ANALYSIS OPTIONS

1 Nutrients

Most nutrient testing services provide an overview of dry matter, fibre, protein, calories (energy), sugar and starch levels in forage. There are several testing methods that delve into these nutrients, including NIR and wet chemistry. More specific tests can also be performed on nutrients of interest, like starch and sugar. This can be an added benefit when planning total daily diet of laminitis-prone horses or ponies.

If you’d like support in the selection of nutrient testing services for your horse, using the previously mentioned free resources (that is, feed company helpline services, vets and nutritionists) can be very beneficial, as they can help assess which tests might be best suited to the needs of your horse and your goals. The labs themselves can often provide advice on tests offered, although that would mostly be specific to their services, rather than to which may be best suited to your horse.

2 Minerals

These services can provide an indication of the contribution of respective minerals to total daily diet. Unfortunately, most UK forage and pasture is somewhat vitamin and mineral deficient, with some geographical areas being particularly bad offenders. Testing the mineral content in your forage can help provide guidance on which complementary products might help ensure balance in your horse’s daily diet, ultimately supporting ongoing wellbeing. Once you’ve received your mineral results, if you’d like support assessing the balance within your horse’s total daily diet, again, the free resources mentioned previously are a great starting point.

3 Hygiene

Hygiene services vary greatly — seeking advice on test selection before submitting samples can be beneficial. Assessing the cleanliness and handling safety of your forage can potentially protect both human and horse respiratory health, while also providing guidance on whether different preparations may be indicated (that is, rinsing, soaking or steaming).