Cereal Grains and Byproducts in Horse Feeds

Grains (such as oats, corn, and barley) and grain byproducts (such as wheat bran, wheat middlings, and wheat mill run) are used primarily as energy sources in horse feeds. Soybean meal is the primary source of protein used in horse feeds produced in North America.

Nearly all cereal grains and any number of byproducts from the food and feed industry can be fed to horses to supply digestible energy and protein. Each type of grain or product has a unique nutrient composition.

Most grains used in horse feeds are processed in some way. The method of processing affects their quality when used in horse feed formulations.

Grain is marketed by grade according to certain quality characteristics. Some of the criteria used to determine the grade are bushel test weight, amount of foreign material, percentage of damaged kernels, and moisture. As test weight decreases and the other factors increase, the grade goes down and the price usually decreases accordingly.

Generally, as bushel test weight goes down, the protein content increases and starch content decreases. Although the protein content increases, protein quality generally decreases. The individual grains are often more shriveled and seed coats are harder. Usually the grain can still be used, but the nutritional profile has changed and must be accounted for. If molds or mycotoxins are detected, however, the grain should not be used in horse feeds.