Sugar + starch contents: How low is 'low'?
Do you ever wonder? Nowadays it is increasingly known that extra added or high values of starch and sugar are not so healthy in horse feed. Not for a healthy horse, but not at all for horses with metabolic problems or who are overweight, insulin resistant or laminitis. You often see food passing by where the bag says 'low in starch and sugar' or 'suitable for horses with laminitis'. Fine of course, but is that really the truth? How low is low?
With what measurements is measured?
As an example, the values on which voervergelijk.nl bases 'low', 'average' or 'high':
Sugar 4% to 7%
Starch Low (15% - 25%)
Sugar 4% to 7%
Starch Average (25% - 35%)
So low in starch may still be 15-25%! Sugar is not included, so 'low in starch' food can contain a total of 32% starch and sugar together. That is almost 1/3 of the complete product. We don't think that is low at all.
What about starch?
Of course, starch is not the same as sugar, but after digestion it is processed the same way in the horse's body as it happens with sugar. It just takes a little longer to reach the circulatory system because it takes time to be digested. Low in sugar, but still high in starch does not make a food healthier. It is also said that sugar / starch is not such a problem at all, because the horse needs sugars to survive. This is not untrue, but this is a very low amount of sugars. This is absolutely no reason to give food with extra sugars in it, there are already enough sugars in the basic ration.
What about the roughage?
The average roughage (hay / haylage / silage) has a starch and sugar content of 10-15% in total. This is the basic food for the horse, so what is normal for them. Then it would make sense that 'low in starch and sugar' is around or below this number, and certainly not above that number. For horses that are sensitive to sugars, this number should ideally remain below 10%, for which hay analysis would also be important. The sugar content of Dutch grass is on average around 20%, which is already too much for many horses. This is because the majority is production grass, such as English ryegrass, to feed dairy cows, which can use these sugars better.
Confusion everywhere!
In addition to roughage, you naturally want to give your horse all the nutrients it needs, so you want to give it a feed. How do you choose that? We find quite a bit of confusing information among the feed manufacturers: on the one hand hay with 20% sugar (exception, but it happens) is labelled as 'an unhealthy amount of sugar', on the other hand a sugar and starch content of 20,7% is called 'very low'. Another manufacturer refers to a sugar and starch content of 20.9% as 'low' and 'suitable for austere breeds'. Yet another finds a content of 10.4% low and 21.3% 'little'. Another mentions 22.8% little. We also find statements such as 'without molasses and added sugars' on a feed that contains a total of 38.8% sugar and starch. There is a wide range on the horse feed market with a sugar and starch content of 30% to 48%. These are generally the regular basic and sport variants that the average horse is fed.
Which feed would fit next to the roughage?
So there is clearly no consensus on how low is really low and what is suitable for which horse. In any case, reading the manufacturer's statements is not enough for choosing a food, but you should also carefully look at the analysis on the bag or look up the composition and guaranteed values on the internet. The only solution is to actually look at the numbers and decide for yourself what you think is low for your horse, in combination with his condition and the roughage he gets. Don't just be told something, but look and compare and double check. Also remember that there are enough good horse feeds that are based on roughage products, so that they automatically contain much less sugar and starch. If you are unable to find a solution, you can always request an independent and individually measured feed measurement from The Horse Therapist for your horse or pony. https://thehorsetherapist.ie/gb/webshop/70-voermeting-alle-merken-en-soorten.html
Jente Driessen & Anouk Wiertz of HorseComplete and translated by Sharon, The Horse Therapist
https://dier-en-natuur.infonu.nl/dier/120460-krachtvoer-voor-paarden- Zonder-veel-suikers-en- starch.html