Raw ash in feed – harmful or necessary?

Raw ash in feed – harmful or necessary?

• What is raw ash?

  • A technical term for the total mineral content of the feed.

  • Not a harmful substance in itself.

  • Shown on the declaration as the amount of minerals remaining when all organic material has been burned away.

• Why do some people ask if it can damage the liver and kidneys?

  • Some believe that a high content of vitamins/minerals = risk of overload.

  • The short answer: No , not with Regulator Complete's balanced composition.

Why does RC cover just over 100% of the need?

• RC's recommended dosage is designed to cover just over 100% of the daily requirement (KER level) together with average Danish roughage and grass.

• Reasons:

  • Most horse owners have not analyzed their roughage.

  • If we covered exactly 100%, many horses would be in deficit because roughage often lacks several important minerals.

The source of raw ash

• In roughage:

  • Some comes from soil particles – especially if the field is cut closely or is earthed.

• In RC products:

  • Comes primarily from carefully balanced macrominerals: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and sulfur.

Why RC's doses may be higher than competitors'

• RC uses no fillers – only real, documented amounts of macro and micro minerals.

• Example:

  • Supreme Minerals: Lowest allocation is 16 g per 100 kg horse – without filler.

  • Some competitors claim full coverage with 5–10 g per 100 kg – often without macrominerals, so you are completely dependent on roughage, which rarely covers the entire requirement.

RC's balanced approach – concrete

• The levels are based on over 80 analyses of roughage and feed materials in Danish conditions.

Is high raw ash harmful?

• No – and here's why:

  • Horses have a high tolerance threshold for minerals – in some cases up to 900% of recommended levels without harm.

  • No research shows that properly adjusted amounts like those in RC put strain on the liver or kidneys.

• Worries are often caused by:

  • Misunderstanding of what raw ash is.

  • Experience from other animal species that cannot tolerate the same levels.

Why can analyses give different results?

• Mineral analyses can vary by up to ±20% due to method and sampling.

• Declaration ≠ reality:

  • RC has analyzed products where the actual content was, for example, only 13% of the declared selenium .

In short

• A slightly higher raw ash and a coverage level above 100% is not harmful .

• This ensures that the horse does not lack anything.

• At RC, the quantities are carefully balanced for Danish conditions – to support health and metabolism without the risk of overdose.

• If you have any questions, we are happy to help with a personal assessment - you can book a telephone meeting here.