Cereal Grains For Horses

More info at https://equinechallengesupplements.com Grains are the seeds of cereal plants that belong to the grass family. They are fed primarily as sources of energy. Those commonly fed to horses are oats, barley, corn, milo, wheat, rice, and rye. These grains can vary widely in energy, protein, fiber, and weight. Differences in nutritional value and physical characteristics should be considered when formulating diets.
Oat grain is the most popular cereal grain fed to horses. It’s popularity as a grain for horses is due to habit, a lack of familiarity with other grains, and the fact that it is the safest and most palatable to horses. Oat grain has a soft kernel and is easy to chew. The fiber level of oats is 10 to 12% and is therefore less likely to cause laminitis or digestive problems as compared to other grains. Oats are an amorphous starch, the most easily digestible of all the grains. They are broken down in the small intestine and are absorbed long before reaching the caecum. Crystalline starches are difficult to breakdown so starch enters the caecum where it starts to ferment leading to colic, laminitis, founder, etc… Barley grain looks similar to oat grain but is somewhat harder. Therefore, it is generally recommended that barley be crimped or rolled for horses. The fiber content of barley is higher than that of corn, milo, wheat, rice, and rye. Barley is intermediate between oats and corn in energy, fiber level, safety, and heat produced. Slightly less of its starch is digested in the small intestine as compared to corn. Good quality barley is a desirable cereal grain for horses. It can be fed as the only grain in the diet with no adverse effects. However, it is less palatable than oats or corn and is commonly used in a grain mix.
Corn is commonly fed to horses. However, excessive amounts should be avoided. Corn is slightly less palatable than oats but more palatable than other grains for horses. Corn is prone to mold and lacks the safety margin against over consumption that oat grain provides. Corn is lower in fiber but higher in energy and density than oats. It provides two times as much energy as an equal volume of oats. When equal amounts of energy (not equal volumes of grain) are fed, corn does not have any greater tendency to obesity or to make a horse “high” than any other grain. Many mistakenly believe that corn is a “heating feed." For this reason corn is often fed in the winter and not in the summer. If “hot” refers to high energy, then it is a “hot feed” but not when it refers to high heat production. The reason is that corn is lower in fiber than oats or barley. In corn only 41% of its gross energy is given off as heat, as compared to 66% of the gross energy in oats. When corn is fed, there is increased risk of cecal acidosis resulting in laminitis, founder, diarrhea, and colic as compared to when oats are fed. The reasons for this are (1) high energy density of corn, (2) risk of excess intake, (3) corn’s lower fiber content, and (4) less starch from corn is digested and absorbed in the small intestine than from oats. Approximately 98% of starch from oat grain is absorbed in the small intestine as compared to 70% of the starch from corn. As a result more starch enters the cecum after the horse eats corn than oats. Starch fermentation in the cecum results in greater production of volatile fatty acids and lactic acid results in disorders previously noted.
Milo has a small hard kernel similar to wheat and must be steam flaked for efficient utilization by the horse. The feeding value of milo is variable depending on the level of tannin present. The tannin content can decrease palatability and protein digestibility. The wheat kernel is small and hard. It should be cracked, coarsely ground, or steam flaked for efficient utilization by the horse. Wheat is a good feed that can be fed as the only grain without harmful effects.
Rough or unpolished rice, the grain before dehulling, is a suitable feed for horses. However, its use is not as popular as is rice bran. The energy content of rice is similar to that of corn on a weight basis. On a volume basis rice is lower in energy than corn but similar to oats.
Rye is not commonly grown as a feed grain. It is generally used for pasture or hay. The kernels of rye are small and hard similar to those of wheat and milo. Consequently, for efficient utilization they should be cracked by processing. Rye grain is similar in energy, fiber, and feeding value to corn, but is higher in protein. Rye can be fed to horses but should be mixed with other grain and not over one-third of the grain mix should be rye because of its low palatability.
Rye should be closely inspected for ergot that is highly toxic to horses.
Digestion of cereal grain starch. Many different cereal grains are fed to horses and they all vary in energy, protein, fat, and fiber content.
We hope this information is helpful when decdiding which grain to feed to your equine family.

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