Beware of Fall Pasture - Laminitis Risk Increases!
By Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D.
As temperatures begin to dip, Dr. Juliet Getty reminds you to help your horse make the transition to winter feeding in good shape - and that means you are informed about the sugar and starch that lurk in your fall pasture growth.
If you have horses that are overweight, insulin resistant, or suffer from equine Cushing's disease, you know about keeping them off of spring grasses. The non-structural carbohydrate (NSC--sugars, starch, and fructans) content is too high for free-choice pasture grazing to be safe, increasing the risk for laminitis. But don't think you're out of the woods once spring is over. True, summer is safer, but as early fall nights cool down below 40 degrees F for the majority of the night, the dangerous carbohydrates once again increase.
Grass accumulates NSC as it is exposed to sunlight. The levels reach a peak in the late afternoon. During the dark hours, the grass uses this fuel for itself, and by morning, the levels are at their lowest. But cold nights prevent grass from using as much NSC, resulting in a higher NSC concentration remaining during the day.
Don't be fooled by the brown grass you see in the late fall. Spread it apart and you'll likely see some green at the base, which is high in sugar and starch. If it hasn't rained in a while, your grass will look dried out, but be careful - dry grass can actually have a higher NSC percentage than long, lush-looking grass.
Testing your pasture every couple of weeks may be a good option this time of year, especially if your horse is otherwise at high risk for laminitis. Equi-Analytical Labs offers their economical "Fast Track" test that provides WSC (simple sugars and fructans), ESC (simple sugars), and starch levels. Though just a snapshot of what is happening to the grass at that moment in time, consistent testing will provide a trend that may offer some peace of mind in determining when the grass has gone dormant for the winter.
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For permission to reprint this article, in part or in its entirety, please contact Dr. Juliet Getty directly at Gettyequinenutrition@gmail.com.