1. The Cost of Nutrition Exploring Options for Breeders Catherine Rudenko BSc Equine Science Connolly’s RED MILLS

2. The facts.. Breeding is an area in which nutrition has a key role Creating a balanced diet is essential for correct development and soundness

3. Cost : Performance What can be done to minimise cost without compromising performance ?

4. Topics for today Feeding accurately by stage of development - focus on the mare Understanding key elements of a diet Complete feeds vs balancers + straights

5. Accurate feeding Stages of pregnancy 0-6 months, 7 & 8 months, 9-11 months

6. The balancing act The essential elements to the diet which are not naturally provided in most forage or grains are Vitamins and Minerals

7. Vit / Min roles... Vitamin A Important for fertility For Osteoclast function ( bone making cells ) Lack of Vit A causes growth retardation in first 12 months

8. Vit / Min roles... Zinc Part of the enzyme which helps calcify (harden) cartilage in joints

9. Vit / Min roles... Manganese Part of chondroitin 4 sulphate and chondroitin 6 sulphate Chondroitin is a major component of cartilage

10. Vit / Min roles... Iodine Involved in thyroid function and production of T4 (thyroxine) T4 regulates metabolic growth rates

11. Vit / Min roles... Copper Needed for lysol-oxidase function The enzyme that provides ‘cross-links’ in bone structure

12. 0-6 months (500kg mare) MAINTENANCE DE : 63 mj Protein : 540 g Calcium : 20 g Phosphorus : 14 g Copper : 100 mg Vitamin A : 15000 iu Vitamin D : 3300 iu Vitamin E : 500 iu 6 MONTHS PREGNANCY DE : 72 MJ Protein : 704 g Calcium : 20 g Phosphorus : 14g Copper : 100 mg Vitamin A : 30000 iu Vitamin D :3300 iu Vitamin E : 800 iu

13. DE and Protein DE increases by 9 MJ 1kg stud cubes provides 11.5 MJ Protein increases by 164 g 1.2 kg stud cubes provides 168 g protein Natural changes in pasture sugar (MJ) and protein levels will also meet the gap from resting to early pregnancy

14. Vits and Mins Not fully catered for by pasture or forages ! Vitamin E is found in high levels of fresh pasture ( 25-90 iu/kg DM), this decreases when drying

15. Vitamin E Horse on pasture will consume approx 8kg DM, providing up to 720 iu Vitamin E Requirement after pasture : 80 iu Ikg stud cubes provides 100 iu

16. Vitamin D, A & Copper VD 3300 iu required 1.75 kg stud cubes provides 3500 VA 30000 iu required 2 kg stud cubes provides 30000 Cu 100 mg required 2.5 kg stud cubes provides 100 mg

17. Calcium & Phosphorus Ca 20 g required 2 kg stud cubes provides 20 g Phosphorus 14 g required 2.4 kg stud cubes provides 14.4 g

18. Cost of this diet ? 2.5 kg stud cubes costs €1.10

19. Alternatives ? Balancers + forage Balancers + straight Balancers are more flexible and often more economic

20. Balancers Balancers ensure you have covered all the essentials of vitamins, minerals, amino acids They do not contribute as much in the way of MJ ( calories ) or protein

21. Balancers For meeting the MJ requirements you are then reliant on your pasture or straights

22. Gro-Care Balancer VD 3300 iu required 330 g Gro-C provides 3300 iu VA 30000 iu required 500 g Gro-C provides 30000 Cu 100 mg required 600 g Gro-C provides 108 mg Text

23. Gro-Care Balancer Ca 20 g required 600 g Gro-C provides 19.2 g Phosphorus 14 g required 600 g Gro-C provides 9.6 g* * phosphorus gap is met by pasture

24. Gro-Care Balancer Vit E req 800 iu 550 grams provides 825 iu

25. Cost of this diet ? 600 grams Gro Care costs €0.61

26. Balancers vs Cubes If your pasture quality is high and the mare will hold body condition then balancers are a more economic option and all essentials are met

27. Another benefit Gro-Care fed at 600 g provides 825 iu of Vit E So ensuring full Vit E levels are met even if pasture is poorer of if relying on dried forages

28. Cubes benefits Provide all essentials plus proteins and calories For mares covered in February until spring grazing is available cubes are a better option

29. Savings ? Stud Cubes €1.10 per day Gro-Care €0.61 per day Over a 6 month period Stud Cubes costs € 198 vs Gro-Care cost of € 109

30. 6 months + At 7 and 8 months requirements increase slightly from the 6th month

31. 6 MONTHS PREGNANCY DE : 72 MJ Protein : 704 g Calcium : 20 g Phosphorus : 14 g Copper : 100 mg Vitamin A : 30000 iu Vitamin D :3300 iu Vitamin E : 800 iu 7-8 months 8 MONTHS PREGNANCY DE : 77 mj Protein : 759 g Calcium : 28 g Phosphorus : 20 g Copper : 100 mg Vitamin A : 30000 iu Vitamin D : 3300 iu Vitamin E : 800 iu

32. 7-8 months At this stage the only increases are in protein, energy, calcium and phosphorus Increasing stud cubes to 3.3 kg meets the gap Increasing gro-care to 900 g meets the gap

33. Pasture At 7-8 months the pasture quality will be lowering so additional calories may be needed if using a balancer

34. Straights for energy 3.3 kg stud cubes provides 37.9 mj 900 g gro-care provides 10 mj To make diets ‘equal’ in energy a further 27 mj would be needed

35. Energy values per kg Oats whole 10 mj Flaked oats 11 mj Barley flaked 13 mj Wheat flaked 14 mj Beet pulp 10 mj - as fed 2.5 mj

36. Cost of diets 3.3 kg stud cubes costs € 1.45 900 g gro-care costs € 0.92 2 month period costs, stud cubes €87.00, gro-care €55.20

37. 9-11 months 8 MONTHS PREGNANCY DE : 77 mj Protein : 759 g Calcium : 28 g Phosphorus : 20 g Copper : 100 mg Vitamin A : 30000 iu Vitamin D : 3300 iu Vitamin E : 800 iu 11 MONTHS PREGNANCY DE : 89 mj Protein : 893 g Calcium : 36 g Phosphorus : 26.3 g Copper : 125 mg Vitamin A : 30000 iu Vitamin D : 3300 iu Vitamin E : 800 iu

38. 9-11 months This period is the most significant increase as the fetus builds body mass and finishing touches to digestive, respiratory and nervous systems take place Increased rate of nutrient transfer across the placenta 16,000 ml/min to 32,000 ml/min

39. 9-11 months Increasing stud cubes to 4.5 kg meets the gap Increasing gro-care to 1.5 kg meets the gap*

40. Cost of diets 4.5 kg stud cubes costs € 1.98 1.5 kg gro-care balancer costs € 1.53 * Over 3 month period stud cubes €178.20, gro-care €137.70

41. *note - this is using the balancer to meet protein gap, if straights are fed then the balancer can be left at 900g Cost of €0.92 per day, or €82.80 for the 3 months vs stud cubes at €178.20

42. Balancers are good for vit/min intake but are expensive when used as the sole protein source. Use quality forages / straights to provide protein at this time of year.

43. Balancers 9-11 months At this time of year (Nov,Dec,Jan) cold weather will increase energy requirements and balancers will need to be fed with straight to increase calorie intake Amounts required will also depend on forage quality and intake

44. Intake In the last 4-5 weeks the mares digestive capacity will naturally decrease by up to 20% Ensure meals are small especially evening feeds as this helps reduce likelihood of colics after foaling Supplement with a balancer if needed

45. Quality of Forage If your forage quality is lower and your mare is eating less than 6 kg stud cubes a day it is advisable to add in 200 grams of balancer to boost vitamin E intake

46. Quality of grains If feeding straights feed good clean grains Beware of rolled grains sprouting or moulding Cooked grains eg flaked offer better digestion and increased nutrient uptake so can be fed in lower volumes than whole or rolled grains

47. Maximising digestion Feed forage first - better for stomach health and slows rate of passage, allowing more nutrient uptake Feed several small meals to avoid overloading the system and causing bacterial imbalances of the hind-gut Do not suddenly change the diet

48. Summary Ensure diet is balanced for vits / mins Make the most of your pasture Quality forage will reduce costs Only use good clean straights Do the maths ! Cost your straights + balancers vs complete diets

49. Questions ? Catherine Rudenko E : crudenko@redmills.iecrudenko@redmills.ie T : 059 9775800