1. Equine Nutrition Keith Vandervelde
Marquette County Livestock Specialist

2. Central Agricultural Specialization Wisconsin Portage Wood Waushara
Green Lake
Marquette
Adams
Juneau
Wood
Portage
Central
Agricultural
Specialization
Wisconsin

3. Do you know the nutrient requirements of your horse?
Stage of Production
Maintanance
Work
Lactation
Pregnancy
Early growth
Mature Size
Activity Level

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12. NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS
Maintenance
Work
Lactation
Pregnancy
Early growth
Based on 1100 lb. horse

13. Maintenance Requirements
Mcal/day
16.4
Protein/day
1.4 pounds

14. WORKING REQUIREMENTS
Mcal/day
28-30
Protein/day
2.8 lbs.

15. NURSING REQUIREMENTS
Mcal/day 28
Protein/day
12.5 %
3 lbs.

16. Pregnancy Requirements
Mcal/day
18.4 last 3 months
1 lb./day fetal growth
Protein/day
1.5 lbs. first 8 months
2 lbs.. Last 3 months

17. Growing Horse Requirements
Mcal/day
Yearling-19
2 yr. old-22
Protein/day
Yearling-14 %
2 yr. old 10 %

18. MEETING THE NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS
Maintenance
Work
Lactation
Pregnancy
Early growth

19. Maintenance Requirements
Mcal/day
16.4
Protein/day
1.4 pounds
Alfalfa hay = 18 lbs. Or
Orchard grass = 20 lbs.
Suggested Ration:

20. WORKING REQUIREMENTS Mcal/day Protein/day Suggested Ration: 28-30
2.8 lbs.
Suggested Ration:
Alfalfa = 20 lbs.
Oats= 8.5 lbs.

21. NURSING REQUIREMENTS Mcal/day Protein/day Suggested Ration: 28 12.5 %
3 lbs.
Suggested Ration:
Alfalfa= 20 lbs
Oats= 8 lbs

22. Pregnancy Requirements
Mcal/day
18.4 last 3 months
1 lb./day fetal growth
Protein/day
1.5 lbs. first 8 months
2 lbs.. Last 3 months
Suggested Ration:
Alfalfa= 21 lbs

23. Growing Horse Requirements
Mcal/day
Yearling-19
2 yr. old-22
Protein/day
Yearling-14 %
2 yr. old 10 %
Suggested Ration:
Alfalfa= 21 lbs

24. COMMON FEEDSTUFF Alfalfa 90 .94 18 Brome 89 .80 11 Orchard 88 .85 11
% DM Mcal/# % Protein
Alfalfa
Brome
Orchard
Straw
Oats
Corn

25. Balancing a Ration worksheet meeting requirements Needs:
Balancing a Ration worksheet meeting requirements Needs: MC Protein Maintenance lbs Brome Hay Values (feed 22 lbs) Mc lbs Excess Mc lbs

26. Balancing a Ration worksheet meeting requirements Needs:
Balancing a Ration worksheet meeting requirements Needs: MC Protein Working Horse Brome Hay (feed 15 lbs) Mc lbs NEEDED Mc lbs

27. Balancing A Ration Grain Mix(50% corn x 50% Oat). Needs 16Mc 1
Balancing A Ration Grain Mix(50% corn x 50% Oat) Needs Mc lbs Ration /lb % Amount= 16/1.4=11.4 lbs x10.5=1.2 Balancing Short .4 Need .4 lbs protein Source 1 lb of Soybean meal Increase amounts fed by 10% of DM

28. 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

29. VITAMINS Vitamin A--from green grass and green hay
Vitamin D--from forage
Vitamin E--from forage
Vitamin K--from forage
Trace Mineral Salt should be fed free choice
Loose Salt Preferred to insure consumption

31. Thank you for attending…
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
Keith Vander Velde
UW-Extension, Marquette Co.
PO Box 338, Underwood Ave.
Montello, Wi 53949