or less.
- A higher intake of starch overwhelms the small intestine and causes starch spill-over into the large intestine.
- Conversion of starch to glucose in the small intestine is a more effective energy production pathway than fermentation in the large intestine.
- Disordered fermentation (malfermentation) of starch in the large intestine lowers pH causing acidosis and associated disorders.
TYPICAL STARCH INTAKE OF HORSES IN TRAINING
- Examples of a 500kg horse in training based on 3 different feeds of differing starch levels
- For a 500kg horse the upper safe limit is 1000g of starch per meal with an ideal upper intake of 500g of starch per meal
- The high requirement for energy of a horse in training and volume of feed required to meet that need easily results in a starch intake that is above the ideal intake
Figures in red show that the ideal intake of 500g of starch per meal has been exceeded
34% Starch Racing Feed

27% Starch Racing Feed

20% Starch Racing Feed

RISKS OF UNDIGESTED STARCH
- Starch can overload the large intestine even when digested optimally
- Inefficiently digested starch reaching the large intestine is fermented and may decrease the pH level causing lactic acidosis in the hindgut
- The effects of acidosis may include reduced feed conversion, behavioural changes and conditions such as metabolic acidosis and laminitis
HELPING A HORSE DIGEST STARCH OPTIMALLY
- The horse produces a low level of amylase in comparison to other species
- Having evolved to live on a fibre based diet, the equine digestive system is not designed for efficient processing of the starchy substances which form the core of racing diets
- The addition of enzymes to the diet provides the missing link in adapting to a higher starch and lower fibre diet
EquiNectar is an ideal and simple-to-feed source of digestive enzymes that can help a horse digest starch more effectively
