Wytłoki owocowe
Pomace is produced in the juice industry as what remains after the juice has been pressed from the fruit. Apple pomace is the most common, but there is also blackcurrant, aronia and raspberry pomace. Although it is a “by-product”, it contains valuable components such as fibre, natural pectins, small amounts of simple sugars and antioxidants. In the horse’s diet, pomace is a palatable source of fibre and improves the structure of the feed. Dried apple pomace is also an excellent way to add variety – horses love it!
Makuchy
A cake is what remains after oil has been pressed from the seeds of oil-bearing plants. Depending on the raw material, you may come across linseed cake, black cumin cake, sunflower cake or soya cake. Once the fat has been removed, what is left is a mass rich in protein, fibre and minerals. That is why cakes are a valued feed ingredient, especially for sport horses that need a good source of energy and amino acids. Interestingly, linseed cake also has a soothing effect on the digestive tract and improves the appearance of the coat – the result of residual fats and the plant mucilage from linseed.
Wysłodki buraczane
Sugar beet pulp is what remains after sugar has been extracted from sugar beet. It sounds sweet, but sugar beet pulp is… almost free of sugar! It consists mainly of readily fermentable fibre, which is an excellent source of energy with a low glycaemic index. It is ideal for sport horses and for those with metabolic problems. There are two kinds. Molassed – with added molasses, more palatable, but also containing a little more sugar. Unmolassed – with a reduced sugar content, recommended for horses with EMS, Cushing’s or insulin resistance.
Otręby
Bran is the outer layers of the grain, separated when it is milled into flour. In horse feeding, wheat bran and rice bran are the most common. Wheat bran is easily digested and rich in fibre and phosphorus, but low in calcium, so it is worth making sure the diet keeps these two minerals in balance. Rice bran, by contrast, is rich in natural fats and antioxidants (especially gamma-oryzanol), which is why it is readily used for sport horses as a source of slow-release energy.
By-products, which does not mean inferior…It is worth remembering that most of the ingredients mentioned are by-products of the food industry, but of high nutritional value. Instead of going to waste, they return to the cycle – this time as a fully valuable part of the animal’s diet. It is not only a practical approach to feeding, but an ecological one, which reduces food waste and makes better use of what nature provides.
To sum up, pomace, cakes and sugar beet pulp are an excellent example of by-products that can have a high nutritional value. They are exactly what horse feeds rich in natural nutrients, fibre and energy are made from. The variety of these raw materials makes it possible to create mixes matched to the age, condition and level of activity of horses, supporting their health, good form and proper digestion!