Lupin Hulls Explained - Learn more about the super fibre!

08 Aug Lupin Hulls Explained – Learn more about the super fibre!

Posted at 03:24h in Equine, Horse Feeding, Nutrition & Health Advice, Nutritional Advice, Product News by Thompson and Redwood 4 Comments

You may have seen that we’ve launched a new horse feed made from 100% Lupin Hulls so in this blog post we’ll be explaining more about what Lupin Hulls actually are, what makes them a super fibre and why they’re the star ingredient of our Lupin Fibre Cubes.

What’s in this article:

But first, what are Lupins?

Lupins are legumes (members of the pea family) that are used throughout the world as a feed supplement for horses and livestock. They are known for their high protein content, good levels of highly digestible fibre and their fat content making them highly nutritious for horses.

Lupins are low in sugar and starch and high in fibre compared to other cereal grains like barley, oats, wheat and corn which makes them a cool source of energy as they do not cause large spikes in insulin. The low sugar and starch levels make them a safer feed option for horses that are prone to laminitis, metabolic conditions or ulcers.

Whole lupins are very high in protein (around 30%) and so when feeding the whole grain, quantity fed should not exceed 2kg maximum for a 500kg horse per day. This is where the Lupin Hull comes in.

There are two main parts of the Lupin, the seed and it’s fibrous outer coating or hull. During processing the lupin seed can be separated from the hull. The hulls on their own have a number of nutritional benefits for horses, which is what we’re going to talk about more in this blog post!

WHAT ARE LUPIN HULLS?

Lupin Hulls are the fibrous outer coating of the lupin grain. Most of the crude protein content in lupins is actually held in the seed (or cotyledon) so Lupin Hulls have a much lower protein content. To give you an idea of how much lower the protein in the hulls are….our Lupin Fibre Cubes are only 15.4% crude protein (as fed) which is nearly HALF that of the whole grain!

While the protein of lupin hulls is lower than the seed, they still contain important amino acids (the building blocks of protein) that are vital for your horse’s health and function. The horse’s body constantly breaks down and uses proteins in the process of living, so they need a constant supply of new protein as the building material to repair themselves.

Proteins are the building blocks for repairing bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles. If your horse does not get enough and their Essential Amino Acids (EAAs) and reserves are used up then you might start to illnesses, sickness, lameness or both. So even though we shouldn’t overfeed proteins, we have to be careful not to underfeed them too!

What makes lupin hulls a super fibre source?

Lupins are high in digestible/fermentable fibre and natural pectins which have a prebiotic action in the gut. This is why many horse nutritionists refer to them as a ‘Super Fibre’ because they feed the good bacteria in your horse’s gut and boost their populations. The horse relies on bacterial fermentation to digest the fibre in their diets, so having a healthy bacterial population in the gut is pretty important.

When there is more healthy, fibre-loving bacteria your horse’s gut is able to digest fibre more efficiently – meaning they get more out of each mouthful of grass, hay and feed that goes in!

Lupin hulls as a cool, nutritious energy source

Fibre is so much more than just fill! Digestible fibre is considered to be an optimal energy source for many horses and ponies as their digestive systems have evolved over thousands of years to ferment plant fibres. They not only get energy from it, but important nutrients too!

Like we mentioned above, horses can’t actually digest the fibre in their diet, they are ‘hindgut fermenters’ so they rely on the good bacteria in their gut to ferment the fibre for them. This process produces Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA’s) which are then absorbed by the horse and used directly as a fuel source in the cells, or converted to glucose (an essential form of energy), glycogen (the form of glucose stored in the muscles for use later) or fat. The energy that comes from fibre is slow release sustained energy, because the products of fermentation can be used for energy long after the initial meal. The low sugar and starch also makes this a cool energy source as it doesn’t cause glucose and insulin spikes when digested.

The fermentation of fibre in the gut also produces really important vitamins including Vitamin B1, Vitamin K and biotin which are part of a their essential daily nutrient requirements.

Lupin Hulls are high in digestible fibre which makes them an ideal source of cool, slow release energy.

What make Lupin Hulls safe for Laminitis, Metabolic Condition and Ulcer Prone horses?

Let’s talk about sugars and starches. Simple sugars and starches (Non-structural carbohydrates or NSC) are present in feed ingredients and are readily absorbed in the small intestine and converted into glucose.

The glucose that comes from Non Structural Carbohydrates is actually a really important energy source for Performance Horses, as it is vital for fuelling anaerobic respiration (fast, high intensity work). When sugars and starches are part of a balanced diet with appropriate work levels a horse can usually use them efficiently. When a healthy horse consumes NSCs the glucose in the bloodstream increases and so does the insulin (hormone) in the bloodstream. The insulin then moves the glucose out into the cells to be used.

Where too much sugar and starch becomes an issue is if it is fed in excess and overloads the small intestine, or if your horse or pony is prone to laminitis or metabolic conditions like PPID, EMS etc. In horses with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance & PPID, the insulin doesn’t appear to work correctly, and the amount needed to bring blood glucose back to normal is far higher than usual, leaving excessive levels of insulin in their system for prolonged periods. This is not a good state for their body to be in, and so a diet low in NSCs helps to reduce the amount of insulin being produced in their body.

The junk mail analogy – A good analogy for what happens in horses with insulin resistance is that the body switches off as if it was receiving too many junk emails. Let’s say your horse’s body is a bit like your email inbox. You get emails each day that give you different information and value. You also get some junk mail. Now a bit of junk mail is ok, you read about a special promotion that is relevant, some new saddle pads etc.

But then you start getting more junk mail. And it takes you longer to get through it all so you start to ignore it. And then you get more. And you ignore more of the junk mail. And then your inbox is mostly junk mail so you just delete it all. BUT then you delete the important emails that were hidden in there too. So we try to reduce the amount of junk mail coming in to make it easier to sort through and read our important emails again.

Compare the Fibre Sources

Lupin Hulls and Beet Pulp – what’s the difference?

Lupin Hulls can be fed as an alternative to beet pulp. So how does it differ, and could it be more suited to your horse? Both ingredients are low in sugar and starch which is ideal for horses and ponies prone to laminitis, ulcers and metabolic conditions.

But there are a few key differences between the two. Check out the image below, and see read on to find out why these difference matter.

Iron levels:

Western Australian horses have a very high exposure to iron in our pastures, hay and water which is substantially higher than the east coast. A 500kg horse in heavy work only needs around 500mg per day total, and some Rhodes grass hays can be 440-630 mg/kg as fed. Lupin Hulls are naturally low in iron (only 54 mg/kg) whereas beet pulp is actually quite high in iron at around 762 mg/kg, taking them well above the daily requirements.

Palatability

Some horses and ponies don’t find beet pulp as palatable, and we’ve found that many horses prefer the taste Lupin Hulls.

Where is it made?

Lupin Hulls are grown right here in WA, and made right here in WA! Beet Pulp is an imported product, and is distributed via the Eastern States. Opting for Lupin Hulls supports local farmers and local business.

Cost-effectiveness

Beet pulp is becoming an increasingly expensive fibre source and as it is imported, supply can be difficult. WA customers also have to wear the additional freight and handling costs in the purchase price. Lupin Hulls are a more cost-effective fibre source, and customers don’t need to wear the cost of interstate (or international) freight. Our Lupin Fibre Cubes are made from 100% WA grown Lupin Hulls, with no molasses and no additives.

Lupin Hulls and Soy hulls - what's the difference?

Lupin Hulls can be fed as an alternative to Soy Hulls. So how does the two differ, and could Lupin Hulls be more suited to your horse?

Lupins and Soy Beans are both types of legumes which have a high-fibre shell or hull that encloses the seed. These hulls can be separated from the grain to leave a high-fibre product that can be fed to animals. Both are low in starch and sugars and are used as a fibre supplement for horses.

But there are a few key differences between the two. Check out the image below, and see read on to find out why these difference matter…

Iron content

Soy Hulls are actually quite high in iron, in fact almost as high as beet pulp at between 450 to 669mg/kg. This is not due to residue like in beet pulp but is actually iron that is locked in the hull itself. Western Australian horses already have a very high exposure to iron in our pastures, hay and water which is substantially higher than the east coast. A 500kg horse in heavy work only needs around 500mg per day TOTAL, and some Rhodes grass hays can be 440-630 mg/kg as fed. Lupin Hulls are naturally low in iron (only 54 mg/kg) whereas soy hulls could tip horses into an iron overload.

Potassium content

Soy hulls are high in potassium, at around 13.8% in comparison to lupin hulls (around 0.57%). Most WA horses actually need less potassium in their diets. Why? Some of our hays and pastures are known to have high potassium and low magnesium levels. The absorption of potassium and magnesium is linked, and where potassium is high, it is possible that magnesium absorption is reduced, even if the right amount is present in the diet. Lupin Hulls have a low potassium content, so they do not contribute large amounts to the diet.

Where are they made?

Lupin Hulls are grown right here in WA and made right here in WA! Soy Hulls are predominantly imported from Malaysia and Thailand, and processed over on the East Coast. Our Lupin Fibre Cubes are made from 100% WA grown Lupin Hulls, with no molasses and no additives.

Lupin Fibre cubes - 100% Lupin Hull cubes

Our new super fibre, low sugar and starch mash feed

Lupin Fibre Cubes are high fibre, low sugar quick-soaking cubes with a natural prebiotic action for horses and ponies prone to laminitis, metabolic conditions and ulcers. These super-fibre cubes can be used as a feed base for overweight horses or ponies or to help with weight gain in horses those needing a boost.

Highly palatable and ideal for horses and ponies with poor dentition or fussy eaters
Adaptable and versatile fibre feed source for all horses and ponies. Compatible to feed with any T&R Mueslis, Pellets or Cubes
Low sugar and starch feed (NSC 5.3%) that is suitable for horses and ponies prone to laminitis, ulcers, EMS, PPID and other metabolic conditions
High levels of natural pectins (prebiotics) to assist with growth of healthy gut bacteria
Soaks into a delicious mash that aids hydration
Made from 100% Western Australian grown Lupins

Tags:

EMS, Fibre Feed, Horse Feed, Laminitis, low NSC, low starch, low sugar, lupin fibre, lupin fibre cubes, lupin hulls, lupins, Mash, PPID, Ulcers

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1 Like

Ally Doumany

allyj_doumany@outlook.com

4 Comments

Geoff Barnard
Posted at 02:07h, 03 November Reply

Any good for sheep?
- Thompson and Redwood
  Posted at 04:13h, 03 November Reply
  
  Hi Geoff, yes it would be a suitable fibre and protein source for sheep. It does expand substantially when wet which needs to be taken into account when feeding. We recommend introducing the product slowly and monitoring.
Beverly
Posted at 08:52h, 03 November Reply

Are your Lupin Cubes and your Lupin Hulls the same thing?
- Thompson and Redwood
  Posted at 02:33h, 06 November Reply
  
  Hi Beverly, our Lupin Fibre Cubes are our 100% Lupin Hull product. They are made from Lupin Hulls compressed into a cube form.

Lupin Hulls Explained – Learn more about the super fibre!