Food For Thought Horse Series: Copra Coconut Meal

COPRA

When was the last time you saw a horse climbing a coconut tree?

The picture is a bit of fun, but it makes a simple point.

Horses have not evolved to eat coconuts

What Copra Actually Is

• Copra is dried coconut flesh after the oil has been removed

• It is a waste by product of the coconut oil industry

• The leftover material is ground into a meal and sold as horse feed

Typical composition

• Around 20 to 22 percent protein

• Around 8 to 12 percent fat

• Relatively low sugar and starch

It is mainly used as an energy feed, but it is not a natural forage.

Fat and Digestion

• Horses do not have a gallbladder

• Instead of storing bile, horses release bile continuously from the liver into the intestine

• This system evolved for a diet of low-fat grasses and forage

• Horses can digest fat, but their system is designed for small, steady amounts, not large fat loads

• Copra contains much higher fat levels than grass or hay

The Good

• Low sugar and starch compared with many grain feeds

• Provides calories from fat and fibre rather than starch

• Often used to help maintain or gain weight

• Usually palatable when soaked

The Bad

• Protein quality is poor and low in lysine

• Naturally high in phosphorus and low in calcium

• Mineral balance can become distorted if large amounts are fed

• It is not a complete feed and must sit within a balanced diet

• It is not species-appropriate forage for a grazing herbivore

Horses are designed to graze grasses and fibrous plants. Copra does not resemble anything a horse would naturally encounter in a grazing environment.

The Ugly

• Copra can be susceptible to mould contamination if poorly processed or stored

• Some moulds produce aflatoxins, powerful mycotoxins that affect animal health

• Quality control between suppliers can vary significantly

Processing Reality

• Copra production quality varies widely between suppliers

• Some products are mechanically pressed

• Others may involve industrial solvent extraction using hexanes, a petroleum-based solvent used in vegetable oil industries

Although most of the solvent is removed during processing, it highlights that copra is an industrial feed byproduct rather than a natural forage.

The Practical Reality

Copra can be useful as

• A calorie booster

• A grain replacement in some diets

• A conditioning feed for hard keepers

But before adding it to the feed bin, it is worth asking one simple question

Does my horse really need it?

Best Health Benefits For Horses Come From A Fibre and Forage Foundation including feeds of:

• Grass -species appropriate grasses, limit rye

• Hay-mixed meadow is best to provide a variety of different nutrients

• Natural whole foods with minimal processing

Everything else is just support.

Need Help With Your Horse?

If you are working through these challenges with your horse, supporting digestion, mineral balance, and the body’s natural detoxification pathways can sometimes make a noticeable difference.

If you would like personalised guidance for your horse, we can also help through our Horse Support Consultations:

https://www.naturalhorse.co.nz/horsesupportconsultations

You can also explore more of our educational resources and nutritional support products here:

https://www.naturalhorse.co.nz