OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin
Grain-free concentrate for the feed bucket
- Cereal- & molasses-free concentrate feed
- 4 mm pellets, no soaking required
- Suitable for automatic feeders
- High-quality protein & essential amino acids for muscle development
- Supports normal digestive function
£64.90
Incl. 0% VAT
£3.61 / 1 kg
Availability:
In stock
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SKU
082
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Product Description
What is OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin?
OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin is a high-quality, grain-free concentrated feed for horses that has been specially developed for use in mangers and bucket feeds. It consists of dried sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) and comes in handy pellets that ensure easy and convenient feeding. Due to its small pellet size, Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin does not need to be soaked, making feeding particularly clean, simple, convenient, and quick. It’s ideal for efficient and hassle-free nutrition. The legume sainfoin is aptly named “sain foin” – healthy hay – in other languages.
Sainfoin is a traditional forage plant for horses, which was replaced by alfalfa in the last 50 years of high-performance agriculture due to its relatively lower yield. However, compared to alfalfa, sainfoin not only boasts a higher protein content but also a significantly better amino acid profile. Essential amino acids such as lysine, methionine, and threonine are present in much higher concentrations. This allows horses to utilise the protein more effectively in building their own body structures while excreting fewer surplus amino acids as urea through the kidneys.
Sainfoin is a truly “starch-free concentrated feed” and an excellent supplement for horses needing additional support due to age, illness, or other specific requirements. Young, growing horses, sport horses, and pregnant or lactating broodmares particularly benefit from the high-quality protein provided by sainfoin.
In addition to its exceptional protein profile, sainfoin contains condensed tannins, also known as catechins. These compounds are widely found in nature and occur in diverse plant parts such as green tea, blackberries, and birch bark. Catechins belong to the tannin family, which offers several positive effects within the body. Among their benefits are strong antioxidant properties and the ability to bind proteins in the digestive system, enhancing their digestibility. This makes sainfoin not only a natural “power food” for its protein content but also a booster for the utilisation of protein from other feeds.
For overweight horses fed on low-nutrient hay or hay rations diluted with straw, it’s vital to supplement protein with high-quality additions like sainfoin to prevent muscle loss rather than fat gain. Another advantage: when soaked, sainfoin is ideal for mixing in less palatable but necessary therapeutic supplements.
Sainfoin is experiencing a well-deserved resurgence in horse nutrition. Its wide-ranging benefits and exceptional quality make it an indispensable choice for maintaining your horse’s health and wellbeing.
Is OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin suitable for my horse?
Yes, OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin is generally suitable for all horses. Its high protein quality and balanced amino acid profile make it a valuable addition to the diet of horses across various age groups and with different nutritional needs.
Can I combine OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin with other products?
Yes, OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin can be easily combined with other feeds. It is not a complete feed and should always be offered alongside a high-quality mineral feed and an adequate amount of good-quality roughage.
Feeding recommendations
How long should I feed OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin ?
The duration of feeding OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin depends on the individual needs of the horse. Sainfoin can be used both short-term, for example, to support recovery during illness or to boost condition, and long-term, for horses with consistent protein requirements. Feeding can be flexibly adjusted, especially when Sainfoin is combined with other feeds.
To ensure optimal nutrition, the horse’s health and weight should be regularly monitored, for instance, using the BCI app from our partner Sanoanimal.
How is OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin fed?
OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin is simple and flexible to feed thanks to its convenient pellet form. The pellets can be fed dry, and their small diameter eliminates the risk of abnormal chewing behaviour that can occur with larger pellets, making dry feeding especially straightforward.
For very fast eaters, it may be beneficial to soak the pellets before feeding. Soaking helps reduce the risk of choking or oesophageal blockages. To do this, simply soak the pellets in water until they become soft and easy to mix.
How do I calculate the correct dosage for my horse?
To calculate the appropriate dosage for OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin, follow these steps:
1. Determine your horse’s weight
Your horse’s weight can be determined using scales, a weight tape or an app such as the BCI App from Sanoanimal, available free of charge from Google Play and Apple Store).
2. Follow the feeding recommendation
The general recommendation for OKAPI products is based on a 600 kg horse. The recommended daily amount of OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin is between 1 and 3 kilograms of dry matter.
3. Adjust the amount to your horse’s weight
For example, for a horse weighing 300 kg:
Lower range: 1000g ÷ 600 kg × 300 kg = 500 g per day
Lower range: 3000g ÷ 600 kg × 300 kg = 1500 g per day
This calculation can be used to determine the appropriate amount for horses of different weights.
- 18kg sufficient for approximately 2–4 weeks
Composition
What does OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin contain?
Composition: Sainfoin, Vegetable Oil (3%)
Analytical constituents: Crude fibre: 29.30%, Crude protein: 15.00%, Crude fat: 6.10%, Crude ash: 6.80%, Calcium: 1.27%, Phosphorus: 0.24%, Sodium: 0.05%, Sugar: 4.90%, Fructan: 2.13%, Lysine: 0.82%, Methionine: 0.24%, Threonine: 0.64%
Complementary feed for horses
Feeding instructions
OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin is especially suitable for older horses, poor doers and those with gastrointestinal problems. Sainfoin contains a high content of essential amino acids and condensed tannins, which makes it a perfect grain-free concentrated feed for all types of horses.
The pellets are small in diameter, meaning Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin can be fed dry without causing abnormal chewing behaviour. In cases of very food obsessed hasty eaters, it is advisable to soak the pellets before feeding to prevent possible chocking or impaction.
The pellets are made from the whole plant, the pressing process does not require additional adhesives. The added milk thistle oil (3%) increases the energy content and provides high-quality fatty acids in a digestible form that benefit the metabolism. The silymarin content in the milk thistle oil is only 0.03%, which is why OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin is also suitable to horses with detoxification disorders in the form of Kryptopyrroluria (KPU).
OKAPI Ready-to-Feed Sainfoin is not a complete feed and should therefore be complemented with a high-quality OKAPI Mineral feed and sufficient amounts of roughage. We recommend offering OKAPI Four-Season Feed as well as OKAPI Wild Seeds for enrichment of secondary plant substances.
