Baileys high fibre nuggets_ no starch content??!

[booandellie]

Just wondering if anyone knew for sure that there is no starch in this product> I share a 5 yr old mare that was diagnosed with ulcers last year, she is quite a stressy type. She had 2 lots of gastroguard and is now maintained on an ulcer friendly diet of 12 hrs turnout and adlib hay while she is stabled(she never runs out). The only feed she gets at the moment is dengie molasses free complete with her exegus supplement in and her treat ball with the baileys nuggets. I am reluctant to feed anything with starch and the bag doesn't state there is starch in it but i find that hard to believe when even pony nuts contain 10%starch> Can anyone put my mind at rest? Thanks in advance for any replies!

 

[be positive]

They do contain starch, the level is not published but they are described as low starch, they have cereals in them not to mention sugar so may not be ideal for ulcer prone horses, contact Baileys and ask them what the "low level" is, at a guess probably higher than you would expect otherwise they would be more likely to state what the low level is, ask for the sugar content at the same time.

It is not easy to avoid all starch/ sugar in any compound feed, even the dengie has 2% starch but at least they are stating what the content is unlike so many feed companies that seem to avoid letting their customers know what they are giving their horses.

 

[booandellie]

Thanku be positive, i thought it odd that it listed protein, fibre etc and not starch- that's really misleading. I believe low starch is considered anything under 7% according to the topspec feedline so i will definately ring the baileys one to find out for sure!

 

[supsup]

You could try alfalfa pellets or grass nuts instead in your treat ball. Both are low in starch (alfalfa pellets around 3%, don't know exact number for grass nuts), but grass nuts can be potentially higher in sugar (~12%, alfalfa pellets ~5%).