Ingredient Focus: Black Oats - Why they are in our equine Balancers and Biofix-40

Black oats are an excellent ingredient for equine feeds and supplements for a variety of reasons - and that's why we have carefully selected the finest grade of English grown Black Oats to include in our range of balancers and feed based supplements including Biofix-40.

Black Oats are a highly nutritious grain, and provide essential nutrients and energy that can help support a horse’s overall health and wellbeing. In this blog, we will explore the many benefits of black oats for horses, including their nutritional value, digestibility, low starch content, and palatability.

Nutritious Value Digestibility Low Starch Palatability Supporting British Farming

Nutritional Value of Black Oats

One of the primary reasons why black oats are a great ingredient for equine feeds and supplements is their high nutritional value. These grains are rich in essential nutrients such as protein, fibre, and carbohydrates, which are all important for a horse's diet.

Black oats contain approximately 13% protein, which is more than other types of grains such as corn or barley. Protein is essential for building and repairing tissues, making it an important nutrient for horses that are in training or performing strenuous activities.

Fibre is another essential nutrient found in black oats. It is crucial for maintaining a healthy digestive system, as it helps to keep food moving through the gut and prevents digestive tract issues such as constipation.

Black oats are also high in carbohydrates, which provide horses with the energy they need to perform. Unlike other types of grains, black oats have a relatively low starch content, which can make them a better option for horses that are sensitive to high-starch diets.

Digestibility of Black Oats

Another reason why black oats are a great ingredient for equine feeds and supplements is their high digestibility.

Horses are herbivores, and their digestive systems are designed to break down and extract nutrients from fibrous plant material. However, grains like corn and barley are not as easily digestible as fibrous plants. This can lead to digestive issues, such as colic and laminitis, in horses that consume large quantities of grain. Black oats, on the other hand, are highly digestible. The hulls are thinner and easier to break down than other grains, which means that horses can easily extract the nutrients they need from the grain. This can help to reduce the risk of digestive issues and ensure that horses receive the maximum benefit from the feed and supplement they consume.

Low Starch Content of Black Oats

Starch is a type of carbohydrate that is found in many grains, including corn and barley. While starch can provide horses with the energy they need to perform, excessive amounts of starch can be harmful to their health. Horses that consume too much starch can develop digestive issues, such as colic and laminitis. These conditions can be very painful and even life-threatening for horses. Black oats have a relatively low starch content compared to other grains, which makes them a better option for horses that are sensitive to high-starch diets. The low starch content of black oats can help to reduce the risk of digestive issues and metabolic disorders in horses.

The Black Oats selected for Hestevard products (including Biofix-40 and our range of Equine Balancer Maintenance Diets), are a very special type of Black Oat. Hestevard Black Oats are a heritage variety, grown in Berkshire (UK) and have particularly low starch levels - perfect for use as part of our nutritious balancers and hoof feed supplement. 

Palatability of Black Oats

Finally, black oats are a great ingredient for equine feeds and supplements because they are palatable to horses. Horses can be picky eaters and may refuse to eat feed or supplements that are unpalatable or have an unpleasant taste. Black oats, however, are known for their sweet taste and are generally well-liked by horses. When horses enjoy the taste of their feed and supplements, they are more likely to consume the recommended amount. This can help to ensure that they receive the nutrients they need to maintain good health and wellbeing.

Supporting British Farming

Remember though, not all black oats are the same. Our heritage variety of oats has been specifically grown to reduce the startch levels even futher. Our 'Ranch' variety is only grown in a handful of locations around the globe and ours are produced virtually on our doorstep in the neighbouring county of Berkshire - cutting down our footprint, ingredient 'food' miles and supporting British Farmers. These grains have a relatively high oil content and quite ironically black oats are often used as a cover crop and never really grown for harvest or their grain - but it is such an excellent ingredient for feed and we're delighted to be supporting British Farmers and supporting innovation in crops (and equine feed) through the use of a variety that has been grown on this specific farm for generations.

In summary, black oats are an excellent ingredient for equine feeds and supplements. They are highly nutritious, digestible, low in starch, and palatable to horses. These grains provide horses with essential nutrients and energy that can help support their overall health and wellbeing. If you are looking for a high-quality feed or supplement for your horse, consider one that contains black oats as a key ingredient.