How Much Rice Bran To Feed Horses?

25 August 2017 5 February 2018 Have you ever contemplated giving your horse stabilized rice bran, but were unsure of what it is, how to introduce it, and probably most importantly, how to use it correctly? Experts in equine nutrition concur that stabilized rice bran is a beneficial feed ingredient for certain horses, but, as with any dietary modification, it must be introduced gradually and appropriately to minimize gastrointestinal issues.

In a nutshell, “Stabilized rice bran is produced by harvesting the thin, brown layer of individual rice kernels located underneath the hull or outer shell and stabilizing that brown layer—or bran—to inhibit the enzyme lipase from breaking down the fat in the bran and preventing the rice bran from going rancid,” according to Clarissa Brown-Douglas, Ph.D., an equine nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research (Australia).

There are five primary reasons why horse owners and management provide stabilized rice bran:

1. Adding or maintaining weight on horses (e.g., hard keepers, horses undergoing strenuous activity)
2. Changing the diet of horses with PSSM and endocrine illnesses such as Cushing’s disease and metabolic syndrome (because nutrition experts recommend replacing starch with fat as an energy source)
3. Managing gastric ulcers
4. Providing a source of fat to improve coat health
5. and
6. Aiding in the modification of some behavioral issues (fat provides a cool, slow-release energy).

Prepared to experiment with feeding stabilized rice bran? Consider the following tips while preparing an introduction:

• Ensure that you acquire stabilized rice bran. Rice bran that has not been stabilized is accessible, however it soon becomes rancid and cannot be stored for more than 5–7 days, depending on the temperature and humidity. It is also vital not to mistake stabilized rice bran with other rice products that horses can consume, such as broken rice.
• Ensure that the rice bran is supplemented. Unstabilized rice bran is naturally abundant in phosphorus and low in calcium, a ratio that is called inverted. Calcium is added to high-quality items to rectify the issue.
• Select a formulation (meal, pellet) that your horse will consume. Stabilized rice bran is often acceptable and pleasant. Start with a little amount up to a daily limit of 4 lb (1.8 kg).
• Consult an equine nutritionist before to implementing any nutritional changes, and discuss all dietary components, including supplements, to avoid double-dipping.

How much rice bran should I feed my horse in order for him to gain weight?

Rice Bran for Horse Weight Gain – Kentucky Equine Research Rice bran is a readily digested, nutrient-dense feed component or supplement that delivers fat-derived energy. It is utilized most frequently as an energy source for weight gain and for horses prone to lameness.

1. The most frequent kinds of are oil, meal, and pellets.
2. The pelleted version is chosen by horse owners since it is the easiest to feed.
3. Pellets are less dirty than meal and simpler to incorporate into a concentrate than oil.
4. Rice bran is unfavorable for horses and has a limited shelf life due to the presence of a particular enzyme that rapidly breaks down fat.

Manufacturers utilize a technique that deactivates the enzyme and preserves the product in order to retain the quality of fat and avoid rancidity. Horses should only be given rice bran products that have been stabilized. Check the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of a product to see if extra calcium is required to maintain the right balance.

• When feeding rice bran to developing horses or mares in late pregnancy or lactation, it is especially crucial to screen for the presence of aflatoxins.
• Although rice bran includes certain B vitamins, phosphorus, and important fatty acids, it is not totally fortified and must be supplemented with the required amount of a fortified feed to satisfy all vitamin and mineral needs.

Using rice bran (1-2 lb or 0.45-1 kg per day) offers concentrated calories and lowers the risk of digestive distress associated with feeding large quantities of carbohydrate-rich feed. Rice Bran for Horse Weight Gain – Kentucky Equine Research

Will rice bran cause a horse to gain weight?

Published by Carolyn Adams on September 30, 2011 Most horse owners have encountered Stabilized Rice Bran at a feed store, online, or while conversing with other horse owners, but have questioned how or why to include it into their horse’s diet. Many horse owners inquire about the benefits of Stabilized Rice Bran and how to feed it to their animals.

So, to answer your questions, I interviewed Dr. Rob McCoy, the animal nutritionist at Manna Pro, to find out the truth about SRB: Carolyn: Why would a horse owner seek for Stabilized Rice Bran as a supplement? Mr. Spock: The fat content of Stabilized Rice Bran is its most important nutrient. Fat is a good source of calories and is easy on the digestive tract, making it an excellent option to increase fat to a horse’s diet while avoiding grain and starch overload.

If a horse owner want to increase fat or calories to their horse’s diet, Stabilized Rice Bran might be fed. Carolyn: I’ve heard that many sorts of horses can benefit from Stabilized Rice Bran. What are the benefits of each horse breed? Mr. Spock: Stabilized Rice Bran is a fantastic supplement for the majority of horses and helps satisfy their particular nutritional requirements, based on their life stage and degree of activity.

It is easy to digest, which is beneficial for older horses, and gives more calories to aid in body condition development. Some geriatric horses may struggle to maintain their weight, but Stabilized Rice Bran can assist them in doing so. It is safe to feed to developing horses and offers the necessary calories for growth and development.

Stabilized Rice Bran is also beneficial for performance horses, as it supplies the additional calories required for their high caloric consumption and aids in maintaining their physical condition. It is a highly safe and effective approach to increase calories to an underweight horse’s diet without feeding excessive amounts of grain.

Stabilized Rice Bran is an excellent weight gain supplement for adult horses since it helps maintain their weight and healthy coat. Carolyn: Stabilized Rice Bran appears to be suitable for all sorts of horses. Exist horses that should not receive SRB? Mr. Spock: Feeding an overweight horse Stabilized Rice Bran will simply exacerbate the situation due to its calorie content.

Therefore, SRB is inappropriate for obese horses. Carolyn: Rice bran is frequently referred to as “stabilized,” but are there rice brans that are not stabilized? And why is feeding a stable individual significant? Mr. Spock: Raw rice bran that has not undergone a stabilization procedure is available at feed stores around the nation.

It is essential to select a brand that has been stabilized, which indicates that the rice bran has undergone specialist processing to prevent the fat from deteriorating. The oxidation of the oil in uncooked rice bran causes it to become rancid and unpleasant, which might result in the horse rejecting its meal and consequent weight loss.

Carolyn: Will Stabilized Rice Bran make horses hyperactive or “hot”? Mr. Spock: Overconsumption of carbohydrates and sugar is frequently linked to hyperactivity in horses. Compared to traditional grain-based feeds, Stabilized Rice Bran includes lower quantities of carbohydrates and sugar, hence it is not predicted to promote hyperactivity.

Carolyn: Does the horse’s grain intake have to be decreased when Stabilized Rice Bran is provided? Mr. Spock: Depending on what is being replaced, a pound-for-pound exchange may suffice in some circumstances. However, Stabilized Rice Bran is typically offered to horses in need of further conditioning.

In this situation, it is added to their diet. Carolyn: Can I replace another supplement with Stabilized Rice Bran? Mr. Spock: Stabilized Rice Bran may be substituted for liquid oils and “muscle-building” supplements. With our Max-E Glo ® and Natural Glo ® products, Manna Pro is the leader in Stabilized Rice Bran.

• Visit our website for more information on SRB and its availability in your area. Dr.
• McCoy, many thanks for supplying us with such valuable information! Regarding Dr.
• Rob McCoy Rob McCoy grew up in south central Kansas.
• He earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Animal Science and Industry) in 1990 and a Master of Science in 1992 from Kansas State University.

Rob pursued his academic studies at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln after graduating from K-State, getting his PhD in 1996. In 1997, Rob joined Manna Pro as an Animal Nutritionist. Currently, he serves as the company’s vice president of nutrition and quality assurance.

* Pedersen, S.K., A.E. Cribb, M.C. Windeyer, et al. In press: Equine Veterinary Journal. Risk factors for equine glandular and squamous gastric illness in show jumping Warmbloods.