EMS Safe feeds in NZ - as per ECIR Group Rules

Its been for a long time  - a desire for me to get out a list of feeds that would be suitable for sensitive horses.  In particular the Cushings (PPID) and Metabolic syndrome type horses.  Horses  prone to laminitis and inflammation too would really fall in to this category and are often not officially diagnosed as any 'type',  just labelled as 'good doers'.

For some reason everyone wants to feed their horses buckets of feed.  So heres a list of safe feeds for you - to 'just make sure they got their daily vits and mins".....

================================================================

SCROLL TO THE END OF THE BLOG IF YOU JUST WANT TO SEE THE SUITABLE  FEEDS ONLY

======================================================================

....

.

.

WHERE DID I GET MY DEFINITION OF WHAT IS A SAFE FEED? - Here! https://www.ecirhorse.org/

.

ECIR  (the Equine Cushings and Insulin Resistance Group) says "Everything you feed your EMS equine should be less than 10% combined  hydrolyzable carbohydrates (HC = ESC and starch combined), with the starch component being less than 4%.

It is best if there is no added iron (e.g., ferrous sulfate) in the ingredients, because iron overload can worsen EMS.

These safe feeds are to be used as carriers for the vitamins and minerals. Hay is the mainstay of the diet. If your horse cannot eat hay, then contact the ECIR Outreach Group for more information: https://ecir.groups.io/g/main.

Please be wary of bagged feeds that say: “low starch, low sugar, for metabolic
horses” or similar. Many feed manufacturers can legitimately say “low starch” because the feed has less starch than oats; or can say “low sugar” because there isn’t a lot of added sugar, but there is enough starch to cause laminitis in an EMS horse. NOTE: If your horse is sensitive to alfalfa (in NZ this is lucerne), always read the ingredients list on a feed before purchasing."

So if they dont list the NSC and Starch - be wary!  Theres often a reason.

. 

Further they state ===

It is important to find out if you are in a Selenium-rich or Selenium-deficient area; the same applies to Manganese."   

Most of New Zealand is selenium deficient..  Get your horse tested via bloodwork for this.

.

======================================================================

DEFINITIONS & EXPLANATION OF STUFF!   
Its not easy to understand - so lets break it down a little.....

.

NSC - Nonstructural carbohydrates.  These are plant cell carbohydrates that are free in the cell contents and not part of the cell wall.  The Cell Wall is  predominantly Fibre.

The NSC can be further sub divided into Water Soluble Carbohydrates (WSC = Sugars and Fructan) and Ethanol Soluble Carbohydrates (ESC= Sugars), and Starch.

WSC encompasses simple sugars as well as fructans, whereas ESC solely represents the measurement of simple sugars, being ethanol soluble carbohydrates.

ESC =  This is an acronym for Ethanol Soluble Carbohydrate.   They are a subset of WSC.  These carbohydrates are extracted from a sample in an 80% ethanol solution. This carbohydrate fraction is a subset of the WSC number and represents the sugar fractions that directly influence blood sugar, and the most rapidly fermentable fructans.  They are of the MOST CONCERN because of their glucose and insulin stimulation action.

.

NSC is nonstructural carbohydrates = Starch + WSC.  
HC is hydrolyzable carbohydrates = Starch + ESC.  These are structural carbs that make up the cell wall.

.

.

======================================================================
Tough reading isnt it!!.  So - NSC covers all.   BUT it is REALLY HC that you want as it is more accurate and LESS RESTRICTIVE.  

.

DA RULZ - to help sift thru all this........

.

IF the product only declares NSC then use that. 

IF you like the product but we dont even know if it fits the HC rule - ask the company what the ESC and Starch are....   

You already know that if NSC and Starch are under 10% when combined you can assume to be safe as long as the Starch is 4% and lower.
 
======================================================================

.

.

HERES THE PRODUCTS I HAVE NOTICED AS CANDIDATES

If they dont list ESC we HAVE to use NSC.  Contact the manufacturer if you need the ESC.   
Some of these products are OVER 10% because they have not listed ESC and we only have NSC.  I have flagged these for more info is needed

.

BEET PULP

SPEEDI-BEET (molasses-free).  Rinsed/soaked/rinsed:
Soak anywhere from 15 minutes in warm water to a couple of hours in cold water - enough so the pellets/shreds swell/soften.
Another Beet Pulp product is BETABEET made by Dunstan claims are 5% sugar but no claim on starch.  So - more info needed.     I am ASSUMING it would be similiar to Speedibeet but that would need to be asked to the manufacturer.  If your horse is unwell on Betabeet  - SWITCH OUT to Speedibeet
One more Beet product is MICRBEET.  No claims except 1% starch.  More info needed

HYGAIN ZERO  = WSC 4% ESC 4.5% Starch 1.5%

HYGAIN METASAFE =   NSC 6.5% Starch 1.5%

MCMILLANS GRAIN FREE = Sugars 6% No claim on which types.  Starch 3%

DUNSTAN ALL 4 FEET =  NSC <10% Starch 2%  SO POTENTIALLY OK BUT WE NEED THE ESC value - contact manufacturer if you like this product.    More info needed.

TIMOTHY SMART FEED =  NSC 6.8%, WSC 4.6% ESC 4.4% Starch 2.2%

DIY SMART FEED =  NSC 7.7% WSC 5.4%  Starch 2.3%

LUCERNE SMART FEED - NSC 7.6% WSC 6.6% Starch 1%

HARMONIZE SMART FEED  =  NSC 8.5% Starch 2.8%  More info needed - no ESC

PINK MASH = NSC <9% WSC 6.4% Starch 2%  More info needed - no ESC

COCO MASH = NSC 8% WSC 6.9% Starch 1%

.

.

Please contact me if you have any others your feel could be added to this New Zealand list.