15 Questions
What percentage of an animal's composition is accounted for by water?
70%
What is the purpose of supplementing hay or pasture with concentrates in a horse's diet?
To meet energy, protein, mineral, and vitamin requirements
Why is it important to base a horse's ration on adequate amounts of good-quality roughage?
To reduce the risk of colic
What are the two ways in which nutrient requirements for horses are expressed?
Daily nutrient requirements and optimal body condition
Why are vitamins essential for horses?
They are required for health, development, and metabolic reactions
What is the importance of mineral balance in the body?
Maintaining regular heartbeat
What is the primary function of carbohydrates in an animal's diet?
Providing energy for movement and growth
What is a consequence of a diet lacking in fats?
Poor skin and hair condition
What is the unique characteristic of fats in terms of energy provision?
They provide 2.25 times more energy than carbohydrates
What is the sixth basic nutrient included in all animal feeds?
Water
What is the normal temperature range for horses?
99.5-101.5 °F
What is the description of a chestnut horse?
Generally a darker brown with a mane and tail of the same color
What is the ideal body condition score for broodmares during breeding season?
5-7
What is a characteristic of a healthy horse?
Shiny, glossy hair coat
What is the normal range for heart rate in horses?
32-48 beats per minute
Study Notes
Vitamins and Minerals
- Vitamins are essential for health, development, and metabolic reactions, and are required in small amounts.
- Micro minerals, also known as trace minerals, are a type of mineral.
- Minerals are needed in nearly all parts of the body, primarily in bones and teeth.
- Minerals are divided into two groups: macro minerals and micro minerals.
Water
- Water is the most important nutrient, accounting for 70% or more of the composition of most plants and animals.
- Functions of water in the body include:
- Controlling body temperature
- Enabling living plants and animals to hold their shape
- Transporting nutrients and waste throughout the body
- Helping in the digestion of feeds
- Being a major part of all body fluids
Feeds
- Feeds furnish horses with a daily supply of nutrients in the correct amounts.
- Feeds should be palatable, easily obtained, and economical.
- Horse feeds include five groups:
- Roughage (hay, or pasture)
- Concentrates (grain, protein supplement, minerals, and vitamins)
- Individual horses vary considerably in their nutrient requirements, making feeding horses an art and a science.
Nutrition
- All feeds include six basic nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, vitamins, and water.
- Protein provides essential amino acids and is essential for growth and repair.
- Carbohydrates are used as energy for body functions, growth, and reproduction.
- Fats are a concentrated source of energy, and are essential for energy reserves, protection of vital organs, and insulation.
Horse Body Condition
- Body condition score is a way to assess a horse's nutritional status.
- Most horses should be in a body score of 5-6.
- Broodmares should be a 5-7 for optimum reproductive efficiency.
- Horses over a condition score of 7 may be at a greater risk for developing metabolic disorders.
Horse Health
- Normal health indicators include:
- Temperature: 99.5-101.5 °F
- Heart rate: 32-48 beats per minute
- Respiratory rate: 8-20 breaths per minute
- Body condition/weight (fatness or thinness)
- Hair coat: shiny and glossy
- Hoof growth: normal growth rate, smooth and uncracked
- Eyes: bright, fully open, clear, and without discharge
- Normal hydration
- Normal feces and urine: firm fecal balls, wheat-colored clear urine
- Healthy pink mucous membranes of gums and lips
Learn about the importance of vitamins and minerals in our body, and how they contribute to our overall health and well-being.
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