What Is The Lowest Nsc Horse Feed?

The NSC level recommended for insulin-resistant horses is 10%. A horse feed can be labeled “low starch” and still not be appropriate for a horse with metabolic syndrome. Look for a feed that guarantees an NSC of 10% or less. You may have to call the manufacturer to find out this information.

Which horse feed has the lowest NSC?

Feed ingredients such as beet pulp and alfalfa meal are lower in NSC, while grain ingredients such as corn, oats, and barley are higher in NSC.

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 NSC level in 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.

Is beet pulp low NSC?

Shredded beet pulp is a highly digestible, calorie-rich feed that provides 8 – 12% protein and has low NSC content.

Is Timothy hay high in NSC?

↑NSC – Stressed cool-season grasses, such as fescue, orchard grass, and Timothy, tend to be higher in NSC. Maintains normal metabolic function and healthy insulin levels.

What is the best feed for a laminitic horse?

Hay and Silage
Mature cut hay from a native or unimproved grass is ideal for laminitic horses. It will have lower sugar content than early cut grass.

Does steaming hay lower NSC?

The above numbers demonstrate that steaming will reduce the NSC to 12.06% on a 100% dry matter basis. But even better, the NSC level is actually brought down to 10.86% on an as-sampled basis — safe to feed for most insulin resistant horses.

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 is the NSC of alfalfa hay?

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%.

Are oats low NSC?

They are higher in fat and fibre (thanks to the hull) and are, therefore, lower in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) than most other grains.

What is the NSC of Purina Equine Senior?

19% NSC
Purina Equine Senior is a complete feed in an easy-to-chew formulation targeted at older horses. It contains 14% crude protein, 5.5% fat, and 19% NSC.

What is the NSC of Triple Crown Lite?

9.3%
Triple Crown Lite is a palatable, low-calorie, high-fiber pellet fortified with vitamins and minerals. This feed is intended for horses or ponies prone to laminitis and insulin resistance and tends to gain weight easily. This feed has an NSC of 9.3%.

Can a horse eat too much beet pulp?

Due to beet pulp’s relatively high calcium and low phosphorus levels, feeding too much could imbalance the calcium to phosphorus ratio in the diet, which could interfere with normal bone development in young horses.

Can beet pulp cause laminitis?

So, when consumed heavily, beet pulp is rich in energy but doesn’t include harmful amounts of sugars that can cause laminitis in horses. The fiber in beet pulp is very digestible, which is why some horses won’t stop eating it.

Is alfalfa better than beet pulp?

After diving into the research, beet pulp is more energy dense than alfalfa. However, the two work in different ways for weight gain so using them both together will give the best results. Do you have an equine myth you’d like us to tackle?

What hay is not good for horses?

Bahiagrass: This grass hails from the southern coastal plains. It’s typically found in pastures, so the stuff they make into hay is not that great for horses. Overly mature Bahiagrass hay can cause ergot poisoning, so buyer beware.

Is timothy or orchard hay better?

Compared to Timothy Grass, Orchard Grass grows better in moderate drought conditions and provides a solid three hay cuttings per year. With three cuttings instead of two cuttings, Orchard Grass produces consistent soft texture hay that horses readily consume with minimal or no waste.

How do you find NSC for hay?

An analysis of the nonstructural carbohydrates (starches and sugars) in the forage. NSC is commonly estimated by adding starch plus WSC. Since some horses can be very sensitive to dietary starch and sugar (i.e. horses with PSSM, EMS or laminitis), the NSC level can be helpful in selecting hay.

What do you feed a senior horse with laminitis?

Forage: High quality grass hay is the ideal forage for a horse prone to laminitis. Feed: A product specially formulated for metabolic issues or a ration balancer are the best bet to feed your laminitic horse.

How do you treat mild laminitis in horses?

Many mild cases respond to stable rest, a restricted diet, anti-inflammatory medication e.g., phenylbutazone, and removal of the cause of the laminitis, where this is known.