Description
Benchmark’s Nutrition team had a mission to create a new and innovative feed that would provide a balanced equine diet with high levels of essential nutrients but without relying on grains and grain bi-products. By utilising the benefits of super fibres from soy hulls the team were able to create a truly remarkable new feed that ticks the nutritional boxes for many of our equine friends.
Supporting Digestive Good Health
In yet another innovative move, our nutritionists took advantage of the hind gut digestibility of the super fibres in Perfect Mash to deliver serious amounts of pre and pro-biotics, supporting the gut microbiome and microbiota (gut flora) population.
In an industry first for Australia, we have added Melofeed®, a natural source of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. (SOD) As the name suggests, Melofeed® is extracted from melon fruit pulp and juice. The benefits of SOD are well proven and are documented on our website.
What’s so great about super fibres?
Apart from water, fibre is the most important component of a horse’s natural diet. Fibre is digested by fermentation in the horse’s hind gut or caecum, unlocking energy rich short chain volatile fatty acids, the horse’s natural energy source.
The digestion of fibre sources such as pasture, hay and chaff are about 40-60% efficient, meaning that about 40- 60% of all fibre is either not digested, or only partially digested and ultimately passes as waste in the horse’s manure.
By comparison super fibres, such as the soy hulls in the Benchmark Perfect Mash™ are about 75-80% digestible, meaning that much less is passed as waste and importantly more nutritional benefit is gained from each kg of super fibres fed. Super fibres also stimulate fermentation, helping to protect the delicate microbiota (micro flora) balance in the hind gut. These are also the same microbes responsible for producing most of the horse’s B and K vitamins which are so vital for the healthy daily functioning of the horse.
Ingredients
Soy bean hulls, salt, cold pressed canola oil, Benchmark Vitamin and Mineral Premix, Melofeed® (SOD), Agrimos®, Yea-Sacc®, Alkosel 3000®
Feeding Rates
Dry Feeding Rates and Directions (kg/day)
| Perfect Mash™ |
Bodyweight(kg) |
|
400 |
500 |
600 |
| Idle/Spelling horses |
0.5 – 0.8 |
0.8 – 1.2 |
1.2 – 1.4 |
| Light Exercise |
0.8 – 1.1 |
1.1 – 1.4 |
1.4 – 1.8 |
| Moderate Exercise |
1.0 – 1.5 |
1.5 – 2.0 |
2.0 – 2.5 |
| Heavy Exercise |
1.5 – 2.0 |
2.0 – 2.5 |
2.5 – 3.0 |
Light Exercise
Up to 60 mins walking or 30 mins walking, trotting and cantering.
Moderate Exercise
Up to 120 mins walking and trotting, or 30 to 60 mins trotting, cantering and some galloping.
Heavy Exercise
30 to 60 mins intense riding, skill work, short duration galloping, racing and endurance.
Nutritionist Notes
Notes from our Consultant Nutritionist
Low Sugar & Starch – Horses need good levels of energy in their diets to function and perform at their best, but high sugars and starch are one of the main causes of health issues in horses today. Benchmark Perfect Mash™ has good levels of energy, mainly through microbial fermentation producing “cool” energy and fat content in the feed yet contains less than 6% sugars and starch. Perfect for the laminitic and EMS horse and pony, and that horse who gets a bit hot on conventional feeds but still needs a complete feed.
Super Fibres – Fibre is the natural source of feed for horses and Benchmark Perfect Mash™ is packed with some of the best super fibres available. Soybean hulls enhance microbial fermentation in the hindgut, improving digestion, vitamin production and overall health. It only makes sense to feed something natural to your best friend!
A Complete Feed – As an innovator in the equine feed industry, Benchmark Perfect Mash™ is a totally unique complete feed mash, heavily fortified with essential nutrients, all designed to enhance and improve the health, appearance and performance of your horse.
Immune Boosting – Benchmark Perfect Mash™ contains immune boosting minerals such as copper, zinc, manganese, selenium, iodine and chromium plus many high-quality antioxidants.
Gut Health – Benchmark Perfect Mash™ contains substantial levels of natural antioxidants, including organic vitamin E (Alkosel 3000®) and Melofeed®®, plus pre and pro-biotics which are all designed to improve the gut and overall health of your best friend!
How to prepare Perfect Mash for your horse?
By volume
To 1-part Perfect Mash add 2-3 parts cold or warm water. Soak for 5-10mins before feeding.
Or by weight
To every 500gs of Perfect Mash add 1 -1.5 litres of cold or warm water. Soak as above.
Perfect Mash should be introduced gradually over 7-14 days to allow your horse’s gut enzymes to adjust to the new feed.
DO NOT FEED DRY
