Vital Calorie (Meunerie Benjamin)

Vital Calorie by Meunerie Benjamin is a high-calorie, high-fat supplement for adult horses. It is intended for feeding programs that require additional digestible energy, fat and protein in the ration, including diets for underweight horses, hard keepers, performance horses and horses managed to maintain or improve body condition.

The formula uses several high-fat ingredients as its primary calorie sources, including flaxseed, extruded flaxseed, stabilized rice bran, extruded soybeans and palm oil. These ingredients contribute dietary fat and increase calorie density without relying primarily on starch. Soybean hulls, beet pulp, dehydrated alfalfa and distillers dried grains are sources of fermentable fiber and protein-containing feed ingredients that can contribute to hindgut fermentation, digestible energy and overall nutrient intake.

The guaranteed analysis lists digestible energy at 3,900 kcal/kg, crude protein at 18%, crude fat at 19.5%, crude fiber at 13%, ADF at 18% and NDF at 28%. The label lists starch at 6% and sugar at 2%, giving the product a relatively low starch-and-sugar profile for a calorie-dense supplement. The fat profile includes omega-3 fatty acids at 5% and omega-6 fatty acids at 2.3%. For more context on starch, sugar and non-structural carbohydrates in horse feeds, see carbohydrates in the equine diet.

The product is fortified with vitamins, trace minerals and limiting amino acids, but it should be viewed primarily as a calorie and conditioning supplement rather than a standalone vitamin and mineral supplement. The manufacturer’s feeding guide notes that Vital Glo may be added to optimize vitamin and mineral intake. Diets using Vital Calorie should still be evaluated for total mineral, vitamin and salt balance, especially when it is fed in a forage-based diet or without a complete vitamin and mineral balancer.

The guaranteed analysis lists macrominerals including calcium at 1%, phosphorus at 0.5%, magnesium at 0.30% and potassium at 1.3%. Trace minerals include manganese 205 ppm, copper 85 ppm, zinc 260 ppm, cobalt 3.5 ppm and selenium 1 ppm, with part of the manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt and selenium supplied from inorganic sources and part from organic sources. The vitamin profile includes vitamins A, D, E and K, biotin and several B-vitamins. These values provide context for the level of fortification, but the product should not be assumed to replace a complete ration balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement.

The label lists minimum amino acid values of lysine 1.10%, methionine 0.55% and threonine 0.66%. These limiting amino acids are commonly evaluated when balancing diets for horses requiring support for protein quality, muscle development or topline condition. Vital Calorie also includes live yeast and butyrate. Live yeast is used in equine feeds to support the hindgut microbial environment and fiber fermentation, while butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid used in some feed additives related to intestinal tissue support.

Manufacturer feeding directions list 50 g per 100 kg of body weight, equivalent to approximately 250 g per day for a 500 kg (1,100 lb) horse. The label notes that recommendations are based on horses consuming 1.5% to 2.5% of body weight in forage, and that amounts may vary depending on body condition and the quantity and quality of forage being fed. The label also states that horses should have access to fresh water at all times, receive 1 to 2 oz of salt per day, and ideally receive the product divided into two or more meals.