🐴 Extruded Horse Feed vs Pelleted Horse Feed: Which Is Better for Your Horse in 2025? 🍽️🔥

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Many horse owners feed either pelleted or extruded feeds without realizing there’s a major difference in how they’re made—and how they affect digestion. In 2025, understanding the benefits of each helps you make the best choice for your horse’s needs. 🧠🐎

🥣 What Is Pelleted Feed?

Pelleted feed is made by:

• 🌡️ Applying dry heat briefly
• 🧄 Compressing ground grains and ingredients through a die to form uniform pellets

This process is fast and efficient, preserving much of the natural nutritional content. ✅

🔥 What Is Extruded Feed?

Extruded feed undergoes a more intensive cooking process:

• 💨 Uses moist heat, steam, and high pressure
• 🔥 Cooks grains at ~260°F for 10 minutes
• 🍿 Ingredients expand or "pop" like corn kernels when exposed to cooler air

This is the same method used in pet kibble, breakfast cereals, and snack foods. It’s been used in horse feed for the last 30–40 years. 🔬

🧪 Nutritional Differences

Extrusion offers several key advantages:

• ✅ – heat breaks down starches, making energy more bioavailable
• ✅ Protein is denatured, which may improve absorption
• ✅ Starch becomes more water-soluble, easing breakdown in the small intestine

This means horses extract more usable energy with less effort from the digestive system—ideal for performance horses, seniors, or horses with gut sensitivity. 🧠💥

❌ Are There Downsides to Extrusion?

Yes, a few considerations:

• 🔥 The high heat may destroy some natural vitamins (e.g., B vitamins)
• 💊 Manufacturers typically re-fortify feeds to compensate
• 🛑 Some horses may not like the “puffy” texture of extruded feed

Important: Cooking does NOT destroy minerals, so calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium remain intact. 💪

💚 Feed Texture & Palatability

• 📦 Pellets: Dense and compact; some horses bolt them too quickly
• 🍿 Extruded: Lighter, airier texture encourages slower chewing

Extruded feed may reduce the risk of choke in horses that eat too fast, though texture preferences vary. 🫱🐴

🌿 Digestive Benefits in Sensitive Horses

Because extruded feed is partially pre-digested, it may help horses with:

• 🦠 Hindgut sensitivity
• ⚠️ Ulcer-prone horses
• 🧓 Older horses with reduced digestive efficiency

It puts less strain on the small intestine while maximizing nutrient absorption. 🧬

📲 Ask A Vet for Feed Selection Help

Not sure which feed type suits your horse best? Visit AskAVet.com or use the Ask A Vet App for personalized nutrition plans, feed reviews, and ingredient analysis. 📱🐴

Dr Duncan Houston and the team can assess your horse’s lifestyle, dental health, metabolism, and digestive history to help you make the right choice. 💬🧠

🏁 Final Thoughts

In 2025, extruded feed offers enhanced digestibility and energy absorption—but may not be ideal for every horse. Compare processing methods, texture, and nutrient delivery to match your horse’s unique needs. 🐴🔥

Need a feed comparison chart? Visit AskAVet.com to download it today 🍽️🐎