HOW IS THE FEED COMPOSED?

The horse’s main sources of energy and protein are fibre, protein, fat and starch. These four basic components occur to a varying degree and in different proportions depending on the type of feed.

Fibre/Crude fibre: The horse’s most important source of energy. Fibre provide long-lasting energy and a well-balanced stomach and intestines. We recommend you choose a concentrate that has a high proportion of fibre/crude fibre. With help of the microflora in the colon, the horse is especially good at utilising fibre as an important, gentle, and long-lasting source of energy. The microflora in the colon needs an even supply of fibre to stay well-balanced and to give optimal uptake of energy. Fibre is also needed to maintain a sufficiently high level of water in the colonic system.

Protein: Is the basis of the gaining and repairing and repair of muscle tissue. Horses needs protein in a readily accessible form with a good composition in order to achieve optimal gaining of muscles. It is important that your horse’s need for protein is fulfilled. The need is normally 6 g of digestible crude protein per unit of energy (MJ), but this increases dramatically for growing horses and broodmares/lactating mares. Proteins are constructed of amino acids whose availability also controls the building up of muscles. Potato protein is an easily digestible source of protein that is optimal with regard to its composition of amino acids, which means your horse can utilise large quantities of the protein it eats.

Starch: An energy-rich feed component for work of a more explosive nature. Should be given in small amounts per feed time and in combination with fat and fibre for the best result. The uptake of starch is located in the horse’s small intestine. Because the feed passes through the horse’s stomach and small intestine so fast, the horse’s ability to take up and utilise starch in the feed is limited. This energy rich feed component should therefore only be given in small portions per feed time. For horses with insulin resistance, it is particularly important to limit the intake of starch.

Fat: The most energy-rich component in a feed and the most efficient way of giving energy without increasing the amount of protein. Important for horses who need more energy and/or need to gain more weight. Fat is a good alternative source of energy for horses that work hard or needs to put on weight/muscle mass, since it is processed in a different part of the digestive system than carbohydrates/starch do. The horse can only digest small amounts of fat per feed time which is why you should limit the fat allowance. The recommendation is generally maximum 1 dl of pure oil per feed time. It is better to divide the fat into smaller portions and serve at several feed times per day.

AMINO ACIDS – THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF PROTEIN

Amino acids are the building blocks that are needed to create protein and build muscles. Each amino acid represents a unique piece of the puzzle and it cannot be excluded if the end product is to be achieved. There are a number of amino acids that the horse cannot create itself; they must be provided to the horse through the feed. These are called essential (or vital) amino acids. Two of these are lysine and methionine. For horses, lysine is generally the amino acid that lacks  in  relation to how much is needed. If you ensure that the need for lysine is being fullfilled by the feed protein you are using, there will usually be enough of the other amino acids too. Potatoe protein has got a high content of lysine and methionine, and is an easily digestable source of protein for the horse. Therefore it is the main type of protein used in KRAFFT’s products.

THE BARREL

Imagine the creation of protein is like a barrel, where each plank represents an amino acid: all the planks are needed in order to keep the contents of the barrel in place. The amount of protein that can be created can be likened to how much water a barrel would be able to hold without it overflowing. Lysine governs how much protein can be created since it is the shortest plank.

KRAFFT – BENEFITS OF PELLETED FEED

The pelleted feed is homogeneous quality, so we can be sure that the horse gets the nutrients contained in the product.

In the pellet, the raw materials are granulated and compressed. This process improves the digestibility of the feed.

The hygiene of pelleted feed is better and the shelf life is longer. In pellets, the substances do not get rancid and the pellet does not require tight packaging.

A well-made pellet is a tasty, well-absorbed, hygienic feed that the horse likes to eat, bites well and guarantees the horse the ingredients in the feed are of uniform quality.