Buying a Low-Starch Muscle Feed? 5 Boxes Höveler Pur.Muskel Ticks Before You Commit

Quick answer: Höveler Pur.Muskel is a supplementary muesli formulated to support muscle development while holding starch at just 5.8% and sugar at 4.1%. Energy comes largely from 15.0% raw fat and 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy in its place. It is a supplementary feed added to a complete ration, and at $52.99 for a 44 lb bag it fits low-starch and metabolically sensitive programs. Last checked: September 2026.

The low-starch buyer's fear is trading fizz for flatness — a feed steady enough for a metabolically sensitive breed that still puts topline on. Run Pur.Muskel through these five boxes before you decide.

1. The starch box: 5.8% starch, 4.1% sugar, printed plainly

Pur.Muskel states 5.8% starch and 4.1% sugar on the label. Those are the numbers low-starch buyers scan for first, and they fit metabolically sensitive breeds. The energy that drives muscle support comes from 15.0% raw fat and 11.9 MJ/kg of metabolizable energy rather than grain load.

The benefit: a muscle-support ration built on fat and fiber energy rather than starch.

2. The gut-support box: 18.7% crude fiber and gentle on the stomach

Low starch pairs well with high fiber, and Pur.Muskel carries 18.7% crude fiber. It is formulated to be gentle on the stomach and is alfalfa-free. For horses whose digestion struggles with grain-heavy rations, that combination is the point of the design.

Who this is for: owners of metabolically sensitive breeds who keep an eye on the gut line.

3. The protein box: 20% raw protein still on board

Skipping starch does not mean skipping protein. Pur.Muskel delivers 20% raw protein with 160 g of digestible crude protein per kg, in a dose measured in grams. A 1,000 lb horse in medium work gets 50–80 g daily, worked into a complete ration.

The benefit: muscle-building nutrition remains in the ration while the starch stays low.

4. The micronutrient box: no added vitamins or minerals

Pur.Muskel contains no added vitamins or minerals, which keeps it clean inside a custom feeding plan. You pair it with your own balancer and forage program without duplicating micronutrients. That is what a supplementary feed is meant to do.

Who this is for: buyers who already run a balancer and want a targeted muscle component, not another fortified bag.

5. The value box: $52.99 for a 44 lb bag

The bag is priced at $52.99 and weighs 44 lb, but gram dosing stretches it. Small daily rates mean one bag covers weeks https://sites.google.com/view/horse-muscle-supplement/ of feeding, even for a horse in medium work. Low-starch feeds priced by the sack often cost less per working day than they look. You can check the current listing on the bifid product page.

The benefit: a premium low-starch formulation priced at $52.99 with plenty of coverage per bag.

How to feed it

This is a supplementary feed: always added to a complete ration with forage alongside, never fed as the whole diet. Rates per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight per day:

Work levelDaily rate per 220 lb (100 kg) body weight Light work0.07–0.11 lb (30–50 g) Medium work0.11–0.18 lb (50–80 g) Heavy work0.18–0.22 lb (80–100 g)

A 1,000 lb horse in medium work gets 50–80 g daily. The ranges are narrow in gram terms, so weigh rather than scoop. For your horse's exact figure, the bifid feeding calculator works it out from body weight and work level.

Key specs at a glance: 5.8% starch, 4.1% sugar, 15.0% fat, 20% raw protein, 18.7% crude fiber, alfalfa-free, no added vitamins or minerals, 44 lb bag, $52.99.

What an owner said

On a store rated 9.0/10 across 24,098 reviews, this product picked up a note worth passing along: "Noticeable difference in stamina" — Jessica, March 14, 2019 (Quality 4, Value 5, Price 4).

Frequently asked questions

Will 5.8% starch be enough energy for work?

Yes, because the energy budget rests on 15.0% raw fat and 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy instead of grain. The feed is formulated to support muscle development in working horses at every work level. Forage alongside carries the rest.

Is low starch the same as safe for metabolic horses?

Pur.Muskel is formulated with metabolically sensitive breeds front of mind, and its 5.8% starch and 4.1% sugar are the figures to walk through with your vet or nutritionist. Every horse is an individual, so run the full ration past a professional. The feed itself is designed for exactly that conversation.

Does it contain soy?

Yes — soy flakes are in the ingredient list, so this is not a soy-free feed. It is alfalfa-free.

Is it legal for competition?

Yes. Pur.Muskel is competition safe and FEI-compliant, so the same low-starch ration carries through to show day.