Whatever your equine sport, Munga's advantages make it hard to beat!

Mitavite Munga is the first and only steam-extruded complete feed in Australia to comprehensively address the many faceted requirements of horses in strenuous high performance competition. A high energy feed requiring only the addition of roughage, Munga incorporates the benefits from the latest research findings into equine nutrition and performance physiology from leading researchers around the world.

The key to many of the benefits offered by Munga lies in what still remains the latest in processing technology for complete feeds-steam-extrusion!

Steam-extruded Munga provides maximum digestibility.

Raw grain mixes and pelleted diets lose almost half their nutrient value due to the inability of these hard feeds to be fully digested in the small intestine. When semi or undigested feed passes to the caecum (or large intestine) valuable nutrients are lost to the horse and the essential amino acid balance is disturbed.

Munga's steam-extrusion unlocks the goodness in feed, allowing natural enzymes in the horse's gut to work more efficiently, achieving around a 90% level of digestion - improving absorption rates of energy from starch and other important nutrients. With increased absorption the balance of essential amino acids, crucial to the horse's ability to build bone and lean muscle versus laying down fat, can be maintained. For the performance horse, daily uptake of quality protein and amino acids is vitally important for the repair of damaged muscle cells, resulting from hard or continuous hi levels of work.

Munga combats the heat, ammonia, acid and gas that can compromise peak performance.

When undigested hard feed passes to the caecum it ferments, increased water and electrolyte changing the pH and allowing overgrowth of harmful bacteria, increasing risks of conditions such as colic, diarrhoea and laminitis. Even at sub clinical levels these conditions can effect a horse's performance. Feed which ferments in the caecum is responsible for the build up of heat, acid and gas and the 'fizzy' behaviour and loss of concentration often associated with high levels of grain feeding. In addition, when overheating occurs, blood is diverted from working muscles to cool the skin - with increased sweating, fluid and electrolyte loss, restricting a horse's ability to work at his best.

Munga's steam-extrusion ensures the site of digestion remains in the small intestine for both improved feed safety and a 'cooler' result. In fact, Australian and International research has consistently shown the only way to meet nutrient requirements without heating your horse is to use pressure-cooked and steam-extruded feed. Mitavite products are the only ones to offer this processing technology in Australasia.

Munga's lower feed rate reduces gut ballast - 'the hidden handicapper'.

The concentrated, highly digestible nature of Munga's steam-extruded nuggets should not be underrated, as feeding them in the same amounts as traditional feed can lead to 'over conditioned' horses. Both clinical research and field trials have confirmed the need to feed steam-extruded feeds at around 33% less (by weight) than grains, muesli style sweetfeeds and pellets.

Less weight of feed doesn't just provide the advantage of economy, it also reduces the 'hidden handicapper' of gut ballast. For example, each kilogram of fibre holds 6-8 kilograms of water and electro lytes in the gut - the higher the feed weight the greater the ballast that has to be carried.

An extra 23 kilograms of weight can reduce speed by .64 metres per second and an extra 66 kilograms can slow speed by up to 1.3 metres per second.

Steam-extrusion means lower feed weights and reduced ballast, with the added advantage of allowing the diaphrarn more room to move freely, for improved respiratory function.

Munga is high in energy and combines different sources of energy to better serve intense competition.

Munga's steam-extruded nuggets permit maximum uptake and absorption of energy in the form of glucose from starch digested in the small intestine. Little of this energy is lost due to the increased digestibility from steam-extrusion and this readily available energy is supported by a second source in the form of oils.

Some feeds, such as pellets, are simply unable to carry oils at sufficient levels to make any meaningful difference, but high oil content can provide enormous advantages for heat load, temperament and performance. To realise these advantages the diet must contain 10-12% oil - Munga provides 11.5%. At this level oil provides a cool and steady supply of energy, allowing the horse to preserve blood glucose levels. This glucose sparing effect delays the onset of fatigue and whilst horses can't increase their top speed they can maintain it for longer. By reducing fatigue the risk of accidents and injuries also decreases. If Omega 3 oils are included, as they are with Munga, a further advantage can be improving both circulation and oxygen delivery to working muscles.

Munga nuggets require longer chewing time, for better gut health.

An important but often overlooked fact is that horses trained to a high pitch can experience levels of stress likely to disrupt normal gut function through increased levels of acid. This problem is common in young horses, those in early training and ponies on concentrates, but it can strike at any horse subjected to high levels of stress. Reports from the US indicate links between feeds like pellets being eaten quickly and the incidence of choke, colic and gastric rupture. The occurrence of these gastro?intestinal diseases decreased when feed was changed to steam-extruded nuggets like Munga.

The low density, low moisture and increased volume of Munga nuggets means horses chew more slowly, taking longer to eat and producing more saliva to help protect against choke - whilst the high bicarbonate levels in the saliva act as an efficient buffer against the acid that produces gastric ulceration. Many owners are unaware of ulceration until a late stage, even though a drop off in performance may have been noted.

Munga has all the essential nutrients in the right balance.

A comprehensive and carefully balanced inclusion of all the vitamins, minerals, proteins and amino acids, mineral salts and other nutrients essential to the equine athlete, matches or betters the levels necessary to meet daily needs of hard working horses - even though less weight is being fed than with traditional feeds. Additional supplements should only be provided under veterinary advice.

Highly palatable, Munga's steam-extrusion releases the sweeter, natural flavours of different ingredients and this combines with the appetising taste and aroma of molasses. When changing feeds any change should be made gradually so horses can adapt to the different form, texture and taste.

Mitavite Munga is at the leading edge of complete feeds formulated for high performance activity, providing advantages that make it a feed that's hard to beat!