When processed through roasting, Soy Beans, Oats and Milo become
an incredibly efficient and healthy energy source for horses.

Roasting grain before mixing and bagging is becoming increasingly popular for a couple of reasons.  One is digestibility; A horse is a grazing animal with a small stomach, the food travels from the stomach to the intestine and cecum relatively fast.  If the site of digestion takes place in the stomach, it is easier for the horse to process and utilize the grain, vitamins and minerals. Changing the site of absorption also offers a balanced energy level for the horse.  Roasting reduces the amount of gastric acid needed to break down the food; the hard outer shell is removed from the digestive equation.  The volume of grain can be reduced because of the increased digestibility of the feed.  Also, less passes thru the horses system into the manure undigested.  This is a safer way to feed the horse, less grain decreases gastric upsets and the chance of grain-overload founder.

Roasted grain is easy for any age horse to chew and digest, from young foals to seniors with missing teeth. The roasting process changes the site of digestion and absorption. The stomach is better able to process the roasted grain into energy, therefore, the horse has a better maintained energy level.   Nutritional energy is released slowly and efficiently so you have very few metabolic problems and your horse has the energy needed to perform.   

An even bigger reason to roast is mold, mildew and mycotoxin that can be on the grain kernel from harvest. High roasting temperatures can kill mold and mildew spores and many mycotoxins before the grain is mixed with Vitamins, Minerals and bagged. 

Mold growth reduces feed value.  When the horse refuses to eat for no apparent reason, the grain could have a moldy or mildew smell that we can not detect.  Some signs of mold in feed are:  dustiness, caking of feed, darkening of feed, poor feed flow out of bins, refusal to eat for no apparent reason, moldy or mildew smell.

Roasting also has an advantage in speed of processing and produces a dry product that can be stored without deterioration due to moisture.  Mold germinates at temperatures as low as 45°F, with most rapid growth at 75° to 90°F.  Mold requires humidity or moisture for germination, therefore, an upper limit of 14.5% moisture is recommended for stored
corn or milo. Other grains should maintain moisture levels less than 13%.
Roasted grain has moisture levels at 10% or less.

A Mycotoxin is a highly toxic by-product of mold growth in feed and on raw grain.  Myco means fungus and toxin means poison.  They represent a broad spectrum of acute and chronic diseases in livestock.  Mycotoxins are poisons generated from the secondary metabolic processes which occur naturally in a variety of molds.  Mycotoxins often occur in the field before harvest or incubate in grain storage bins, therefore, roasting the grain before it is bagged, offers a healthy sterilized food for your horse.