Horse Nutrition

Horses should have access to clean, fresh water at all times. A mature horse drinks on average 5-10 gallons a day. This will vary with the activity and temperature of the environment. For example: Summer-more Winter-less

Important note: Hot, exhausted horses should wait 30 minutes before drinking water after heavy exercise. They are however, allowed to consume hay during this cooling down period.

Nutrient requirements vary for your horse? Stage of Production Maintenance Work Lactation Pregnancy Early growth Age Mature Size Activity Level

Equine Digestive System Mouth to anus = 100ft stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon rectum hindgut foregut esophagus

Equine Digestive System Mouth, esophagus, stomach = 3-4 feet Stomach Capacity = 8-15 quarts stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon rectum hindgut foregut esophagus

Equine Digestive System Small intestine = 70 feet long Small intestine capacity = 48 quarts stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon rectum hindgut foregut esophagus

Equine Digestive System Large intestine = 20 feet long Large intestine capacity = 130 quarts stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon rectum hindgut foregut esophagus

Equine Digestive System Mouth breaks down food Wets feed with saliva--3 gallons per day stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon rectum hindgut foregut esophagus

Equine Digestive System Stomach has 10% of the digestive system capacity Therefore horses are constant grazers stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon rectum hindgut foregut esophagus

Equine Digestive System In the small intestine we: break down carbohydrates to glucose, proteins to amino acids, fats to free fatty acids, and add bicarbonate. stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon rectum hindgut foregut esophagus

DIGESTION Total process = 65 hours 15 minutes in the stomach 1 hour in small intestine 63 hours in large intestine

Adjusted feeding based on an activity level. Maintenance feed levels can be based per 100 lb of weight (1%). Supplemental feeding over maintenance should be based on the level and duration of work. CTVT p.367

Page 366 CTVT

COMMON FEEDSTUFF Alfalfa % DMMcal/# % Protein Brome Orchard Straw Oats Corn

VITAMINS Vitamin A--from green grass and green hay Vitamin D--from forage Vitamin E--from forage Vitamin K--from forage SALT should be fed free choice

MINERALS Calcium--major source from roughage Phosphorus--major source from grains We want the calcium to phosphorus ratio at 1.5 May consider for the area supplementing with Selenium

Salt Blocks contain trace-mineralized salts (microminerals) needed as supplements, when they are not available in the horses diet.

Chopped hay Pulp Flaked corn Pellets Crimped oats/Sugar beets/Micronized flaked barley/Sweet feed Bran

Square Bale of Hay Avg. weight: 60 lbs Round bale of hay Avg. wt: tons

This is called a flake of hay. A flake can weigh from 1.5 – 5 lbs.

Dry Matter Intake Most maintenance horses (this means pasture raised horses, not working horses) can be fed with hay: 1.5 to 1.8 lbs hay/100lbs (BW/Day) Work increases the need for water, electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium) and energy.

Oats

Corn (cracked or crushed)

Wheat

Sweet Feed

Pelleted Feed

The Hays Make sure you check the quality

Quality Forage quality varies greatly by soil quality, species of grass, season of the year, rainfall, overgrazing, pasture rotation, weed control and the presence of toxic weeds Laboratory analysis of forage for moisture, energy, protein, fiber and microminerals and micronutrients is fundamental in assessing roughage nutrient control Hay analysis is performed at little or not cost by regional agriculture extension services

Coastal Bermuda Hay Bales

Sudan Grass Hay

Johnson Grass Hay

Prairie Hay

CTVT p.367

The End!