Should horses eat straw?
Due to the high lignin content, straw is not very absorbent. Feeding straw to horses may lead to impaction colic and its coarse nature has been associated with an increased risk of gastric ulcers in horses.
A premium forage alternative to lucerne and grass. High in fibre, low in calories and rich in natural minerals and trace elements.
- Exceptionally high fibre
Suitable For
- Good doers & natives
- Metabolic issues
- Light work & box rest
- Partial hay replacer
- Lucerne allergies
p
7-11
f
30-35
s
<4
t
<5
l
Sainfoin is a premium forage alternative to lucerne and grass. Known as 'healthy hay', Sainfoin has long been recognised for its many benefits.
Our Sainfoin is rich in natural minerals and trace elements. They are a good source of condensed tannins, which aid digestion of protein. Sainfoin is suitable for all horses, and can be very beneficial when fed with hay and grass as a nutritious alternative and to add a variety of flavour.
Feeding Instructions
As with any new feed, introduce gradually over a week.
Sainfoin Fibre Pellets are ideally fed soaked. Alternatively, mix with soaked PuraBeet or a Simple System chop and dampen well. For foals, greedy, elderly or dentally challenged horses, Sainfoin Fibre Pellets should be soaked.
Start with 100g per 100kg of bodyweight per day, increase as required up to a maximum of 5kg per day. For example, for a 500kg horse start with 500g per day (dry weight, before soaking) and increase as required.
Feed according to requirement & condition.
A level Stubbs bowl scoop = 1.5kg (dry weight) approximately
Composition
100% pure sainfoin
Nutrients
All products are natural and seasonal variations can occur, the packaging of each product will detail the typical analysis which is relevant to the batch/cut within the bag. Below are this product's specification ranges to give an indication of the seasonal variations that can occur for this product.
Specification Ranges
| Crude Fat (Oil) % | 2-4 | % | |
| Crude Ash % | 5-7 | % | |
| Crude Protein % | 7-11 | % | |
| Crude Fibre % | 30-35 | % | |
| Sugar % | <4 | % | |
| Starch % | <5 | % | |
| Digestible Energy | Low | 8-9 | MJ/kg |
Vitamins & Minerals
All products are natural and seasonal variations can occur, the packaging of each product will detail the typical analysis which is relevant to the batch/cut within the bag. Below are this product's specification ranges to give an indication of the seasonal variations that can occur for this product.
Major Minerals
| Calcium % | 0.97 |
| Phosphorus % | 0.21 |
| Sodium % | 0.02 |
| Potassium % | 1.64 |
| Magnesium % | 0.15 |
| Chloride % | 0.44 |
| Sulphur % | 0.14 |
Minor Minerals
| Copper mg/kg | 3 |
| Manganese mg/kg | 46 |
| Zinc mg/kg | 16 |
| Iron mg/kg | 556 |
| Selenium mg/kg | <0.1 |
We switched Zippy onto Simple System Horse Feeds as we were struggling with persistent fat pads, rocketing insulin levels and her being stiff and footy. We took advice from the Feed Line (who are always extremely helpful!) and switched her over to MetaSlim and Sainfoin Fibre Pellets.
Miss Helen Yeo
14 year old, Irish Cob, Sally, was overweight and contracted mild laminitis in February.
We started her on Simple System MetaSlim, as well as the Sainfoin Fibre Pellets twice a day. The amount of weight she has lost is unbelievable! She is feeling a lot better too! Would definitely recommend!
Miss Rebecca WighamPerfect Partners to Sainfoin Fibre Pellets
Please select one of the categories below for appropriate companions to Sainfoin Fibre Pellets
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Did you watch Countryfile this week? It was great to see sainfoin feature, alongside the benefits of feeding a forage diet to horses (and polo ponies!).