Which grain is considered highest in digestible energy?

Corn is considered the grain highest in digestible energy, primarily due to its high starch content, which is highly digestible for horses. When evaluating grains for energy content, the carbohydrate profile is crucial. Corn's starch is readily fermentable in the horse's digestive system, leading to a significant energy yield when consumed.

In contrast, while barley, wheat, and oats provide energy, they generally contain lower levels of digestible energy compared to corn. For instance, barley has a higher fiber content, which can reduce its overall energy availability. Wheat, though it has a high protein content, also ranks lower in digestibility and energy compared to corn. Oats are known for their higher fiber content as well, offering a more moderate energy supply suitable for certain equine diets but falling short in digestible energy relative to corn. This makes corn the preferred grain for situations requiring a high-energy diet.