Equine Nutrition Management

Feeding Horses- mgmt Strats Horses are designed to eat small meals frequently throughout the day Feed stalled/confined horses with no or little roughages at least 2x per day; 3 is better. Continual access to hay is ideal Feed at the same time each day Feed horses on an individual basis Feed based on body weight! (BCS) Determine the horses nutritional need based on age, work, environment, etc

Mgmt and Strats Feed more roughages than concentrates At least 1% BW per day. Feed horses concentrates (grain) only if needed growing, hard working or lactating horses Change diets gradually: over at least 4-5 days Gastrointestinal system is very sensitive

MGMT & Strats Design the feeding area for maximum efficiency for you and the horse Put water and feed troughs in an easily accessible area Depending on type of hay, use feeders that reduce waste Realize that when feeding in groups horses have a hierarchy Horses on the bottom of the social order will not get as much food But some feeders farther from the herd so that they have a chance to eat Use devices to slow aggressive horses eating to allow others a chance to eat (flap feeder)

MGMT & Strats Provide minerals (block or loose) Watch for horses refusing to eat= health problem!!!!

What factors influence how much a horse should eat? Age Young Mature Senior Work load Maintenance (no work- pasture ornament) Light Work Moderate Work Heavy work Reproductive status Pregnant mare Lactating mare Stallion in season *Environmental conditions

How to determine how much to feed Determine the activity- Make A Plan! Determine the horse’s Body Condition Score Determine the horse’s fitness level Determine if there is a need for an increase in feed needed for the activity level Increase workload and feed gradually It takes about 6 wks or more to go from an unfit state to a fit and functional state

Feeding for Age Young horses (Growing) need the most nutrients of all ages Mature horses- nutrient requirements vary greatly depending on use, health Geriatric or Senior horses- nutrient requirements are very different As the body ages, it has a reduced ability to digest fiber and is more sensitive to changes

The Growing Horse Nutrient balance is important Goals Maximize genetic potential for growth Sound musculoskeletal system Nutrient balance is important Requires higher quality feeds Growth rate & age determines requirements Growing until 30 months

Percent of Mature Body Weight vs... Months of Age % Percent of Mature Height vs.. Months of Age Months of Age Months of Age

Weanlings Minimize stress Minimize post-weanling slump. 1.5-2.5 lbs grain/100 lbs body wt 0.75-1.0 lb hay/100 lb body wt Ca > P Monitor feed & water intake

As foals get older, the ration should be increased by adding more good quality hay, leaving the grain mix relatively constant.

Feeding Yearlings Sales/show Turnout Forage Concentrate Forage High quality .75-1.0 lb/100 lb body wt. Concentrate Formulated for growth 1.0-2.0 lb/100 lb body wt. Turnout Forage High to moderate quality 2-2.5 lbs./100 lbs. body wt. Forage balancer

Monitoring The Growth Process Daily Intakes Body Weight Average daily gain Signs of Skeletal Abnormalities Physitis Joint effusion Lameness

GERIATRIC HORSES Fiber digestion decreases Ability to manufacture or absorb certain vitamins decrease B vitamins Vitamin C Decreased kidney function Calcium stones may build up Decreased liver function Jaundice, weight loss, lethargy, loss of appetite, intolerance for fat and protein in diet B vitamins and Vit C are generally produced by the microbes in the hind gut. In aged horses they have shown a decreased ability to manufacture these vitamins.

Maintenance Size: body weight Environment Individual digestive & metabolic efficiency Dry matter intake: 1.5% of the BW Most - energy requirements are met with forage alone

THE GERIATRIC HORSE Confinement? No! Turnout with a friend. Weight loss reasons: Poor dentition Reduction in digestion - parasites, microbial constituents, B Vits Selection of Feed Highly palatable Easy to chew & swallow Clean & dust free Highly digestible pellets or extruded feeds Contain enough high quality fiber to aid digestion. High quality hay – no alfalfa. Chopped hay, hay cubes or pellets Soaked feeds or mashes

Feeding The Athlete

Levels of Performance/Work Light - western and English pleasure, trail riding, equitation, hacking Moderate - dressage, ranch work, roping, cutting, barrel racing, jumping Intense - race training, polo, cutting,

General Guidelines For Feeding Working Horses Hay requirement Feed at least 50% of total ration as forage (pasture &/or hay) Preferably high quality grass hay or alfalfa/grass mix Exercising horses do not need high levels of protein More important – quality of protein Horses should be fed to meet their immediate needs I.e. cut grain on rest days If stalled, overfeeding can  stocking up or colic

FAT SUPPLEMENTATION Why Use It For Performance Horses? Energy from fat is 90% utilizable Fat ↓ heat of fermentation Fat  glycogen storage prior to race Fat ↓ buildup of lactic acid during intense exercise Fat ↓ fatigue

Sources of Fat Natural horse diets contain < 3-4% fat “High Fat” sweet feeds contain 6-10% fat Fat Supplements Vegetable Oil (most common 99% fat) Rice Bran (very palatable 20% fat) Animal tallow (not palatable)

Fat Guidelines No gall bladder Max ~20% in total diet 1100 lb horse can digest 17.5 oz of fat (Just over 2 cups) If adding fat to existing diet, need to rebalance other nutrients (i.e. vitamin E (200 IU/cup of added oil) Add 6-10 weeks before performance.

Nutrition of The Broodmare Lactation 0-3 months 4+ months Months 0-8 Months 9-11 Gestation

Gestation: Nutritional Concerns Provision of nutrients for: Fetal growth & development Other products of conception Last 3 month of gestation: 60 % foals’ weight Mare needs to gain 0.3 – 0.8 lb/d

Average daily milk production in mares

Feed Consumption (% BW) Mare status Forage Concentrate Total Early pregnancy 1.5-2.0 0-0.5 Late pregnancy 1.0-1.5 0.5-1.0 Early lactation 1.0-2.0 2.0-3.0 Late lactation 0.5-1.5 2.0-2.5 Adding concentrate to late pregnancy mares accounts for limited energy & acclimates microbes Allow 1 wk to 10 d for mares to adjust to intake changes Heavy milkers may require as much as 1.75-2.0% of BW in concentrate feed/day

Nutrition of the Breeding Stallion Non-breeding Forage + vitamin/mineral supplement Breeding 0.5% concentrate 1.75-2% hay Primary Concern Maintenance of Body Condition

Body Condition Score Maximum Reproductive Efficiency Moderately fleshy to fat mares can be expected to Cycle earlier in the year Have fewer cycles per conception Have a higher pregnancy rate Maintain pregnancy more easily Mare prior to breeding should have a BCS of 6 or greater and fed to maintain weight. BCS of 5.0 is marginal especially for lactating mare.