CopRice R – Rice Bran is a specially-formulated horse ration that is produced using high quality, Australian-grown stabilised rice bran. It is a perfect supplement for horses and ponies of all disciplines and life stages, delivering additional calories and energy to support muscle development and conditioning.
Rice bran is the outer layer of rice grain that is removed when brown rice is polished to become white rice. Rice bran is a powerhouse of goodness that contains up to 60% of the total nutritional value of rice. It is packed with protein, amino acids, fatty acids, natural antioxidants and fibre to deliver an energy dense yet ‘cool’ ration.
Rice bran contains up to 20% rice bran oil, which provides a great source of highly digestible but ‘low fizz’ energy. It also contains omega 3, 6 & 9 fatty acids, which help to support skin, coat and cardiovascular health.
It provides a rich source of bio-available protein, ensuring good availability of amino acids for absorption into the body. Amino acids are vital for muscle development and tissue repair. It also contains the amino acids, methionine and lysine, which are essential for skin, coat and hoof health.
Rice bran oil is an excellent source of antioxidants, such as gamma oryzanol, a naturally-occurring anabolic compound, and Vitamin E, which strengthens immunity and helps to protect cells against the damage caused by stress and intensive exercise.
Rice bran also contains niacin (Vitamin B3), which is essential for metabolism and energy generation; biotin (Vitamin B7), which is vital for hoof strength and integrity; as well as thiamine (Vitamin B1), riboflavin (B2), pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5), pyridoxine (Vitamin B6), folic acid (Vitamin B9) and choline.
CopRice R – Rice Brand contains 10% crude fibre, which absorbs water and helps to maintain hydration. It also provides ‘gut fill’, which helps reduce over-eating and supports bowel health.
This special formulation is boosted with additional nutrients, including calcium, cobalt, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium and zinc, for optimum horse health and performance.
Importantly, rice bran is highly palatable. It has a slightly sweet taste and nutty aroma, making it highly palatable to all horses.
Rice bran needs to stabilised as quickly as possible after milling after processing to ‘lock in’ its nutritional goodness. Once bran is removed from the outside of the rice grains, the lipase enzyme in the oil begins to oxidise and its molecular structure breaks down. Oil can become rancid within 24 hours, giving the bran a soap-like taste and stale odour, making it unpalatable.
CopRice operates a state-of-the art stabilised rice bran plant at Leeton in the heart of Australia’s rice growing district. This enables us to source the freshest-milled rice bran and then stabilise it within six hours of milling for
maximum quality and palatability.
The extrusion process ‘cooks’ the rice bran in intense heat and pressure, which inactivates the lipase enzyme, preventing any further oxidation. This process also destroys naturally-occurring toxins in the rice bran and reduces microorganisms that can reduce quality and shelf-life.
The end-result is a very pure form of rice bran that is not only great for your horse but is used for human consumption as well! Compared to ordinary bran, it features a higher protein content, including the all-important bioavailable amino acids, a higher oil content and lower starch level, making it an ideal choice for horse feed.
CopRice has more than 40 years of know-how in processing Australian rice and preparing high performance livestock rations. Contact one of our equine specialists about how CopRice can deliver a customised feeding program for your horses.