>Actually, there is alot of "nutrition" to wheat bran, it's not just a
>bowl of feathers, even though it looks like it. Wheat bran is high in
>protein 15-16%, and is considered an energy source, as it provides 2.94
>Mcal of energy per kg fed, which is higher than oats and somewhat lower
>than corn and barley. I don't want to get into a big hot debate over
>the purported wonders of rice bran, but the National Research Council
>says rice bran provides 13% protein and 2.62 Mcal of energy per kg. The
>rice bran manufacturers say their product is 10% fat by weight, but
>even if this 10% fat is in addition to the existing NRC rice bran
>values, it still only brings the energy content up to what's already in
>wheat bran for a quarter of the price. Both wheat bran AND rice bran
>are VERY high (actually rice bran is higher than wheat bran) in
>phosphorus which has a relationship with calcium---the old saying is,
>"as goes phosphorus, so goes calcium" What that means is that if you're
>feeding too much phosphorus and not enough calcium to balance it, the
>body will find the calcium it needs to balance the phosphorus wherever
>and however it can, including pulling it out of the bones. This is
>different than normal calcium reabsorption required for muscle activity,
>and can be a factor in stress fractures in horses that have been fed an
>inverted calcium/phosphorus ratio for a long time. This is also
>probably a factor in the inhibitory effect wheat bran has on calcium
>absorption and so rice bran would have even more of an effect, as rice
>bran is even higher in phosphorus than is wheat bran.
>
>I really don't want to offend everyone who adores rice bran---if it
>works for you, fine, go for it. The stabilized fat in rice bran has a
>longer shelf life than a jug of corn oil, and that is a nice
>convenience, and alot of horses will eat rice bran and get at least
>some fat when they won't touch oil. IMHO, it's an expensive convenience
>and I personally don't care for the excessive phosphorus levels, because
>I don't feed alot of alfalfa and I don't want the calcium/phosphorus
>ratio to get inverted. If I can provide a Mcal of energy to my horses
>in the form of corn oil and pay only twenty-six cents, I would rather do
>that than have to feed three-quarters of a pound of rice bran, pay twice
>as much, and have to deal with extra protein and excessive levels of
>phosphorus that I don't want.
>
>My primary concern about someone feeding alot of rice bran is that if
>they are doing so without knowing what a calcium/phosphorus ratio is,
>and if they are feeding a grass hay that doesn't contain much calcium,
>they could be getting themselves into trouble with bone integrity.
>
>I know there are alot of claims attached to rice bran, and excuse me for
>being skeptical---I'm not saying rice bran (as well as wheat bran)
>aren't worthwhile nutritionally and don't have their place in equine
>nutrition. But until I see some research published in a refereed
>journal, I'm taking the claims with a grain of salt, and I'm still just
>getting a jug of corn oil from the store.
>
>Susan Evans
>California State Polytechnic University
>
>
Gwen Dluehosh
Desert Storm Arabians
1156 Hightop Rd, #89
Blacksburg, VA 24060
540/953-1792