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Although hay may be a traditional feed for horses, rice is one of the largest crops in the world. As such, there are many by-products of rice, such as “broken rice,” that form during the rice-cleaning process.

“Broken rice is separated out after the rice polishing process and has the same composition as intact polished rice. It is therefore a palatable, energy-rich food that can be used for livestock rather than being wasted,” explains Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., an equine nutritionist at Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

Acknowledging broken rice as a viable ingredient in horse diets (e.g., rice-based pellets) but the lack of science supporting its use, researchers* took a closer look at the digestibility of broken rice in horses. To do this, five adult horses consumed a diet of 70% hay and 30% broken rice, while researchers analyzed the digestibility of that diet compared to hay alone. Two different techniques were used to compare the diets.

Key findings of the study were that horses did not refuse the hay/rice diet, but did not ingest as much as when fed hay alone. The diet containing rice had higher digestibility than just the hay diet, meaning that it provided more energy.

The researchers concluded that broken rice is a highly digestible feedstuff and additional studies are needed to determine the “optimum threshold of rice to be incorporated into the diet.”

Before running off to your local rice-polishing plant, however, heed some of the warnings presented by the study authors:

  • The main energy source in broken rice is starch, which is broken down by enzymes in the small intestine;
  • Starch that is not digested in the small intestine (which could be substantial in the case of broken rice) is instead fermented in the cecum and colon. This can lead to changes in the microorganisms in the large intestine and cause digestive disturbances;
  • Starch levels can be optimized to find a “maximum starch inclusion rate;” and
  • The energy level in broken rice can vary depending on environmental conditions, fertilizer use, milling and storage conditions, and type of rice.

A safe, lower-starch alternative to broken rice is rice bran, the outer coating of the rice kernel that is typically removed to yield white rice. Rice bran contains significant fat levels and is an excellent source of many nutrients, such as thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. When including rice bran in a horse’s diet, it is always wise to select a product that has been stabilized during manufacturing to preserve fat levels, as unstabilized rice bran can oxdize rapidly. Stabilized rice bran is a high-quality addition to the diets of horses that require low starch or high fat.

Not all horses are amenable to a starch-rich diet and would therefore not benefit from the inclusion of broken rice. Always discuss dietary changes with an equine nutritionist or veterinarian.

*De Marco, M., P.G. Peiretti, N. Miraglia, et al. 2014. Apparent digestibility of broken rice in horses using in vivo and in vitro methods. Animal 8(2):245-9.  

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