What Is Ncs Horse Feed?

NSC stands for “non-structural carbohydrates”, which is mostly referring to the levels of sugar and starch in a commercial grain horse feed. The topic of NSC comes up frequently when discussing low-carb, low-starch diets for horses. Performance horses rely on sugar, starch and fat for energy.

What is NSC horse feed?

Non-structural carbohydrates, or NSC, are the simple sugars and starches present in horse feed ingredients. Simple sugars (such as glucose and fructose) and starches (simple sugars that are attached together as a chain) are readily digested and absorbed in the small intestine.

What is NSC in horse hay?

NSC = Simple Sugar and Starch aka Nonstructural Carbohydrates. In order to know the true NSC value of your hay you will have to test it. Multiple cuttings from the same field of grass can yield hay with different levels of NSC. The recommended NSC level in hay for insulin-resistant horses is 10%.

How is NSC horse feed calculated?

NSC is a combination of WSC (water-soluble carbohydrates, aka sugars) plus starch. WSC + Starch = NSC. The NSC level recommended for insulin-resistant horses is 10%.

What is high NSC horse?

NSC stands for non-structural carbohydrates and refers to the sugars and starches found in feeds. While performance horses may require a certain level of NSC to meet their energy needs, feeding high levels of NSC can have unfavorable effects, especially for horses with metabolic disorders or starch sensitivities.

How much NSC should a horse have?

10-12%
It is considered that horses require a NSC content of 10-12% in the total diet. With horses in work, with higher energy demands, the NSC level can be much higher.

What is the healthiest horse food?

Provide plenty of roughage
If hay isn’t enough, grain can be added, but the bulk of a horse’s calories should always come from roughage. Horses are meant to eat roughage, and their digestive system is designed to use the nutrition in grassy stalks.

What is the most digestible hay for horses?

Timothy hay is a popular choice because of its easy digestibility and may be more suitable for certain life stages. However, alfalfa hay has a higher calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, which makes it unsuitable for younger horses. Timothy hay has a balanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.

What is the best hay to fatten up a horse?

Alfalfa
Alfalfa is higher in calories and protein than grass hays, which makes it an excellent choice to help to add weight to a thin horse. If your horse tends to be wasteful with his hay, he may eat more when offered alfalfa hay cubes or pellets.

What hay is low NSC?

Though no hay can be reliably classified as low-NSC without being tested, some tend to be more appropriate for metabolic horses, according to Crandell. “In my experience, warm-season grasses like coastal Bermudagrass and teff tend to be lower in NSC than cool-season perennial grasses, such as timothy and orchardgrass.

What is the 20% rule horses?

The researchers found that an average adult light riding horse could comfortably carry about 20 percent of their ideal bodyweight. This result agrees with the value recommended by the Certified Horsemanship Association and the U.S. Cavalry Manuals of Horse Management published in 1920.

What hay is best for horses with laminitis?

Hay is likely to form the bulk of the diet for an EMS/PPID/laminitic horse. Late cut, native species grass hay is likely to have lower sugar levels than early cut improved species (e.g. ryegrass) grass hay. High fibre haylage may also be suitable.

What horse feed is low in starch and sugar?

SafeChoice® Special Care is considered a low-starch feed with a maximum starch level of 13%. To truly provide a low starch and sugar diet, it is important to take into consideration the starch and sugar levels of the forage in the diet.

What are the 3 categories for horses?

All horse breeds are classified into three main groups: heavy horses, light horses, and ponies. Heavy horses are the largest horses, with large bones and thick legs. Some weigh more than 2,000 pounds.

How do you tell if a horse has the HERDA?

Signs of HERDA include stretchy skin, severe skin wounds and scarring along the back and withers. The American Quarter Horse Association requires all breeding stallions be tested for HERDA. There is no cure or treatment for horses with HERDA.

What horse feed is low in sugar?

Wholesome Blends^™ Senior. A soy-free feed for more than just your aged partner. It’s high in fiber and fat, yet low in sugar and starch, which makes it a great choice for horses of all ages.

What is the NSC in Purina Strategy?

NSC stands for “non-structural carbohydrates”, which is mostly referring to the levels of sugar and starch in a commercial grain horse feed.

What hay has the highest sugar content?

Oat hay tends to be higher in nitrates and also high in sugar (NSC), so this hay is not an option for insulin resistant horses. Here’s a comparison chart so you can see the differences between alfalfa hay, timothy (grass) hay and oat hay.

What is the NSC of oats?

Using the Equi-Analytical database, the following general values for NSC are given*: oat hay, 22.1%; barley hay, 19.2%; alfalfa hay, 11.0%; bermudagrass hay, 13.2%; and grass hay, 12.0%. Tempting as it might be, it would be best to not depend on these general values when selecting hay for starch-sensitive horses.

What is the best horse feed to feed a horse?

Roughage/Forage Roughage, found in hay or grass, is the bulk of the horse’s food. Grass or alfalfa hay, or a combination of the two, are good sources of roughage. Grass hay is generally higher in fiber and dry matter than alfalfa, but alfalfa may be higher in protein, energy, vitamins and calcium.

What should I feed my horse everyday?

Generally, most horses do well grazing on high-quality grass pastures and hay and don’t need grain. If your horse relies on you to supply forage because it’s kept in a stall, paddock, or bare pasture, it’s best to feed your horse twice a day.