Feeding Management Techniques IMS #8895-E

Objectives Discuss the concept of group feeding for horses Discuss the concept of group feeding for horses List types of feeding facilities for horses List types of feeding facilities for horses Explain the importance of feeding time and frequency for horses Explain the importance of feeding time and frequency for horses

Objectives Discuss the importance of age & body condition on the quantity of feed required by a horse Discuss the importance of age & body condition on the quantity of feed required by a horse Recognize the effects of ration changes on horses Recognize the effects of ration changes on horses Explain the effect of appetite and obesity relative to feeding horses. Explain the effect of appetite and obesity relative to feeding horses.

Overview Individuals Individuals Different tendencies Different tendencies How they eat How they eat What they eat What they eat How they behave How they behave

Overview Small stomach & short intestine Small stomach & short intestine Sensitive to changes or inconsistencies Sensitive to changes or inconsistencies Unable to regurgitate food Unable to regurgitate food Food passes quickly through digestive system Food passes quickly through digestive system

Overview Because feed does not remain long in digestive tract, they need diet of high quality forages Because feed does not remain long in digestive tract, they need diet of high quality forages Feeding not a simple practice Feeding not a simple practice Art learned through experience & study of basic scientific principles Art learned through experience & study of basic scientific principles

Overview Must have knowledge of nutrient needs, content, & use of feeds most commonly eaten Must have knowledge of nutrient needs, content, & use of feeds most commonly eaten Most kept in separate stalls or paddocks Most kept in separate stalls or paddocks Hair coats in excellent condition Hair coats in excellent condition Perform well Perform well

Overview Some digest & use nutrients better Some digest & use nutrients better Others do not get as much out of their feed Others do not get as much out of their feed Each must be looked at individually Each must be looked at individually May get too fat or too thin May get too fat or too thin

Percentages of horse’s digestive organs by volume. Notice the stomach in comparison to other parts of the digestive system

Feeding in Groups Tend to congregate Tend to congregate Social animals Social animals If fed in groups, there are some basic management techniques If fed in groups, there are some basic management techniques

Feeding in Groups If fed in a single trough, provide enough space If fed in a single trough, provide enough space Group feeding works best with young horses Group feeding works best with young horses

Feeding in Groups As horses get older, they develop a pecking order As horses get older, they develop a pecking order Meaner horses will get more than more timid horses Meaner horses will get more than more timid horses

Feeding in Groups Individual feeders may be the solution Individual feeders may be the solution Allow distance of 50 feet between each feeder Allow distance of 50 feet between each feeder Provide extra feeder so shy horses will have feeder if a bully chases him/her off Provide extra feeder so shy horses will have feeder if a bully chases him/her off

Feeding in Groups Best to feed timid, finicky, or slow eating horses separately Best to feed timid, finicky, or slow eating horses separately Group feeding with foals works well as long as there is enough space available Group feeding with foals works well as long as there is enough space available Feeder should not have sharp edges or projecting points Feeder should not have sharp edges or projecting points

Feeding in Groups Trough should not be too wide Trough should not be too wide Feed should be spread along entire length of trough Feed should be spread along entire length of trough Ensure each horse gets their share Ensure each horse gets their share

Feeding Facilities Horses eat feed from a variety of ways Horses eat feed from a variety of ways In the pasture, horses naturally eat from the ground In the pasture, horses naturally eat from the ground In the stall, feed may become contaminated with: In the stall, feed may become contaminated with: Dirt Dirt Manure Manure Urine Urine

Feeding Facilities Hay may be wasted as they walk around stalls & trample it Hay may be wasted as they walk around stalls & trample it Dirty hay contains parasite eggs from manure Dirty hay contains parasite eggs from manure Ground feeding advised against Ground feeding advised against Unless cleaned several times a day Unless cleaned several times a day

Feeding Facilities Do not place hay feeder too high Do not place hay feeder too high Hay particles & debris may fall into eyes Hay particles & debris may fall into eyes Feed troughs & hay mangers must be cleaned often Feed troughs & hay mangers must be cleaned often May develop colic or digestive disorders from eating spoiled grain or hay May develop colic or digestive disorders from eating spoiled grain or hay

Feeding Facilities Important to check for manure in water or feed trough Important to check for manure in water or feed trough Manure makes feed & water taste terrible Manure makes feed & water taste terrible May contain parasites May contain parasites

Feeding Times Horses need to eat at same time each day Horses need to eat at same time each day Creatures of habit Creatures of habit Greatly anticipate each feeding Greatly anticipate each feeding Love food Love food Will eat enough to kill them Will eat enough to kill them

Feeding Times Feeding at crazy times will cause horses to develop bad habits such as eating too fast Feeding at crazy times will cause horses to develop bad habits such as eating too fast Causes digestive upsets Causes digestive upsets Should be fed more than once a day Should be fed more than once a day

Feeding Times Since they are herbivores that evolved as grazing animals, they are used to eating small, frequent meals Since they are herbivores that evolved as grazing animals, they are used to eating small, frequent meals Should be fed once in the morning & once in the evening Should be fed once in the morning & once in the evening

Feeding Times If exercised a lot, should be fed three times daily If exercised a lot, should be fed three times daily Working horses should be fed two hours before beginning work or one hour after hard work Working horses should be fed two hours before beginning work or one hour after hard work Allows them to digest part of ration before work when their blood supply goes to muscles & not stomach Allows them to digest part of ration before work when their blood supply goes to muscles & not stomach

Feeding Times After work, give horse time to cool off before eating After work, give horse time to cool off before eating Feeding one-half grain in the morning, one-quarter at noon, & one-quarter at night, works well for hard-working horses Feeding one-half grain in the morning, one-quarter at noon, & one-quarter at night, works well for hard-working horses

Age and Pregnancy After birth, it is advised to give foals opportunity to eat mixed concentrate ration After birth, it is advised to give foals opportunity to eat mixed concentrate ration Average 14-16% crude protein Average 14-16% crude protein Creep feed Creep feed Box placed next to mare’s trough that contains ration Box placed next to mare’s trough that contains ration

Age and Pregnancy Foal’s feed box has rods spaced above feed level that lets foal get its mouth in and eat Foal’s feed box has rods spaced above feed level that lets foal get its mouth in and eat Mare cannot Mare cannot If several mares are kept together in a pasture, it is recommended to put creep feeder with an enclosure If several mares are kept together in a pasture, it is recommended to put creep feeder with an enclosure Only lets in foals to eat Only lets in foals to eat

Age and Pregnancy Foals eat creep feed until weaned Foals eat creep feed until weaned Important to make sure they are able to get to ration following weaning Important to make sure they are able to get to ration following weaning

Age and Pregnancy Yearlings & two- year olds should be managed as adult horses Yearlings & two- year olds should be managed as adult horses Needs should be met, not exceeded Needs should be met, not exceeded

Age and Pregnancy Older horses have hard time chewing Older horses have hard time chewing Teeth may be: Teeth may be: worn down worn down Gone Gone Not floated (not filed) often enough Not floated (not filed) often enough May become anorexic or so thin they do not have an appetite May become anorexic or so thin they do not have an appetite

Age and Pregnancy Horses should be fed high energy feed especially formulated for older horses Horses should be fed high energy feed especially formulated for older horses Prefer feed that is: Prefer feed that is: Soft, Soft, Pelleted Pelleted Palatable Palatable Palatable feed may be able to get horse out of being anorexic Palatable feed may be able to get horse out of being anorexic

Age and Pregnancy Give plenty of time to eat & without interruption Give plenty of time to eat & without interruption Require more energy to perform work so they need more feed per unit of body weight Require more energy to perform work so they need more feed per unit of body weight

Age and Pregnancy Preferred that mares be in moderate to fleshy condition when bred Preferred that mares be in moderate to fleshy condition when bred Body score of 5-7 is adequate Body score of 5-7 is adequate

Age and Pregnancy Body condition score does not affect stallion’s reproductive ability Body condition score does not affect stallion’s reproductive ability Mares in thin condition do not show good reproductive performance Mares in thin condition do not show good reproductive performance Cheaper to maintain in moderate to fat condition than attempting to increase weight during breeding season Cheaper to maintain in moderate to fat condition than attempting to increase weight during breeding season

Age and Pregnancy Thin mares need more energy to gain fat than fleshy mares Thin mares need more energy to gain fat than fleshy mares In last trimester of pregnancy, mares eat adequate nutrients to: In last trimester of pregnancy, mares eat adequate nutrients to: Provide enough nutrients to promote normal fetal development Provide enough nutrients to promote normal fetal development Gain appropriate weight to support pregnancy Gain appropriate weight to support pregnancy

Age and Pregnancy Milk production requires a lot of energy Milk production requires a lot of energy During lactation, mares will eat enough to: During lactation, mares will eat enough to: Regain body condition lost in pregnancy Regain body condition lost in pregnancy Meet the demands of producing milk Meet the demands of producing milk

Areas Emphasized in Body Condition Scoring

Ration Changes When rations altered, changes should be made gradually over period of one week When rations altered, changes should be made gradually over period of one week Sudden changes may cause: Sudden changes may cause: Colic Colic Finicky eating Finicky eating Loss of condition Loss of condition Digestive problems Digestive problems

Ration Changes Change ration by switching 25% of old ration to new ration every two days Change ration by switching 25% of old ration to new ration every two days Move horses from hay to pasture gradually Move horses from hay to pasture gradually Start with 30 minutes of pasture grazing Start with 30 minutes of pasture grazing Steadily increase to length of time on pasture Steadily increase to length of time on pasture

Ration Changes For horses returning home from strenuous performance training, gradually decrease exercise & high-energy feed over period of two weeks For horses returning home from strenuous performance training, gradually decrease exercise & high-energy feed over period of two weeks Horses may get azoturia & tie up if they are brought down from exercise suddenly & fed the same amount Horses may get azoturia & tie up if they are brought down from exercise suddenly & fed the same amount

Ration Changes Azoturia - Condition affecting muscles Azoturia - Condition affecting muscles Ranging from stiffness to mild cramps to the horse being unable to stand Ranging from stiffness to mild cramps to the horse being unable to stand Caused by carbohydrate overloading & vitamin deficiency Caused by carbohydrate overloading & vitamin deficiency

Overweight and Appetite Obesity - common form of malnutrition Obesity - common form of malnutrition Being too kind & generous with feed scoop and/or not exercising a horse enough contributes to obesity Being too kind & generous with feed scoop and/or not exercising a horse enough contributes to obesity Weight monitored using weighing scale or weight tape Weight monitored using weighing scale or weight tape

Overweight and Appetite Estimating by sight is not accurate Estimating by sight is not accurate Weight tapes are within 5% of the actual weight Weight tapes are within 5% of the actual weight Not as expensive as weighing scales Not as expensive as weighing scales

Overweight and Appetite Place around barrel or girth of relaxed horse Place around barrel or girth of relaxed horse Tape should not be twisted & should be snug Tape should not be twisted & should be snug

Overweight and Appetite Tape accuracy dependent on: Tape accuracy dependent on: User User Breed Breed Age of horse Age of horse Not accurate on: Not accurate on: Miniature horses Miniature horses Foals Foals High withered horses High withered horses

Overweight and Appetite Body score condition is one way to make sure horses are “fat enough” but not too fat Body score condition is one way to make sure horses are “fat enough” but not too fat

Overweight and Appetite Thinness in horses cause by: Thinness in horses cause by: Poor quality feed Poor quality feed Inadequate feed Inadequate feed Internal parasites Internal parasites Poor teeth Poor teeth Milk production Milk production Pregnancy Pregnancy Excessive work Excessive work

Overweight and Appetite Dental problems lead to improper chewing & digestive problems Dental problems lead to improper chewing & digestive problems Teeth should be regularly checked for unusual wear, tear, & broken teeth Teeth should be regularly checked for unusual wear, tear, & broken teeth With good management, conditions may be corrected With good management, conditions may be corrected Problem must be diagnosed & corrected Problem must be diagnosed & corrected

Overweight and Appetite May develop a metabolic disorder May develop a metabolic disorder Any one of the abnormalities in normal body functions that is of a biochemical origin relating to metabolic functions of the body Any one of the abnormalities in normal body functions that is of a biochemical origin relating to metabolic functions of the body Many horse owners feed by volume Many horse owners feed by volume Should feed by weight Should feed by weight

Overweight and Appetite Scoop full of oats weighs much less than a scoop full of corn Scoop full of oats weighs much less than a scoop full of corn If gelding eats a scoop full of corn, he’ll get 2 to 3 times more energy than he will with a similar scoop of oats If gelding eats a scoop full of corn, he’ll get 2 to 3 times more energy than he will with a similar scoop of oats

Overweight and Appetite Make adjustments in weight so that horse does not get excess energy Make adjustments in weight so that horse does not get excess energy Would cause him to get fat or cause tying up Would cause him to get fat or cause tying up

Overweight and Appetite Recommended Daily Feed Intake by Horses (values are percentages of body weight) State of Horse ForageGrainTotal Mature (idle) Late Gestation (mare) Lactation (mare) Working (lt., med., hard) Growing (weanling) Growing (yearling)

Overweight and Appetite For example 1,000 pound mare that is lactating would get: 1,000 pound mare that is lactating would get: pounds of forage pounds of forage pounds of grain pounds of grain Total of pounds of feed Total of pounds of feed

Overweight and Appetite The following is a sample showing how to proportion quantities of hay & grain fed to horses according to weights & whether they are idle or performing light, medium, or heavy work The following is a sample showing how to proportion quantities of hay & grain fed to horses according to weights & whether they are idle or performing light, medium, or heavy work

Overweight and Appetite Recommended Proportions of Hay and Grain for a 1,100-lb Horse (values are in pounds) 1,100-pound horse HayGrain Idle200 Light Work (1-2 hrs/day) 1.55 Medium Work (3-5 hrs/day) 1413 Hard Work (5+ hrs/day) 1315

Overweight and Appetite Charts serve as general guides Charts serve as general guides Horse owners must Horse owners must Estimate how much feed to provide Estimate how much feed to provide To evaluate body condition To evaluate body condition To make necessary adjustments in feeding To make necessary adjustments in feeding

Other Factors Regularly examine horse manure to look for changes in: Regularly examine horse manure to look for changes in: Consistency Consistency Odor Odor Color Color Composition Composition May indicate a disorder May indicate a disorder

Other Factors When closely confined, may crave unnatural feeds When closely confined, may crave unnatural feeds If fed pelleted or cubed rations with no hay, they may decide to: If fed pelleted or cubed rations with no hay, they may decide to: Chew wood Chew wood Eat hair Eat hair Eat Dirt Eat Dirt

Other Factors Foals have more of a tendency to chew the tails of their mothers or eat manure than older horses Foals have more of a tendency to chew the tails of their mothers or eat manure than older horses Foals can easily get internal parasites from eating eggs found in manure Foals can easily get internal parasites from eating eggs found in manure

Other Factors Internal parasites: Internal parasites: Lower digestive efficiencies Lower digestive efficiencies Cause digestive disturbances Cause digestive disturbances Colic Colic Diarrhea Diarrhea External parasites need to be controlled External parasites need to be controlled Use a lot of energy to fight them off Use a lot of energy to fight them off

Summary Some horses digest & use nutrients better than others Some horses digest & use nutrients better than others Others do not get as much out of their feed Others do not get as much out of their feed Each must be looked at individually Each must be looked at individually May get too fat or too thin May get too fat or too thin

Summary Tend to congregate Tend to congregate Social animals Social animals If fed in groups, there are basic management techniques If fed in groups, there are basic management techniques Will eat feed from a variety of ways Will eat feed from a variety of ways

Summary In the pasture, horses naturally eat from the ground In the pasture, horses naturally eat from the ground In the stall, the feed may become contaminated with: In the stall, the feed may become contaminated with: Dirt Dirt Manure Manure Urine Urine

Summary Keep stalls, feed troughs, & water clean to prevent horse from developing digestive disorders Keep stalls, feed troughs, & water clean to prevent horse from developing digestive disorders Horses should be fed at the same time two to three times daily depending on amount of exercise or work Horses should be fed at the same time two to three times daily depending on amount of exercise or work

Summary Special considerations and observations should be made of: Special considerations and observations should be made of: Foals Foals Pregnant Pregnant Nursing Nursing Older horses Older horses Rations changed gradually Rations changed gradually Too abruptly will cause harm Too abruptly will cause harm

Summary Horse owners must: Horse owners must: Estimate how much feed to provide Estimate how much feed to provide Evaluate body condition Evaluate body condition Make necessary adjustments in their feeding to prevent malnutrition Make necessary adjustments in their feeding to prevent malnutrition

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reproduction or redistribution of all, or part, of this presentation without written permission is prohibited. Instructional Materials Service Texas A&M University 2588 TAMUS College Station, Texas