1. Large Animal Theory I
Equine Nutrition

2. Equine Nutrition – Anatomy Review
Remember, while horses eat similar foodstuffs as ruminants, they are monogastric
“Hindgut Fermenters”
Fermentation takes place in the cecum, not the stomach.
Besides having a large cecum, their digestive system is similar to ours only larger

3. Equine Nutrition – Anatomy Review

4. Equine Nutrition
Compared to the rest of the horse's digestive tract, the stomach is quite small.
The stomach can't handle a lot of food at once, but if they don't eat enough, gas can build up and cause colic
Therefore horses need to eat several meals throughout the day to maintain digestive health

5. Equine Nutrition - Colic
Colic is not a disease but a general term indicating abdominal pain
Not solely a result a issues with the GI tract – other diseases can lead to colic as well
In relation to nutrition, these are the most important factors in colic prevention:
Frequency
Quantity
Quality of feed

6. Colic Cont’d Check foodstuffs for mold, dust, or signs of spoilage
Check feed, stalls, and pastures for foreign objects that may be ingested and remove them
Avoid grazing in sandy areas – can cause “sand colic”
Buildup of sand in the intestinal tract
There can be as much as 150 pounds of sand lying in the bottom of the horse's belly.
Blockages or ischemia can occur
Intestinal rupture = death

7. Colic Cont’d
If horses are fed an imbalanced diet that can also lead to colic
Too much concentrates (grain)
Too many minerals (improper supplements)
Too much alfalfa (greater than 50%)
Too much alfalfa can also lead to enteroliths
Built up mineralization in digestive tract
Can be passed in feces
May get too large and need to be surgically
removed

8. Enterolith

9. Signs of Colic Pawing the ground the ground with its front feet
Restless, lie down and roll frequently and look or bite at its abdomen.
More severe colic: will roll and may lie on its back to relieve intestinal pressure.
Very severe colic: will throw themselves to the ground and roll violently.
These horses can be dangerous to work with until properly sedated.
Lack of gut sounds or very increased gut sounds

10. Equine Nutrition
Most digestion and absorption takes place in the stomach and small intestines.
Some absorption takes place in the cecum and colon.
Microbial digestion occurs in the cecum.
Vitamin B complex and volatile fatty acids are produced here.
Energy is provided by the breakdown of starch and other soluble carbohydrates.

11. Equine Nutrition Horses normally eat grass and other range forage.
Feeding cost is the greatest single cost in keeping a horse.
The main difference between feeding horses and livestock is the multiple uses of the horse.

12. Equine Nutrition
Meeting nutritional needs of horses is a major factor in determining their efficiency and years of service.
Horses can typically be placed into one of the following groups when utilizing a feeding plan:
1. Maintenance
2. Growth
3. Reproduction
4. Production

13. Equine Nutrition Production can be further broken down to: Gestation
Lactation
Foals
Maintenance of adults

14. Equine Nutrition Broodmare
Typically the first 7 months of pregnancy do not significantly change nutritional requirements (typically the same as maintenance).
From the 8th month to parturition the energy requirements increase 20 – 50%.
Protein requirements increase 20 – 25% from the 8th month on.

15. Equine Nutrition Broodmare cont’d
The calcium, phosphorus, vitamins A & D, and riboflavin levels need to be adjusted for gestation and lactation.
Lactating mares need 50% or higher increase in energy requirements.
The average mare produces 20 – 25# of milk daily for the first 2 – 3 months. Milk starts to wane at this point until the foal is weaned (usually around 6 months).

16. Equine Nutrition Foals
Foals receive almost all of the nutrients they need from their mother for the 1st six months of life.
Should begin creep feeding around 3 months of age, however most foals will begin nibbling on grain and hay by 3 weeks of age.
Generally 1# of creep feed/ month of age/ day not to exceed 6# daily.

17. Equine Nutrition Weanling
After weaning a good starting point is 1 – 1.5# of grain/ 100# of live weight and 1.5 – 2# of hay/ 100# of live weight.

18. Equine Nutrition Maintenance
Healthy adult horse’s need good quality grass or legume hay
Free choice water
Phosphorus
Trace mineral salt
The energy requirements of an adult horse is related to the intensity of work performed.

19. Equine Nutrition Maintenance cont’d
Energy requirements can be made based on either observation (BCS and maintaining BCS) or calculation.
Protein requirements for work are minimal and an increased work load does not increase protein requirements (typically).
Need calcium and phosphorus in diet.

20. Equine Nutrition
Hospitalized horses are at risk to developing protein-calorie deficits, hypermetabolic stress, or catabolic wasting.
GI patients may present one of the biggest challenges.
These patients need increased protein, calories, and micronutrients, but also have decreased GI motility.

21. Equine Nutrition
Good quality legume hay typically contains around 14-18% crude protein.
High quality grass hay typically contains 7-12% crude protein.
Cereal grains typically contain 8-12% crude protein.
Ideally the calcium/ phosphorus ratio should be around :1 ratio.

22. Equine Nutrition Salt should be provided free choice.
Copper, zinc, and selenium are needed in very small quantities.
The most common vitamins added are A,D, and E.
Vitamin A can naturally be found in green forages and properly cured hay.
Vitamin D aids in the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus.

23. Equine Nutrition
Vitamin D can be found in sun cured hay and cod liver oil.
Vitamin E can be found in sufficient quantities in the horse’s normal diet.