Overview of Extruded Horse Feed
When you first hear the term extruded feed, you may think of food for fish or pet food such as dog and cat food. However, extruded feed is actually produced for a wide range of animals, as well as for human consumption.
For example, various types of snacks, puffed cereals, and baby food are produced using extrusion technology and are considered extruded food products. In fact, a large proportion of commercially produced animal feeds are manufactured using the extrusion process.
What Is Extrusion?
Extrusion is a food-processing process in which the ingredients of a feed or food product are cooked under high temperature and pressure for a short period of time.
The feed ingredients are subjected to high pressure and, while still hot, are forced through one or more small openings in the extruder die. The extruded material is then cut into different sizes and shapes. This process results in the extrusion of the food product.
After extrusion, the product is dried, flavored, and cooled, making it ready for consumption by the intended animal or other end user.
During the extrusion process, steam and high pressure contribute to cooking and breaking down the feed ingredients and can improve the digestibility and utilization of nutrients. Extrusion can increase nutrient availability by approximately 30–40% compared with non-extruded feed, depending on the formulation and processing conditions.
In addition, extruded feed generally has low moisture content, which allows it to be stored for extended periods under appropriate storage conditions.
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Proteins are made up of chains of amino acids. Horses require the amino acids contained within these protein chains. The extrusion process breaks down protein structures into smaller components, making them easier for the animal to digest and utilize. This breakdown can also reduce the sensitivity of horses to certain intact proteins by altering their original structure.
Extrusion can also help reduce or deactivate certain anti-nutritional factors, such as phytic acid, which may interfere with nutrient digestion and absorption. During this process, starches are gelatinized, converting them into a more digestible form.
The extrusion process can also increase the water solubility of dietary fiber, allowing the material to absorb water and form a paste-like consistency. Furthermore, the breakdown of fiber during extrusion can make more carbohydrates and sugars available to the animal.
Under unfavorable processing conditions, the high temperature and pressure used during extrusion may reduce some of the naturally occurring vitamins in the feed. However, these nutrients can be supplemented during subsequent processing stages, such as oil coating or feed cooling, helping to maintain the nutritional value of the finished product.
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Natural and Native Pastures: The Best Source of Nutrition for Horses
Natural and native pastures are among the best sources of nutrition for horses. Natural grazing environments allow horses to move more freely while also giving them the opportunity to select from a variety of available plant sources.
The horse’s digestive system is not naturally adapted to consuming large amounts of hard-coated grains and highly processed feeds. When horses are removed from their natural grazing environment and expected to perform in various activities such as draft work, racing, carriage driving, and other disciplines, they need an appropriate diet that provides sufficient calories and energy without compromising their health.
An inappropriate diet, particularly in performance and racehorses, can lead to serious health problems and negatively affect their performance and athletic ability.
Pelleted feed is generally less digestible than extruded feed and may have certain disadvantages. Horses tend to chew pelleted feed less thoroughly, which can also result in reduced saliva production. Lower saliva production may increase the risk of gastric ulcers.
One of the most important effects of the extrusion process is its impact on starch. Although horses naturally consume relatively small amounts of starch, this carbohydrate can serve as an important energy source for hard-working and performance horses.
A significant portion of the starch consumed by horses naturally or through conventional pelleted feed may not be sufficiently digested in the small intestine. As a result, native starch or starch in pelleted feed may not be utilized as efficiently as an energy source. In contrast, extruded or gelatinized starch is more readily broken down into glucose and absorbed in the small intestine.
This helps reduce the amount of undigested starch reaching the large intestine. Undigested starch can interfere with normal fiber digestion by altering the microbial population in the large intestine. Horses cannot naturally break down certain β-bonds in complex carbohydrates on their own, so this function is largely carried out by microorganisms in the large intestine.
When excessive amounts of undigested starch reach the large intestine, starch-digesting bacteria may increase while fiber-digesting bacteria decrease. Consequently, the horse may derive less nutritional benefit from fibrous feed, potentially contributing to digestive disturbances and gastrointestinal problems.
Another important advantage of extruded feed is that it generally produces less dust than some other types of feed. Horses kept in stables or transported in trailers may be exposed to dusty air for extended periods, and a significant portion of this dust can originate from feed. Excessive dust exposure can contribute to respiratory irritation, airway inflammation, asthma-like symptoms, and other respiratory problems.
Feeding horses with extruded feed combined with properly soaked hay may help reduce dust exposure and support better respiratory comfort.
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Due to its high digestibility and nutrient availability, extruded feed may not be ideal in large amounts for horses with lower activity levels, as it can contribute to excessive weight gain. For these horses, a combination of extruded feed and hay is generally a more suitable feeding approach.
Extruded feed may also not be the best option for horses with metabolic disorders. Due to their metabolic condition, these horses may react even to relatively small amounts of starch and carbohydrates. Although a large proportion of the starch in extruded feed is digested and absorbed in the small intestine, any remaining starch may still cause problems for horses with metabolic disorders. For these horses, controlled grazing on natural pastures may be a more appropriate option.
Although extruded feed can offer advantages over conventional feed and pelleted feed in many situations, the high temperatures and pressures used during extrusion may reduce some naturally occurring vitamins. These vitamins are therefore often supplemented during production. However, supplemented vitamins may not provide exactly the same nutritional benefits as naturally occurring vitamins.
For this reason, it is advisable to complement extruded feed with natural sources of vegetables and fruits as part of an appropriately balanced diet.
Hay, when provided alongside extruded feed, can meet many of the nutritional requirements of different horse breeds and types.
Extrusion does not compensate for poor-quality raw materials or guarantee the nutritional quality of low-quality ingredients. However, when high-quality, non-GMO raw materials are used, the extrusion process can produce a nutritionally valuable feed with high digestibility and nutrient availability, supporting the animal’s overall health and nutritional well-being.
Presented by: Dr. Mohammad Hassan Pouragha