Fruit pomace as a natural palatability enhancer
Intake is the first condition for any nutritional plan to work. A recipe that meets every target and is eaten reluctantly performs worse than a simpler one the animal finishes.
Why fruit-derived materials help
Dried fruit pomace carries the aroma and taste of the source fruit into a compound feed. Apple pomace is the most widely used, but strawberry, raspberry, blackcurrant, aronia, elderberry and cranberry pomace all contribute a recognisable natural profile alongside their fibre fraction.
The mechanism is straightforward: a more attractive smell and taste increase acceptance, particularly in feeds whose other components are neutral or bitter.
The second effect, in horses
Increased acceptance means more chewing, and chewing produces saliva. Saliva buffers gastric acid and helps protect the stomach lining from irritation. In equine feeds a palatable fibre carrier therefore does nutritional and physiological work at the same time.
Colour is part of the product
Dried carrot granules and berry pomace also affect appearance. In consumer-facing products, visible natural components support the positioning of the feed, which is why the physical form matters: flakes are seen, ground material is not.
What to test before deciding
Palatability cannot be read from a specification. A short comparative trial answers it:
- test the candidate materials at the inclusion rate you actually plan to use
- keep everything else in the recipe constant
- measure refusals, not only consumption, and give the animals enough days to pass the novelty effect
- repeat with a second batch to separate the ingredient from one good lot
Ordering for a trial
Standard samples of 0,5 kg are enough for laboratory work and a first sensory check. For a feeding trial, ask for a larger format and say why: a supplier can usually accommodate 1 to 2 kg per product when the purpose is clear, and a pilot run on a real batch is worth more than any number of comparisons on paper.