Nutrition FAQ's

The term 'hot' is often used as a reference to temperament change from feeding high energy cereal diets. A change of diet to one which includes more fibre or highly digestible cooked cereal grains often avoids this condition.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Coolfeed, Dunstan Betabeet (soaked), Dunstan All-4-Feet, Dunstan Maxim Low-GI.

Magnesium is often included to help calm nervous horses. Dunstan Feeds contain nutritional levels of magnesium. For excitable, nervous horses additional magnesium may be of benefit in the form of Dolomite or Magnesium Oxide.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Feeds as they contain the required nutritional levels of magnesium.

High cereal diets may affect the temperament of certain horses. Use of fibre, vegetable oils and extruded cereals allow for alternative energy sources to avoid such changes in temperament.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Coolfeed, Dunstan Betabeet (soaked), Dunstan Sugar Beet (soaked), Dunstan Eezymix, Dunstan Extruded Barley, Dunstan Extruded Rice, Dunstan Maxim Low-GI.

Laminitis has many facets - a high starch diet and pasture fructans are often cited as casual agents. High fibre, low starch diets are recommended for horses prone to Laminitis. Remove the horse from lush pasture

Solution: Feed Dunstan All-4-Feet.

Nutritional colic is often a symptom of excessive hindgut starch fermentation. The inclusion of fibre and cooked, extruded cereals plus access to hay and forage will help minimise the incidence of colic. Dunstan All-4-Feet is a high fibre, yeast enriched pellet, ideal for potential colic sufferers.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Betabeet (soaked), Dunstan Eezymix, Dunstan Extruded Barley, Dunstan Extruded Rice, Dunstan All-4-Feet or Dunstan Maxim Low-GI.

Many factors influence the occurrence of tying-up. Excess energy relative to work output is perhaps a key element. Feeding low or no starch diets, high fibre diets and not overfeeding will greatly assist.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Coolfeed, Dunstan Eezymix, Dunstan Betabeet (soaked), plus sufficient quantities of other fibre sources such as Equi Fibre, hay and chaff.

Many factors will influence the incidence of tying up, but a major cause is not matching the horse's dietary energy intake to its work output. Do not overfeed high energy feeds at times of low exercise or work regimes and ensure adequate fibre intakes.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Race-Ease when energy intake is still required for racing. Feed Dunstan Extruded Cereals (Barley, Rice, Maize), Vegetable Oils, Dunstan Trifecta Oil.

Developmental Orthopaedic Disease (DOD) is a condition of the weanling and is influenced by over-feeding and an unbalanced diet. Similarly, high-quality pasture may stimulate growth rate and exacerbate this situation.

Solution: Reduce starch intake and feed a balanced fibre/mineral rich diet. Feed Dunstan Grass Balancer, Dunstan Fibre Balancer.

During a spelling period, whilst high protein and energy may not be required from a supplementary feed, a low energy diet and/or a regular intake of minerals to maintain bone integrity is advised.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Spelling Mix, Dunstan Maintenance Mix, Dunstan Multi-Ultra.

Nutrient requirements for a lactating mare are high and unless pasture quality is good, milk production and body condition will suffer. A balanced formulation of protein, energy and minerals will be required.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Broodmare Mix, Dunstan Sugar Beet (soaked), Dunstan Breed & Grow.

Prior to weanling, foals should be accustomed to eating solid supplementary feed to ensure steady growth rate and good joint and bone development.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Weanling Mix, Dunstan Fibre Plus, Dunstan Breed & Grow.

Dunstan Orphan Foal Mix is designed to be the first solid feed for such circumstance. It can be mixed with warm water to make porridge.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Orphan Foal Mix.

Mineral intake from all horse feeds are dependent on the amount of proprietary feed being fed.

Solution: If the minimum recommended feed intakes of Dunstan feeds are fed, then the horse's nutritional requirements for Selenium will be met. Dunstan Selenium is provided as Organic Selenium Yeast. If only small amounts of feed are offered, supplement with Dunstan Multi-Ultra.

High starch diets, and starch in an uncooked form will potentially aggravate gastric ulcers.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Extruded Barley, Dunstan Extruded Rice, Dunstan Betabeet (soaked) plus an increase in quality fibre intake. Split feeds into as many feeds as possible.

Wheat is not often used in horse diets, but the by-product of wheat after the milling of flour (pollard and bran) may be present in some horse feeds.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Betabeet (soaked) or Dunstan Sugar beet (soaked), Dunstan Extruded Rice.

Apart from diets formulated for growing horses, most Dunstan Feeds are low protein to match the inherent high protein value found in New Zealand pasture.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Coolfeed, Dunstan Betabeet (soaked), Dunstan Extruded Cereals (Barley, Rice, Maize).

If high supplementary protein is required for growth of young horses or to enhance muscle condition, quality protein ingredients should be offered.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Weanling Mix, Dunstan Yearling Mix, Dunstan Fibre Gow, Dunstan Fibre Plus, Dunstan Muscle n' Shine, Dunstan Extruded Soya.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Coolfeed Extra, Dunstan Eezymix.

Whether it's minor surgery with confinement to a small yard or paddock, or surgery requiring boxing, a low starch, low energy, high fibre diet is clinically recommended. If surgery is intended then it is advisable to change the diet 5-7 days prior to allow the horse to become accustomed to its new feed.

Solution: Feed Dunstan All-4-Feet.

Dunstan Sporthorse is a high energy feed formulated with cooked cereal and vegetable oils to meet the high energy requirements of Sport Horses during peak performance.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Sporthorse, Dunstan Sweet Mix.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Betabeet (soaked) or Dunstan Sugar Beet (soaked), Dunstan Extruded Cereals (Barley, Rice, Maize), Dunstan Extruded Soya.

Energy is the key element in raising body condition. Feeds and ingredients which contain good levels of starch and vegetable oils can be classed as good conditioning feeds. High energy starch based diets may affect the horse's temperament so a diet high in digestible fibre with some energy content for conditioning might be more appropriate.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Sugar Beet Flakes (soaked).

Horses prone to Laminitis should have minimal access to any sugars in their feed. Avoid high quality lush pasture and high energy uncooked cereals.

Solution: Feed Dunstan All-4-Feet.

Cushings Syndrome is an endocrine disorder common amongst aged horses and it is thought to be related to insulin resistance. Lowering the horses starch intake will help alleviate hyperinsulinemia.Solution: Feed Dunstan All-4-Feet.

The Mycotoxin Binders within Dunstan Staggers Mix and Dunstan Staggers Nugget have a protective effect over the toxins ergovaline and holitrem B, casual agents of Ryegrass Staggers.

Solution: Feeding Dunstan Staggers Mix or Dunstan Staggers Nuggets during the late summer and autumn when pasture endophytes are most active will offer some protection. Also it is advisable to avoid grazing close to ground level during this period.

It is the important fatty acids found in oil seeds and vegetable oils which will enhance coat sheen.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Trifecta Oil, Dunstan Muscle ‘n Shine, Dunstan Extruded Soya.

The change from a Weanling diet to a Yearling diet relates to the condition of the Weanling and the amounts of feed being offered.

Solution: Once the total daily feed rate approaches 5kg, a change can be made to Yearling Mix. This is usually in October/November.

Some foals will grow and put on weight at a rate greater than joint and bone development can cope with, and so a tendency towards DOD type conditions often results. Slowing growth rate down whilst maintaining mineral intake, coupled with regular exercise will help minimise further development of such conditions.

Solution: Dunstan Grass Balancer or Dunstan Fibre Balancer.

Dunstan grows and dries its own Lucerne source and is able to pellet fibre sources, (such as hay chaff & Lucerne) key components of a low starch, low GI diet. Dunstan Maxim Low GI is truly a low starch diet comprising fibre ingredients and oilseeds. It contains a blend of three vegetable oils (Soya, Linseed and Rice bran oil) and includes a Mycotoxin binder for added security where pasture endophytes and toxins might present a problem. It also contains live yeast to assist with hind gut fibre digestibility.

If a hard feed is not required, it is important that mineral intake is maintained to ensure continued bone development and integrity.

Solution: Feed Dunstan Multi-Ultra.

Energy is required for body condition, maintenance and physical performance and the energy requirement will relate directly to the degree of energy expenditure and body condition. It can be supplied in many different forms; as cereals, oils and forage/fibre sources. It is unlikely that a high energy diet can be formulated from forage sources alone, and a combination of all will provide balance to a diet. However, when energy is not a critical requirement in the diet, fibre/forage based diets will meet the horse’s requirements.

Dunstan feeds are formulated to ensure that the horse’s mineral requirements for nutritional purposes are met in 2.5kg of feed. If lesser quantities are to be fed, then additional supplementation would be recommended feed Dunstan Multi-Ultra Mineral Supplement.

Dunstan Sweet Mix has been formulated for this scenario. It is a medium/high energy diet using barley, steam-flaked maize and oil, as the energy ingredients. It is oat-free so blends well when oats and extruded cereals are introduced to the diet.

Growing foals and lactating mares have a high requirement for quality protein intake plus minerals. Pregnant mares at pasture have a requirement for additional minerals.

Solution: Dunstan Breed & Grow pellets offer a convenient means of providing a feed that matches the above requirements.

Dunstan Coolfeed, Dunstan Coolfeed Extra and Dunstan Maxim Low GI are all formulated to provide energy from ingredients or processes designated as non-heating and suitable for dressage. The decision on which feed to use is whether additional body condition is required for the horse to perform satisfactorily. Dunstan Coolfeed is a high fibre feed of low energy status. Dunstan Coolfeed Extra is of a medium energy status due to higher cereal and oil inclusion, but maintains its 'non-heating' qualities through extrusion of the cereals. Dunstan Maxim Low GI is of a similar medium energy status but from fibre and non-starch ingredients. To work at a high performance level and maintain and add condition to the horse, Dunstan Maxim Low-GI is recommended.

A diet that contains non-starch ingredients with fibre and oil sources as the key energy components, is recommended. Dunstan Maxim Low-GI is based on digestible fibre sources including Lucerne Meal, Linseed Meal and Vegetable Oils, plus Live Yeast, to enhance energy intake from hind gut digestion.