Nutrition levels in feed

[Irishcobs]

It's been a while since I've had to think about nutrition levels and rather than searching through all my college notes I thought I'd ask here.
I am I right in thinking that the higher the Digestible energy and fibre content and the lower the sugar, oil and starch the better? With a happy medium of protein?

I ask because I'm trying to decide what is better to feed this summer, having never had to feed in the summer before as always had good grazing with good haylage, but now have poor grazing and hay (not a huge supply left but will buy in my own haylage if I need to) plus horse is in more work and for once is going into spring a bit underweight.

Horse is currently fed spillers horse and pony cubes
Digestible Energy (MJ/kg) 8.9
Oil (%) 4.0
Protein (%) 10.0
Fibre (%) 15.0
Starch (%) 16.0

And Dengie alfa a lite
Digestible Energy 9MJ/kg
Protein 12
Oil 2.5
Ash (mineral) 10
Fibre 27
WSC (Sugars) 8
Starch 2

But thinking of changing from alfa a lite to hi fi molasses free
Digestible Energy 8.5MJ/kg
Protein 10
Oil 6.5
Fibre 35
WSC (Sugars) 2.5
Starch 1.5

Which will mean free I'm decreasing DE, protein, sugar and starch while increasing fibre and oil. Is an increase in oil going to be a problem?

 

[Queenbee]

Increase in oil is fine.

 

[SCMSL]

Oil can make up to 15% of the total diet without any issues. Of course each horse is an individual and if stools start going too loose you should lower the oil content.

Horses gain weight by increasing the calorie and (quality) protein content. So if you want your horse to put on a few kg, you should increase the total DE of the diet, while making sure you have quality protein sources as well. By quality protein I mean good amounts of lysine and methionine, the two limiting amino-acids in muscle production (if they're lacking, horse won't build any muscle). Soy and alfalfa are high on those two amino-acids.

Hi-Fi molasses free is both lower in DE and quality protein (Alfa A is just alfalfa while Hi-Fi has straw mixed in, which has next to zero nutritional value), so I don't think thats a positive change when trying to put on some weight on your horse. You can either switch the Alfa A Molasses free for the Alfa A Oil or change from the Spillers Horse and Pony Nuts to something with a higher nutritional value. There are plenty of low starch/high energy feeds available nowadays. Look into Solution Mash / Ers Pellets / Re-Leve.

 

[Irishcobs]

Thanks guys.
I'm not worried about putting weight on her as I know the grass will grow at some point and she isn't skinny just about 20kgs under her perfect weight (by weigh tape) which I'm sure she will put back on soon.