14/10/2016
A refractometer is a scientific instrument that uses the degree that light bends to identify the composition of a substance.
The sap or juice of plants is comprised mainly of sucrose with small traces of minerals, fructans, vitamins, hormones etc.
Refractometers can be calibrated to measure sugar levels in plants sap.
The scale used for measuring sucrose or sugar in plant sap is termed the Brix Index (Degrees Brix or °Bx). A Brix reading of 10, for example, means that a plant is composed of 10 percent sugar.
Knowing the Brix level of forages such as grass can help with grazing management and in deciding on which hay to purchase. For example, you can use the refractometer to measure circadian changes in sugar levels in pastures according to time of day, weather conditions and/or seasonal variations. Understanding how the sugar content changes in your pastures can help you decide when it is safer to graze a horse.
Refractometers are very easy to use and it only takes a few minutes to test your grass. You can also use the refractometer to measure sugar levels in treats such as apples and carrots.
If your horse has a known metabolic disease, then testing pastures before hay is baled will help you select a lower sugar forage. The hay can then be analysed by a lab and a diet formulated.
