Your Horse (UK)

Why is fibre important in the diet?

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Horses have evolved to eat on a little and often basis known as trickle feeding. In the wild, they feed for between 16 and 18 hours a day to meet their nutritiona­l demands from plant sources with low nutrient levels. In the domestic environmen­t, a horse’s requiremen­ts can be met with a much smaller volume of feed that takes less time to eat. This has significan­t consequenc­es for behavioura­l and digestive health. Low-fibre diets and long periods without access to forage have been linked to horses developing vices. Horses eating low-fibre diets are also at greater risk of gastric ulcers and colic. Throughout the digestive system, fibre aids peristalsi­s, a muscular contractio­n that moves food through the gut. In the stomach, fibre offers protection as it forms a ‘mat’ that helps to reduce acid coming into contact with the squamous (upper) region of the horse’s stomach. In the hind gut, a relatively stable population of microbes keeps harmful bacteria at bay, as well as breaking down fibre by a process called fermentati­on to produce energy. Volatile fatty acids are a source of slow-release energy produced from fibre that your horse can utilise when working at low intensitie­s. This means fibre is a great way to provide fuel for horses in light to moderate work. Both low-fibre and high-starch diets can disrupt the microbial population in the hind gut, resulting in problems such as colic, loose droppings and laminitis.

 ??  ?? Vices, such as crib biting, can develop if your horse doesn’t get enough fibre
Vices, such as crib biting, can develop if your horse doesn’t get enough fibre

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