Nutrition FAQ's

 

Horses

General Questions

  • What should I feed to my pony if he is prone to Laminitis?

    The key to feeding and managing a horse with Laminitis is avoiding feeds that are high in soluble sugars and starch whilst still providing the horse with adequate energy that it requires. Feeds that are high in soluble sugars and starch include not only grain based concentrates but also pastures that are present on many equine properties in New Zealand. Ideally, ponies prone to laminitis should be kept off these feeds and instead maintained on a feed low in starch and soluble sugar such as FiberEzy®. The combination of the equine specialty grass Timothy and lucerne present in FiberEzy® is safe for all horses, especially those suffering from diseases such as Laminitis.

  • I think my horse has Ulcers - what should I do?

    Gastric (stomach) ulceration is a complex issue that is unfortunately caused by, at least in part, the way we manage horses. In the wild, horses were allowed to continuously graze on forage materials whilst also being in an environment that didn’t cause too much on-going stress. Since domesticating them we have asked certain things of our horses like needing to jump fences, run fast and for long periods of time and engage in manoeuvres that may be unnatural to them. We also keep them in confined areas for long periods of time and don’t always give them free range access to forage. Luckily gastric ulcers are, however, something that can be managed within the diet of the horse. In scientific trials, feeding FiberProtect® or FiberEdge® to horses that were both spelling and in training, has been shown to assist in promoting healthy stomach condition*.

  • Is it true that lucerne is too rich and makes horses fizzy?

    No, lucerne, such as is present in all Fiber Fresh products, is a non-heating, safe form of energy and protein that is suitable for all horses. Being a fibre feed, lucerne is predominantly digested in the hindgut under slow release pathways that gives the horse sustained energy for health and performance. Even more, because Fiber Fresh products are so easily digested it enables you to cut back on other feeds and sometimes reduce the total amount you are feeding, saving you money and optimising the digestive health of your horse. As all Fiber Fresh products are fermented, the sugar is used up by the bacteria in the process giving all Fiber Fresh forage products low starch and soluble sugar values.

  • Will oats really make my horse loopy?

    No. In fact, oats are the safest grain to feed to horses, despite receiving a bad publicity over the years. Oats, like those present in FiberMix® and FiberEdge® contain the lowest levels of starch and soluble sugars of any cereal grain making them in a lot of ways the best grain to feed to horses, especially if your horse is excitable or prone to being ‘fizzy’.

  • How do I change my horse’s current diet to include Fiber Fresh products?

    Ideally make changes over a period of days, to a week, depending on how much of the current fibre you have left that you are feeding your horse. Start by removing a portion of the fibre that is currently being fed, and replace it with the Fiber Fresh (in the same amount). Simply swap out old product and replace it with the new Fiber Fresh product. Remember to adjust the amount fed based on the energy component differences between the two fibre feeds. There is quite a bit of variability between forage fibre sources and how much digestible energy is present. Fiber Fresh products are typically around 11 MJ/Kg DM Digestible Energy.

  • Will Fiber Fresh make my horse fizzy

    No, Lucerne is present in all Fiber Fresh products, and it is a non-heating, safe form of energy and protein that is suitable for all horses. Being a fibre feed, Lucerne is predominantly digested in the hindgut under slow release pathways that gives the horse sustained energy for health and performance. Even more, because Fiber Fresh products are so easily digested it enables you to cut back on other feeds and sometimes reduce the total amount you are feeding, saving you money and optimising the digestive health of your horse. As all Fiber Fresh products are fermented, the sugar is used up by the bacteria in the process giving all Fiber Fresh forage products low starch and soluble sugar values.

  • What should I feed to my horse/pony if he is prone to Laminitis?

    The key to feeding and managing a horse with Laminitis is avoiding feeds that are high in soluble sugars and starch, whilst still providing the horse with adequate energy that it requires. Feeds that are high in soluble sugars and starch include not only grain based feeds but also pastures that are grazed. Ideally, horses and ponies prone to laminitis should have their diet managed and incorporate a fibre feed low in starch and soluble sugar such as Fiber Protect or Fiber Ezy.

  • How do I store Fiber Fresh?

    There are a few things you can do to prolong the ’in use’ life of your Fiber Fresh product.

    - Ease of opening/product extraction - opening the bag along the side seam allows for easier access and ensures you can extract sufficient amounts per feed easily.
    - Always keep in a cool, dark place.
    - Keep the Fiber Fresh in its original bag if possible, and place a non-synthetic cover (towel/sheet) over the opening of the bag. This allows the product to breathe (not sweat which will accelerate spoilage). The covering also prevents flies and midges as these insects find the moist environment attractive.
    - If you do store in a bin, never make it airtight, always allow it to breathe as it is a living product. If it is in an airtight container it will sweat and accelerate spoilage.
    - If using a container to store the product, always wash out regularly with detergent as mould spores will build up on the sides of the container over time.

  • Why does Fiber Fresh have different storage needs to other feeds

    Fiber Fresh is a ‘living’ product thus once it is taken out of its oxygen-free environment it has a limited shelf-life. The bags themselves can be stored outside as they are waterproof, however always ensure that there is adequate rodent control as it is imperative that the bag is not compromised in any way to retain the oxygen-free environment.

  • How long does a bag of Fiber Fresh last once opened?

    Fiber Fresh lasts 10-14 days typically under ideal conditions. The length of time is directly proportional to how the product is stored, and the ambient conditions in the location that it is being used. Ideally the feeding rate of 1-2Kg per feed, per day (as a minimum), will see the bag used up before any spoilage occurs.

  • What does yeast look like in Fiber Fresh and why is it ok?

    Yeast is a type of fungus that grows as a single cell and typically grows as a soft white clump – not to be confused with mould growth. Yeasts and Moulds are different organisms. Fiber Fresh contains natural-occurring yeasts throughout the product. These sometimes colonize as pure white patches mainly on the surface of the product and other times in the middle but not very often.

    These are perfectly harmless and, in fact, are a natural probiotic high in Vitamin B which is beneficial to aid digestion in monogastric animals such as horses.

    If you are not comfortable or your animal is not keen to consume these patches scrape off the patch and simply discard but rest assured the product is absolutely fine and will not cause any harm to the animal. As mentioned above, yeast is present throughout the product anyway.

  • What do I do if there’s ever mould in my Fiber Fresh?

    Mould is a spoilage organism and any feed (including Fiber Fresh), should be discarded if mould is present. Moulds can be very colourful and maybe orange, green, black, brown, pink or purple. Typically mould that grows in Fiber Fresh as it spoils is pale blue/green in colour. Mould is a type of fungus that grows in multicellular filaments called hyphae. These tubular branches have multiple, genetically identical nuclei, yet form a single organism, known as a colony.

  • Can I use Fiber Fresh instead of hay or pasture during drought and dry conditions?

    Yes, by using Fiber Fresh during times when pasture is dry and in short supply you will ensure you are providing good quality digestible fibre for your horse. The added advantage is that Fiber Fresh products retain good levels of Vitamins (particularly A and E), and minerals, and essential amino acids which can be significantly reduced in dried and brown pasture. Fiber Fresh also contributes to keeping your horse hydrated.

  • Can I use Fiber Fresh as a forage substitute all year round?

    Yes absolutely, Fiber Fresh provides a consistent, highly digestible source of quality fibre that has high levels of vitamins and minerals and essential amino acids. It also contributes to keeping your horse hydrated.

 

General Nutrition

  • My horse needs extra condition - what should I feed him?

    All Fiber Fresh products can be of benefit to help condition the horse and keep weight on. However, for a little bit extra why not try FiberBoost® which contains 30% Barley®, 70% (lucerne) as well as a vitamin and mineral balancer to ensure complete nutrition and can be fed on its own or as a base of the diet.

  • What are the benefits of feeding Fiber Fresh products over other forages?

    There is really no other forage that compares with lucerne in terms of its energy, protein and overall nutrient composition. The unique fermentation process that all Fiber Fresh products go under means that the horse can get the most from their feed when compared with dried forms of the same plants. Feeding Fiber Fresh products also ensures your horse stays well hydrated which is vital at all times but especially when the horse is travelling or at an event where they may not be interested in drinking. Research has shown that even though horses drink less whilst eating Fiber Fresh products than traditional dried chaff, they will be better hydrated.

  • How much forage does my horse really need?

    As a general rule, horses are required to eat anywhere from 2%-3.5% of their bodyweight in dry matter a day. It is well accepted that forage needs to make up at least half of this and total forage intake should always be at least 1.5% of the horse’s bodyweight to maintain optimal gastrointestinal health. For a 500 kg horse, this would equate to between 7.5 kg of forage (DM basis) per day. If this is not provided, the gastrointestinal health and function of the horse may be compromised and digestive complications such as colic and hindgut acidosis may occur.

  • How often should I hard feed my horse?

    The horse evolved as a grazing animal, nibbling on forages all day long. It is important to try and mimic this as much as possible with our modern feeding practices. Where possible it is best to split hard feeds into at least two to three feeds per day especially if they have a large grain component. The horse has a small stomach so giving them one big meal a day is not only dangerous for their health but may also be a waste of money and time. If feeding a grain-based concentrate it is important that as a general rule no more than 1-2 kg of these types of feed should be fed per feed and at least a ration of 2:1 fibre:grain (by weight not volume) should be in the form of forage. In between meals, horses should always have access to quality forage sources and fresh water.

  • What is Xanotyde?

    Xanotyde® itself is a set of natural ingredients that support one of our manufacturing processes called Modified Bio-Fermentation. The actual formulation of Xanotyde® is unique to Fiber Fresh and the composition of ingredients is not disclosed, but all ingredients are natural and are safely used in animal feeds. In part the Xanotyde® ingredient works as a catalyst during the fermentation process, but it also acts as a benefit for healthy cell function once it forms part of the animal’s diet. This support of natural gut activity combined with the natural benefits of our nutritional forage products act to improve gastric function and gastric health.

 

Breeding

  • What should I feed my growing horse?

    The most important nutrients for your growing horse are protein, energy and ensuring the correct balance of minerals and vitamins. Take the guess work out of this by providing a complete feed like FiberBoost®. This will provide a good level of quality protein and the correct amounts and proportions of all the minerals and vitamins the young growing horse requires such as Calcium and Phosphorous. FiberBoost® will provide a constant growth rate and help avoid spikes in growth rates that can be attributable to some Developmental Orthopaedic Diseases such as Physitis and OCD.

  • What nutrients are important when feeding my broodmare?

    Like the growing horse, your broodmare also requires good levels of quality protein and, apart from the racehorse in very heavy work, has higher nutrient requirements than any other class of horse. Despite this, the nutrition of our broodmares is sometimes overlooked. Look to FiberProtect® or FiberEzy® for your mare as a base forage on which to build your ration or use FiberBoost® to take the guess work out of feeding your broodmare and provide her with all the nutrients she requires in the correct proportion. Don’t forget to keep feeding her once she has had the foal as her nutrient requirements increase once the foal is on the ground and she begins to nurse her foal.

  • The breeding season is approaching - what should I feed my stallion?

    It is important to put your stallion onto a feeding programme that is increasing his plane of nutrition coming into the breeding season. Stallions should start the breeding season 1 – 2 body condition scores higher than their ideal weight as they will expend extra energy during the season. You can use any of the Fiber Fresh feeds, including FiberBoost®, however, the higher energy in FiberMix® would make an ideal base forage for your stallion.

  • Why should I change to FiberProtect®? What's wrong with good grass and good meadow hay instead?

    Whilst grass and meadow hay are generally good sources of fibre, it has a lower energy and protein value compared to any of the Fiber Fresh products. They offer not only superior energy but also very good quality protein, calcium, and the first limiting amino acid lysine. Research has proven that the amino acids in FiberProtect® are better digested when compared with traditional dry lucerne chaff.

 

Performance

  • How do I build top-line in my horse?

    To build and maintain top-line and assist with muscle recovery and development, a diet high in quality protein is necessary. All of Fiber Fresh products contain lucerne in its most highly digestible form, making it the perfect feed for top-line and muscle development. FiberProtect® is recommended as it contains the highest level of quality protein than any other known forage feed. Other improvements you can expect to see include reduced hay belly and improved coat and hoof condition.