Equine Nutrition & Feeding

Equine Science & Technology

Equine Nutrition

Carbohydrates- organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Include the sugars, starch, cellulose, gums, and related substances.

Account for three-fourths of all dry matter in plants.

Used as a source of heat and energy.

Equine Nutrition

CarbohydratesExcess is stored in the body as fat and

glycogen (animal starch).Carbohydrates consist of nitrogen-free

extract (NFE) and crude fiber.

Equine Nutrition

Lipids, Fats, & Oils

Lipids- a fat or fat like substance.Contain three elements: carbon,

hydrogen, and oxygen.Serve as a source of heat and energy and

the formation of fat.A high fat diet will increase the

reproduction and lactation performance of broodmares.

Equine Nutrition

Proteins- complex organic compounds made chiefly of amino acids.

Soybean meal is often used as a protein supplement.

Amino acids- structural unitsAlways contains carbon, hydrogen,

oxygen, nitrogen, and in addition, usually sulfur and frequently phosphorous.

Equine Nutrition

ProteinsPrimarily found in the structural and

protective tissues such as bones, ligaments, hair, hooves, skin, and soft tissues that include the organs and muscles.

Horses of all ages require protein for maintenance, growth, conditioning, reproduction, lactation and work.

Equine NutritionMinerals- a naturally occurring, inorganic

substance that is an essential nutrient.Furnish structural material for the growth

of bones, teeth, and tissues.Minerals can be divided into two groups:

Major or macro minerals, and Trace or micro minerals.

Inadequate supplies may result in poor gain, lack of thrift, inefficient feed utilization and decreased performance.

Equine Nutrition

Major Minerals

Calcium and PhosphorusHorses are more likely to suffer from lack

of calcium and phosphorus than any other mineral.

These minerals account for three-fourths of the ash of the skeleton and from one-third to one-half of the minerals of milk.

Equine Nutrition

MagnesiumA deficiency in magnesium results in

hyperirritability, trembling and convulsions.

PotassiumSignificant amounts of potassium are lost

during heavy sweating.

Equine NutritionSalt Necessary in maintaining the osmotic pressure

of body cells and the removal of waste materials.

Sulfur Not an essential dietary constituent of the horse

Equine Nutrition

Trace MineralsCobaltCobalt is required by cecal and colonic

bacteria for the synthesis of vitamin B12 in the intestinal tract of the horse.

CopperCopper is closely associated with normal

bone development in young growing animals.

Equine Nutrition

IodineThe thyroid glands, mammary gland, and

placenta all use iodine from the blood for hormones, milk, and the fetus.

IronMainly used in the body for oxygen

transport as a component of hemoglobin.

Equine Nutrition

Manganese Required by the body for the formation of

cartilage.

Selenium Closely involved with Vitamin E in protecting

the body from oxidative damage.

Equine Nutrition

Zinc Involved in many enzymes throughout the

body.

Equine Nutrition

Vitamins Organic compounds that are required by

the horse in small amounts.Vitamins are involved in a variety of

bodily functions.The lack of vitamins in a horse ration may

lead to failure in growth or reproduction, poor health, and even deficiency diseases.

Can be classified into two groups: Fat soluble, and Water soluble.

Equine Nutrition

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin AMust be provided in the feed either as

vitamin A or as carotene.

Vitamin DHelps regulate plasma, calcium

concentrations.

Equine Nutrition

Vitamin EProtects the cells of the body from

damage, and prevents neurological damage.

Vitamin K Important for the activation of many of the

clotting factors.

Equine Nutrition

Water-Soluble Vitamins

CholineA metabolic essential for building and

maintaining cell structure and for transmitting of nerve impulses.

Equine Nutrition

Folacin (Folic Acid) Involved in protein formation and in red

blood cell synthesis.

Niacin (Nicotinic Acid) Important for the metabolism of

carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids.

Equine Nutrition

Riboflavin Important for energy production and

oxygen utilization.

ThiaminSynthesized in the lower gut of the horse

by bacterial action.

Equine Nutrition

Vitamin B6

Involved in amino acid metabolism, glycogen utilization, and lipid metabolism.

Vitamin CPrevents damage to the lipids, proteins,

and cell membranes.

Equine Nutrition

WaterOne of the most vital of all nutrients.Water makes up to 75% of the body

weight of an adult horse.Essential for the production of saliva.Necessary to the life and shape of every

cell.

Equine Nutrition

WaterAssist with temperature regulations in the

body.Necessary for many chemical reactions of

digestion and metabolism.

Equine Nutrition

GrassesGenerally, 60% of the horses day should be

spent grazing.Grasses are often referred to as either cool-

season or warm-season grasses.Cool-Season GrassesGrow best at temperatures of 60 to 80

degrees Fahrenheit and are normally seen in the spring and fall.

Equine Nutrition

Cool-Season Grasses Common cool-season grasses include: Tall

fescue, Orchardgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Timothy, Tall wheatgrass, and Ryegrass.

Kentucky bluegrassOrchardgrassTimothy

Equine Nutrition

Warm-Season GrassesGrow best at temperatures of 80 to 90

degrees Fahrenheit and are seen in the summer and early fall.

Common warm-season grasses include: Bermudagrass, Big bluestem, and Switchgrass.

BermudagrassSwitchgrass

Equine Nutrition

LegumesPlants that have nodules on their roots

enabling them to make their own nitrogen. The leading legumes are alfalfa, trefoil,

sweet clover, white clover and red clover. Legumes are more aggressive during

establishment than most grasses. Legumes produce more foliage in the

summer months than the cool-season grasses.

Equine NutritionTypes of Hay

Alfalfa

An important perennial with trifoliate leaves and bluish-purple flowers.

Capable of surviving dry periods because of its extraordinarily long root system.

Adapts to widely varying conditions of climate and soil.

Yields highest tonnage per acre.

Equine Nutrition

CloverMany different types of cloverRed clover can give high yieldsSweet clover and white clover are low

yielding.

Equine NutritionGrass Hay

Bermudagrass Produced heavily in the southern United States. May provide three or more cuttings per year.

Equine Nutrition

OatEasy to cureEarly cutting increases feeding value.

Equine Nutrition

TimothyPreferred hay of most horse owners.Easy to harvest and cure.Low in crude protein and minerals.

Equine Nutrition

SilageA highly nutritious forage for horses

during winter months.Corn silage and grass-legume silage

most common.

Equine Nutrition

Concentrates

BarleyCan tolerate a short and dry growing

season.Leading horse grain in the western United

States.

CornPalatable, nutritious and rich in energy.Provides twice the energy as oats.

Equine Nutrition

Dried Brewer’s GrainsA byproduct of beer production.Lower in energy and higher in protein.

MolassesA byproduct of sugar factories.Two types: sugar cane and beet

molasses.

Equine Nutrition

OatsThe leading U.S. horse feed.Are very palatable.

WheatUsed when price is favorable.Should be limited to 20% of the

concentrate and fed with bulkier feeds. (May cause colic).

Equine Nutrition

Nutritional Disorders

Epiphysitis- an inflammation of the growth plate of the long bones.

Primarily found at the lower end of the radius above the knee.

Caused by mineral deficiencies.Results in a firm and painful swelling.

Equine Nutrition

Calcium DeficiencyDeficiency in young horses characterized

by poorly formed, soft bones which may bend or bow.

Older animals will have porous, fragile bones.

Equine NutritionSalt Deficiency Decreased appetite may occur over a long

period of time. Rough coat, reduced growth. Lowered milk production.

Equine NutritionVitamin A Deficiency Severe deficiency may cause night blindness

(impaired adaptation to darkness). Poor or uneven hoof development. Convulsive seizures.

Equine NutritionVitamin D Deficiency Rickets- a bone disease causing crooked legs

and enlarged joints. Lameness Increased risk of fractures.

Equine NutritionVitamin E Deficiency Lower conception rates. Early embryonic death. Birth of offspring with muscle degeneration.

Equine NutritionBalancing a Ration Calories are used to express the energy value

of feed.

Pearson Square Method- used to set up an equation around a square to determine the amounts of two feed sources needed for a ration.

Equine Nutrition1. Place the percent protein desired in the ration in

the center of the square.

2. Place the percent protein of one supplement outside the square in the upper left hand corner and the percent protein of the other supplement outside the square at the lower corner

% Protein wanted =18

% Protein in grain = 10

% Protein in soybean meal = 50

Equine Nutrition3. Subtract diagonally across the square.

(subtract without regard to signs.)

4. Add the cross totals

5. Divide by the total (32+8 =40) to determine percentages.

% Protein wanted =18

% Protein in grain = 10

% Protein in soybean meal =50

50 -18 = 32

18 – 10 = 8

32 + 8 = 40

Equine Nutrition

32/40 = 0.8 x 100 = 80% oats

8/40 = 0.2 x 100 = 20% soybean meal

Thus, in making 100 lbs of an 18% protein ration, 80 lbs would be oats and 20 lbs would be soybean meal.