Alt Image

The equine nutrition industry can be complicated to navigate, as the options are endless. It can be hard to discern the differences between brands and products, what to use and why, and what might be the best fit for your horse. An additional layer of complexity is introduced when considering different forms of feed. Is pelleted feed better, or is textured feed the way to go? What about extruded products? All these options are ideal for various situations, and your horse could be an excellent candidate for more than one of them! The form of a feed product can have a significant impact; let's break down the differences, drawbacks, and benefits of each. 

 

Pelleted Feed for Horses: Pros, Cons, and Ideal Use Cases

Pelleted products are likely the most familiar to horse owners today, as this is usually the most common feed form found on store shelves. These are very versatile products that have many benefits in many management situations.

Check out examples of our pelleted feeds here!

 

What are the benefits of pelleted horse feed?

 

  • Consistent Nutrition for Equines: All ingredients are ground into very small particles, thoroughly mixed, treated with steam, and forced through a small die before being allowed to cool and bagged. This ensures uniform nutrition from pellet to pellet
  • Prevents Feed Sorting: Uniformly sized pellets prevent the horse from sorting its feed and picking out the tastiest ingredients, providing a well-balanced diet when utilized appropriately.
  • Longer Shelf Life: Another great feature of pelleted products is that they often “keep” or avoid spoilage longer than textured feeds due to their lower moisture content.
  • Highly Customizable Formulas: Producers can tailor products to select horse life stages and activity levels.
    • Senior feeds provide high-quality protein and amino acids, moderate fat, high fiber, and a balanced vitamin and mineral profile.
    • High fat performance feeds support horses with higher energy requirements who may be harder keepers or in intense training programs
    • Low NSC options support horses with metabolic disorders and decrease risk of health complications such as laminitis

 

What are some potential drawbacks of pelleted feed?

 

  • May be less appealing for picky eaters: their typically dry texture and minimal molasses content might reduce palatability for pickier horses. Horses who like a sweeter option might prefer textured feeds.
  • Poor adherence for powders: Supplements or powdered medications may not stick well to pellets due to their low moisture content, resulting in horses possibly leaving powders behind in their feed bucket.
    • Lightly wetting pelleted feeds is a potential option for circumventing this issue, though.
  • Choke risk for fast eaters: Horses who “bolt” their feed, or consume it at a very fast rate, as well as those horses with a previous choke history, may be at higher risk of choke when consuming pelleted feeds.
    • Tips to Reduce Choke Risk: add large rocks to the feed bucket to slow intake, feed from large pans or troughs at ground level to increase time between mouthfuls, soak pellets into a mash for easier chewing and swallowing

 

 

  • Pelleted Feeds are a great option for many horses and situations.
    • There are…
      • Low-fat, low-calorie options for easy keepers or horses needing to lose weight
      • High-fat, high-calorie options for hard keepers, horses in intense training programs, or horses needing to gain weight
      • Most pelleted feeds soak well into a mash for horses at increased risk of choke, or those with dental issues

 

Textured Horse Feed: Pros, Cons, and When to Use It

Textured horse feed, often referred to as sweet feed, is one of the oldest and most recognizable types of horse feed on the market. Traditionally rich in molasses and cereal grains like oats or corn, this feed form is known for its high palatability and energy-dense composition.

Check out examples of our textured feeds here!

 

What are the benefits of textured feeds?

  • Highly Palatable for Picky Eaters
    • Their sweet smell, sticky texture, and oats and molasses inclusion make them great options for picky eaters.
  • Formulas for Hard Keepers
    • Traditionally, textured feeds include a higher starch and sugar content, which helps increase the calorie content per pound, which may benefit horses needing to gain weight.
    • Some formulas also include added fat for even higher energy density.
  • Improved Supplement Adherence
    • The stickiness of molasses can help powdered supplements and medications adhere better to the feed, reducing what’s left behind in the feed bucket.
  • Low-NSC Options are Available
    • While traditionally, textured feeds have been high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC [starch + sugar]), there are low NSC textured formulas available today.
    • These low NSC formulas may be suitable for less sensitive metabolic horses when selected cautiously and fed in accordance with veterinary and nutritionist recommendations.
      • It is crucial to consider the reported NSC content, body condition, feeding rate, and the number of meals fed daily before selecting a product. Textured feeds high in NSC could pose problems for horses with metabolic dysregulation and may increase the risk of laminitis when used in inappropriate situations.

 

Some Potential Drawbacks of Textured Horse Feed

  • May not be ideal for metabolic horses
    • High-NSC textured feeds may increase the risk of laminitis or other metabolic issues in horses who are metabolically dysregulated
  • May cause “hot” or excitable behavior
    • The high level of starch and sugar content in some formulas can lead to excessive energy or excitability in some horses. Low NSC textured feed options are available.
  • Feed Sorting Concerns
    • Horses skilled at sorting their feed may selectively eat grains like oats or corn and leave behind the pellets containing essential nutrients like amino acids, vitamins and trace minerals.
    • This can lead to diet imbalances, which may have lasting effects. 

 

When might it be appropriate to use textured feeds? 

  • Horses needing extra calories and energy (hard keepers, those in heavy work, horses needing weight gain)
  • Horses who are picky or finicky eaters
  • Horses on powdered supplements or medications
  • Situations where palatability and taste are critical

 

Extruded Horse Feeds: Benefits, Drawbacks & Best Fit Scenarios

Extruded horse feeds are a newer, highly digestible feed type that’s gaining popularity due to the benefits of this advanced processing method. Originally used in pet food production, the extrusion process has been adapted for horses to produce uniform, easy-to-chew feed particles with longer shelf lives. 

Check out examples of our extruded products here!

 

What is extruded feed?

  • Feed particles are produced using a similar process to pelleting, where ingredients are finely ground and steam-conditioned to form a mash
  • The feed then undergoes a process similar to pressure cooking, and is forced through a die under high temperature and pressure.
  • This produces very nutritionally consistent and uniform feed particles (similar to pellets), but with a softer texture and increased digestibility. 

 

What are the benefits of extruded feeds?

  • Easy to chew
    • Extruded feeds are a great option for senior horses or horses with dental problems
    • Light, airy texture reduces the time required to soak into a mash
  • High-fat, high-calorie formula options
    • Some extruded feed formulas may be great feed options for weight gain, or for maintaining hard keepers
    • Performance horse formulas available
  • Increased digestibility
    • The extrusion process enhances foregut nutrient absorption and bioavailability
    • May be helpful for horses with gut health concerns
  • Low Dust
    • Extruded formulas are typically low in dust and fines, making them standout options for horses with respiratory issues
  • Longer Shelf-life
    • Extruded feeds have low moisture content (similar to pellets) which allows them to be stored for more extended periods before expiring
  • Formula Options for All Life Stages
    • We have extruded formulas available to meet a variety of nutritional needs for horses in different stages of life, from seniors to performance horses. 

 

What are some potential drawbacks of extruded feed?

  • Availability
    • Extruded feeds may not be available in all regions or feed stores, depending on what products are stocked by local retailers
  • May not appeal to picky eaters
    • Extruded feeds are not sticky like some textured feeds, so horses accustomed to high molasses content may reject it.
    • Powdered supplements may not adhere well due to the lack of molasses and may be left behind.
      • Soaking extruded feeds into a mash may help combat this issue.

 

Scenarios When Extruded Feeds May be a Fit

  • Horses with limited teeth who need an easy-to-chew feed
  • Senior horses
  • Hard keepers or underweight horses
  • Horses with GI issues
  • Horses with respiratory sensitivities
  • Owners seeking a highly digestible feed option

 

Understanding is Key.

Choosing a feed for your horse can feel overwhelming, but understanding the specific benefits and drawbacks of pelleted, textured, and extruded feeds can help you make an informed decision. Each type of feed serves different purposes, and all can be effective tools in maintaining a healthy, happy horse. Pelleted and extruded feeds offer consistency, a longer shelf life, and a variety of formula options to suit horses in different situations. Textured feeds are often very palatable and energy-dense, with lower-calorie and low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) options available. Extruded feeds stand out because of their improved digestibility and easier chewing, which can be especially helpful for senior horses. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Working with your nutritionist and veterinarian during feed changes can help meet your horse's needs and support their overall health and performance throughout their lifetime. If you're not sure what feed form to choose for your horse, reach out to our team of Nutrition Advisors through our Contact Us  page. We are happy to help!

We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. See our cookie policy. You can use cookie settings to change your preferences.