Individually, they are industry leaders in equine nutrition research and horse feed production; together, they are now a leading force in Australian feed innovation. For horse owners, a new partnership between Kentucky Equine Research (KER) and The Hygain Group means access to the best of both worlds.
BORN FROM A STEED’S NEEDS
Back in the 1980s, Victorian horse owner and competitor Greg Manley was dissatisfied with the quality and nutritional standards of the feeds available on the market, so he decided to take matters into his own hands. He began developing and mixing nutritionally balanced feed formulas for his own horses and others in the local area, and in 1983, Hy Gain Feeds Pty Ltd was born.
Today, The Hygain Group – home to both Hygain and Mitavite – is a leading equine feed and supplement company, loved by top riders such as Brett Cantle. Image by Oz Shotz.
Through word of mouth, demand for the product rapidly grew and soon outstripped the capacity of Greg’s one-man operation. This led to the establishment of a dedicated equine feed mill and manufacturing facility in the heart of Victoria’s equine industry, south east of Melbourne.
The company was a pioneer in the use of micronization in equine feed, a high-temperature, short-duration process that uses infrared energy to cook cereal grains and legumes, making them safer and easier for horses to digest. Since then, it has continued to develop premium feeds and supplements built on nutritional science, product innovation and specialist equine manufacturing expertise.
Today, The Hygain Group – home to both Hygain and Mitavite – is a leading equine feed and supplement company, not only in Australia but also around the world. Now part of The Borg Group, one of Australia’s largest and most respected family businesses, The Hygain Group is continuing to invest in the future of the equine industry through innovation and premium equine nutrition.
RAISED IN THE BLUEGRASS STATE
Kentucky Equine Research (KER) was founded in 1988 when Joe Pagan, Ph.D., recognised that valuable information generated through research was not reaching the people who needed it most: feed manufacturers and horse owners. Since its inception, bridging that gap has remained a key priority for the company.
In 1999, KER established a second office in Victoria, Australia, to serve both Australia and Asia. The company’s North American headquarters remains home to its research facilities, where nutrition and exercise physiology trials are conducted year-round across three farms – one in Kentucky, and two in Florida. KER bases much of its consulting work and product development on the results of these trials.
One of KER’s three research farms is set on 150 acres in the heart of Kentucky’s thoroughbred region. Image supplied by KER.
Today, KER is the world’s largest private equine nutrition research company, with a mission to advance the industry’s understanding of equine nutrition and exercise physiology, apply that knowledge to improve horse health and performance, and support horses’ nutritional needs at every stage of life.
KER also serves as a consultant to feed manufacturers around the globe. Its nutritionists work with mill owners and managers on six continents to formulate high-quality feeds that complement typical local forages. These feeds contain KER micronutrient premixes to help ensure that, when combined with appropriate forage and fed according to label directions, they provide a diet balanced to KER’s specifications.
PERFECT PARTNERSHIP
With more than 80 years of combined industry experience, KER and The Hygain Group are a natural fit: world-leading equine nutrition research paired with premium equine feed manufacturing.
A new partnership now brings together these two family owned organisations with a shared belief that long-term investment, scientific integrity and uncompromising quality are the cornerstones of equine nutrition.
The Hygain Group has long been at the forefront of advances in equine nutrition and this partnership builds on that legacy, combining the company’s deep understanding of Australian horses and horse owners with KER’s internationally recognised expertise in nutritional science and exercise physiology.
Hygain Ambassador Emma Flavelle-Watts, pictured here with her Grand Prix horse Scarlatti Mio VSR, has long been a fan of the brand’s product range. Image by Oz Shotz.
Peter Weaver, CEO of The Hygain Group, says the partnership reflects not only a shared commitment to scientific excellence, but also the values that underpin family-owned businesses. “This isn’t simply about bringing brands together; it’s about bringing together the best minds in equine nutrition. By combining Hygain and Mitavite’s brand strength, innovation and premium feed-manufacturing capabilities and with Kentucky Equine Research’s internationally respected research, we are creating an organisation positioned to set new benchmarks for equine nutrition and performance in Australia for years to come.”
KER founder and president, Joe Pagan, has long admired Hygain and Mitavite’s commitment to quality manufacturing and its prioritisation of equine-only, drug-free production facilities. “Partnering with the The Hygain Group allows us to pair our research and nutritional expertise with a world-class equine feed brand and manufacturer. Together, we can accelerate the implementation of innovation and bring even greater value to both professional and recreational horse owners.”
Hygain Group and KER staff joining forces at a recent conference; the future of equine nutrition in Australia is bright! Image supplied by Hygain Group.
‘THE FUTURE OF EQUINE NUTRITION IS LOOKING VERY EXCITING…’
For Hygain and Mitavite customers, this exciting new partnership means, in a nutshell, more science, more innovation and even greater confidence in what they are feeding their horses.
For the brands’ loyal customers, the products they know and trust will remain available, and the quality they have come to expect is not changing. Nor is the company’s commitment to supporting horse owners.
What does change is the opportunity to develop even more innovative, research-backed nutritional solutions for horses in the future.
The future of equine nutrition in Australia is looking very exciting; watch this space. EQ
This article was written on conjunction with The Hygain Group and Kentucky Equine Research. You can find out more about Hygain and Mitavite via hygain.com.au and mitavite.com, and more about KER via ker.com.
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