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Questions and Answers
What percentage of their time do horses typically spend foraging?
What percentage of their time do horses typically spend foraging?
- 60-70% (correct)
- 20-30%
- 80-90%
- 40-50%
What are common stereotypes observed in domesticated horses?
What are common stereotypes observed in domesticated horses?
- Enhanced grazing and foraging skills
- Cribbing, wood chewing (correct)
- Reduced exploratory behavior and curiosity
- Increased social interaction and playfulness
What is the approximate carbohydrate content of natural feeds consumed by horses?
What is the approximate carbohydrate content of natural feeds consumed by horses?
- 20%
- 60%
- 40%
- 80% (correct)
In equine digestion, where does the primary fermentation of feeds occur?
In equine digestion, where does the primary fermentation of feeds occur?
What happens to the surface area as particle size decreases during the physical breakdown of forage in the horse's oral cavity?
What happens to the surface area as particle size decreases during the physical breakdown of forage in the horse's oral cavity?
What function does saliva serve during chewing, besides lubrication?
What function does saliva serve during chewing, besides lubrication?
How much of the total gastrointestinal tract volume does the stomach represent in horses?
How much of the total gastrointestinal tract volume does the stomach represent in horses?
What type of secretions are produced in the pyloric region of the stomach?
What type of secretions are produced in the pyloric region of the stomach?
Which of the following enzymes are secreted by the pancreas to aid in digestion in the small intestine?
Which of the following enzymes are secreted by the pancreas to aid in digestion in the small intestine?
What is the typical retention time in the large intestine?
What is the typical retention time in the large intestine?
What percentage of energy needs can be met through VFA (volatile fatty acids) production in horses on a high-forage diet?
What percentage of energy needs can be met through VFA (volatile fatty acids) production in horses on a high-forage diet?
Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the primary considerations in ration design for horses?
Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the primary considerations in ration design for horses?
What factors influence a horse's energy requirements? (Select all that apply.)
What factors influence a horse's energy requirements? (Select all that apply.)
What is the general recommendation for the percentage of the diet that should be based on forage?
What is the general recommendation for the percentage of the diet that should be based on forage?
In which physiological state would a horse generally require the highest percentage of protein in its diet?
In which physiological state would a horse generally require the highest percentage of protein in its diet?
What is the recommended calcium to phosphorus ratio for a mature horse?
What is the recommended calcium to phosphorus ratio for a mature horse?
In which type of feed is potassium most plentiful?
In which type of feed is potassium most plentiful?
Which of the following vitamins is an antioxidant found in high concentrations in fresh forage?
Which of the following vitamins is an antioxidant found in high concentrations in fresh forage?
In the context of horse feeds, what is the key characteristic of 'complete feeds'?
In the context of horse feeds, what is the key characteristic of 'complete feeds'?
What is a potential issue related to ensiled forages (silage/haylage/balage) if they are not properly prepared and stored?
What is a potential issue related to ensiled forages (silage/haylage/balage) if they are not properly prepared and stored?
Which characteristic defines hay of acceptable quality?
Which characteristic defines hay of acceptable quality?
Compared to forage, what is a primary characteristic of concentrates?
Compared to forage, what is a primary characteristic of concentrates?
What should be the criterion when feeding concentrates?
What should be the criterion when feeding concentrates?
What is the effect of particle size on chewing when feeding ground and pelleted complete feeds?
What is the effect of particle size on chewing when feeding ground and pelleted complete feeds?
A horse owner observes their horse exhibiting cribbing behavior. With nutritional management in mind, what change would likely have the most significant positive effect in reducing this behavior?
A horse owner observes their horse exhibiting cribbing behavior. With nutritional management in mind, what change would likely have the most significant positive effect in reducing this behavior?
A horse owner notices that their horse is consistently leaving grain in its feed tub and appears to be losing weight. Considering the oral processing of feed in horses, what is the most likely underlying issue?
A horse owner notices that their horse is consistently leaving grain in its feed tub and appears to be losing weight. Considering the oral processing of feed in horses, what is the most likely underlying issue?
A horse on pasture is supplemented with a small amount of grain each day. Knowing that some digesta passes through soon after eating begins, what would be the best feeding strategy to preserve digestive health?
A horse on pasture is supplemented with a small amount of grain each day. Knowing that some digesta passes through soon after eating begins, what would be the best feeding strategy to preserve digestive health?
A performance horse requires a diet that provides a high level of energy. Which feedstuff would be the most suitable to increase energy density?
A performance horse requires a diet that provides a high level of energy. Which feedstuff would be the most suitable to increase energy density?
A horse owner is concerned about the calcium to phosphorus ratio in their horse's diet, which primarily consists of grain. What feed would improve this ratio?
A horse owner is concerned about the calcium to phosphorus ratio in their horse's diet, which primarily consists of grain. What feed would improve this ratio?
During winter months, fresh forage is limited, and horses are typically fed hay. With this dietary change, which vitamin is most likely to be deficient, and supplementation should be considered?
During winter months, fresh forage is limited, and horses are typically fed hay. With this dietary change, which vitamin is most likely to be deficient, and supplementation should be considered?
A horse owner notices that a new shipment of hay is dusty and contains some mold. Which of the '4 Cs' of choosing roughage is the owner concerned about.
A horse owner notices that a new shipment of hay is dusty and contains some mold. Which of the '4 Cs' of choosing roughage is the owner concerned about.
A horse is diagnosed with HYPP (Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis). What dietary recommendations should be adhered to in order to manage this imbalance?
A horse is diagnosed with HYPP (Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis). What dietary recommendations should be adhered to in order to manage this imbalance?
What is the primary disadvantage related to the use of complete feed?
What is the primary disadvantage related to the use of complete feed?
A horse owner is looking to supplement their horse’s diet with a high-quality source of protein. Which concentrate would be the best option?
A horse owner is looking to supplement their horse’s diet with a high-quality source of protein. Which concentrate would be the best option?
A horse is on a diet where concentrates make up over 50% of their diet, ignoring the base diet on forage. What condition could this lead to?
A horse is on a diet where concentrates make up over 50% of their diet, ignoring the base diet on forage. What condition could this lead to?
A horse owner notices their horse’s hooves are brittle and cracking. Which combination of supplements should be considered?
A horse owner notices their horse’s hooves are brittle and cracking. Which combination of supplements should be considered?
Which of the following factors is most critical when choosing a roughage for a horse?
Which of the following factors is most critical when choosing a roughage for a horse?
How does domestication typically influence the natural foraging behavior and diet composition of horses?
How does domestication typically influence the natural foraging behavior and diet composition of horses?
Why is understanding the gastrointestinal physiology of horses essential for designing effective feeding strategies?
Why is understanding the gastrointestinal physiology of horses essential for designing effective feeding strategies?
How does the physical breakdown of forage in the horse's oral cavity relate to enzymatic action during digestion?
How does the physical breakdown of forage in the horse's oral cavity relate to enzymatic action during digestion?
How does the relatively small size of the stomach in horses affect feeding management strategies?
How does the relatively small size of the stomach in horses affect feeding management strategies?
How does a high-forage diet contribute to energy provision in horses, considering the processes in the large intestine?
How does a high-forage diet contribute to energy provision in horses, considering the processes in the large intestine?
Given the consideration for calcium to phosphorus ratio in equine diets, how does feeding primarily grains impact this balance, and what can be done to correct it?
Given the consideration for calcium to phosphorus ratio in equine diets, how does feeding primarily grains impact this balance, and what can be done to correct it?
How do warm season grasses (e.g. native prairie, bermudagrass) differ from cool season grasses (e.g. brome, timothy, orchardgrass) in terms of carbohydrate storage and location of digestion in horses?
How do warm season grasses (e.g. native prairie, bermudagrass) differ from cool season grasses (e.g. brome, timothy, orchardgrass) in terms of carbohydrate storage and location of digestion in horses?
What are the key differences between 'grasses' and 'legumes' when selecting hay for horses, particularly in terms of nutrient content?
What are the key differences between 'grasses' and 'legumes' when selecting hay for horses, particularly in terms of nutrient content?
When choosing roughage, what factors are represented in the '4 Cs', and how do they influence the selection of appropriate forage for horses?
When choosing roughage, what factors are represented in the '4 Cs', and how do they influence the selection of appropriate forage for horses?
How are complete feeds distinct from traditional forage and concentrate-based diets in equine nutrition, and what are some of their implications for chewing behavior and digestive health?
How are complete feeds distinct from traditional forage and concentrate-based diets in equine nutrition, and what are some of their implications for chewing behavior and digestive health?
Flashcards
Equine Fermentation
Equine Fermentation
Equine digestion relies on fermentation occurring after the stomach and small intestine.
Oral Cavity Function
Oral Cavity Function
Horses process forage into smaller particles in the oral cavity, increasing surface area for enzyme action.
Equine Stomach Size
Equine Stomach Size
The stomach of a horse is relatively small, making up only 7.5% of the total gastrointestinal tract volume.
Equine Small Intestine
Equine Small Intestine
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Equine Large Intestine
Equine Large Intestine
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Oral Stereotypies
Oral Stereotypies
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Dry Matter Intake
Dry Matter Intake
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Energy requirements
Energy requirements
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Fermentation of cellulose
Fermentation of cellulose
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Equine base diet
Equine base diet
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Need for crude protein
Need for crude protein
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Phosphorous rich feeds
Phosphorous rich feeds
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Selenium
Selenium
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Hay Types
Hay Types
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Water is key
Water is key
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Concentrates
Concentrates
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Study Notes
- Equine Nutrition 1 covers the nutrients and feedstuffs required for horses
Objectives
- Understand basic nutritional behavior
- Understand basic equine digestive physiology
- Be familiar with common types of equine feeds and supplements
Horse Behavior
- Horses are non-ruminant herbivores
- They spend 60-70% of their time foraging
- Voluntary dry matter intake is approximately 2–2.5% of their body weight
Impact of Domestication
- Natural horse behavior includes grazing pasture that consists of 65% grass, 25% shrubs, and minor amounts of forbs
- Horses are in constant movement
- Domestication includes performance demands and routine work
- Confinement in dry lots or stalls
- Horses may lack pasture
- Horses can develop stereotypies like cribbing or wood chewing
Natural Feeds
- Natural feeds consist of 80% carbohydrate, 8-12% crude protein, and 4-6% fat
- Structural carbohydrates such as cellulose are part of their natural feed
- Natural feeds include non-structural carbohydrates such as starch
Nutritional Physiology
- Physiology determines how feeds are utilized
- Fermentation occurs after food exits the stomach and small intestine
Oral Cavity
- Horses physically process forage into smaller particles of ~1.6 mm
- There is an inverse relationship between particle size and surface area when processing food
- There is no eructation
- Horses take approximately 60,000 chews per day
- 1 kg concentrate: 800-1200 chews
- 1 kg hay: 3000-3500 chews
- Saliva production is 10-12 L/d while chewing
- There is no digestive activity, only mucus lubricant and bicarbonate buffer
Stomach
- The stomach contains 7.5% volume of the total gastrointestinal tract
- There is rapid retention time, but it is rarely empty
- Digesta passes through shortly after eating begins, but expulsion halts when feeding stops
- Significant digesta is retained for 2-6 hours
- There are two distinct regions: Fundus which is non-glandular and Pylorus which is glandular
- Gastric secretions amount to 30 L/d
- Gastric secretions include HCI, pepsinogen, and gastric lipase
Small Intestine
- The small intestine is 60-80 ft. long and makes up 27% volume of total GIT
- The pancreas secretes lipase, protease, and amylase
- Villi and microvilli absorb monosaccharides, fat, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals
- Rapid ROP is 45 min – 8 hours
Large Intestine
- 65% of the total GIT volume is in the large intestine
- It has the slowest ROP at ~ 50 hours
- Fermentation of cellulose to VFA occurs
- A horse on a high-forage diet may meet 80% of energy needs through VFA
- Approximately 80 L/d of water is absorbed
- B-vitamins are synthesized
- NPN and microbial cell protein is not well utilized
Ration Design - Considerations
- Ration design should consider the use of the horse and available feedstuffs
Nutrients
- Water is a key nutrient
- Carbohydrates, Fat and protein provide energy
- Vitamins and Minerals are key nutrients
Water
- Fresh, clean water should be given
- Ad libitum means allowing animals to eat or drink at will
- Horses drink an average of 25 L/d (500 kg horse)
- Intake will increase in response to stress, heat, activity, increased DM consumption, hay only diet, lactation
- Intake may exceed 80 L/d
Energy
- Energy is expressed as DE (digestible energy)
- Requirements depend on physiologic state, environment, activity level, size of the horse
Energy Partitioning
- Energy partitioning from Intake (Gross) Energy (IE or GE), Fecal Energy (FE), Digestible Energy (DE), Urinary Energy (UE), Gaseous Energy (GE), Metabolizable Energy (ME), Heat Increment (HI), Net Energy (NE), Maintenance (NEm) and Production (NEp)
- NRC (National Research Council) produces the Nutrient Requirements of Horses
- Computer formulators use NRC standards when calculating horse diets
Energy Density (Mcal/kg DM)
- Energy Density of fats and oils is 9.1-9.2
- Energy Density of grains is 3.23 to 3.88
- Energy Density of hay is 1.87 to 2.62
General Recommendations
- Base the diet on forage, greater than 50%
- Add grain/concentrate to eliminate deficiencies, less than 50%
- Add fat to enhance energy, less than 12%
- Assume voluntary intake of ~ 2% BW (DM); lactating mares may consume 2.5% BW (DM)
Protein Requirements
- Requirements are expressed as CP, % DM basis
- Protein needs vary based on a horse's physiologic state, lactation, work, growth, gestation, and maintenance needs
Protein Needs
- Maintenance: 8-9%
- Heavy exercise: 10%
- Lactation: 13-14%
- CP in hay include: Prairie hay 4%, Brome 8+%, Alfalfa 18+%
Calcium & Phosphorous
- Requirements must be met
- Balance ratio depends on the age of the horse
- Mature horse: 1.1:1 to 6:1
- Growing horse: 1.1:1 to 3:1
Calcium & Phosphorous Content
- Grains & bran have more phosphorous than calcium
- Forages contain variable calcium, but usually Calcium is greater than P
Potassium
- Potassium is plentiful in forage, no supplementation is usually requires
- Anorexia requires supplementation
- HYPP needs a reduced potassium diet, total dietary K < 1%, often requires restricting forage
Selenium
- Deficiencies and toxicities occur depending on geographic regions
- Selenium Toxicity results in skin and hoof abnormalities
- Selenium Deficiency results in white muscle disease
Copper
- NRC recommendations for copper are 10 ppm for maintenance and 12.5 ppm for gestation
- Less than 10 ppm copper can result in DOD (developmental orthopedic disease)
- 50 ppm copper is needed in growth & gestational feeds
- 25 ppm copper is needed in weanling feeds
Vitamin A
- 1 mg beta carotene = 400 IU Vitamin A
- Fresh forage is greater than hay in vitamin A content, hay declines over time
- Fruits and vegetables have high quantities of vitamin A
Vitamin E
- Vitamin E is a cellular antioxidant with Selenium
- It is high in fresh forage and immature hay
- Supplementation should be a natural form (non-synthetic)
Types of Feeds
- Forage/roughage
- Concentrates
- Complete feed
Roughage/Forage
- Has low energy density
- Provides the foundation for feeding programs
- Quality forage can provide complete nutrition in many instances
Types of Forage
- Pasture is a common type of forage
- Hay (long stem, pellets, cubes)
- Ensiled forage (silage / haylage / balage) can contain Clostridium botulinum
Types of Roughage/Forage
- Grasses (hay or pasture): Warm season grasses include native prairie and bermudagrass -They tend to have lower CP and DE -Their CHO is stored as starch and digested in the small intestine
- Cool season grasses include brome, timothy, orchardgrass, and bluegrass -Better quality hay than warm-season grasses -Their CHO is stored as fructans and digested in the cecum
- Legumes (usually fed as hay) -Alfalfa is the "Highest quality" hay with highest CP and Ca -Has a risk of blister beetles, often dustier
Choosing Roughage
- The 4 C's include Composition, Cut, Cure, and Cost
Hay Quality
- #1 determinant is plant maturity -Soft, pliable to touch -Leafy with fine stems -No seed heads
- Baling / storage conditions -Free of mold -Pleasant, fragrant aroma -Bright green (vs. yellow or brown)
Hay
- Too dry when baled, excess handling, or long duration storage can cause leaf loss
- Leaf loss is more prevalent with legumes
- Results in loss of energy and protein
- Loss of beta carotene
Concentrates
- More digestible when compared to forage
- More DE
- Less than 18% crude fiber
- Used to supplement forage if needed (specific nutrients or energy) -Energy: grains, oils, fats -Protein: often soybean meal -Vitamin or mineral: pre-mixes
- Often cereal grains like corn, oats, and wheat
- Minerals and vitamins
- Often needed during late gestation, lactation, growth, and work
- Comprise less than 50% of the diet
- Must maintain at least 50% roughage
- Introduce and make changes gradually
- Excess dietary concentrate can result in insulin dysregulation, obesity, laminitis, or DOD?
- Need to be fed by weight, rather than volume -1 coffee can (1 qt.)
- 1 lb. oats → 1.47 Mcal
- 1.5 lb. corn → 2.65 Mcal
Complete Feeds
- Roughage and concentrate mixture
- ~80:20
- There is a high feeding rate (compared to concentrate)
- Ground then pelleted
- Small particle size
- Less chewing
- Can result in stall vices, colic, ulcers
- Beneficial to some geriatric horses
Supplements
- There are vitamin and mineral supplements, examples are biotin/methionine (hoof & hair)
- There are nutraceutical supplements, examples include chondroprotectives, psyllium, and hemantinics
Summary
- Key considerations for equine diets are: -Clean, fresh abundant water #1! -Ration, start with forage! -Maintenance may be met with forage alone -Add concentrate as needed, do not exceed 50% by weight with concentrate
- Make any changes gradually
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