2024 Nutritional Advice for New Horse Owners PDF

15/11/2024 Practical application of equine nutrition Advising a new horse owner Dr Teresa Hollands R.Nutr BSc (Hons), MSc( Nutrition) PhD Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Nutrition, 1...

15/11/2024 Practical application of equine nutrition Advising a new horse owner Dr Teresa Hollands R.Nutr BSc (Hons), MSc( Nutrition) PhD Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Nutrition, 1 1 Regardless of activity or levels of professionalism:- same principles apply same steps apply 2 1  15/11/2024 Single common denominator Maintain a healthy digestive system Feeding the gut 3 Checking the horse’s diet 4 2  15/11/2024 Learning outcomes Describe how to recommend forages for horses in light work to maintain a healthy gut How would you recognise a horse that was fed just forage What are the consequences of reducing fibre intake How does fibre help saliva production How would you recommend feeding fibre to horses Grass, Chaff, haylage, hay, soaked hay, straw List how concentrates should be fed How are concentrates digested How do you advise starch should be fed (size of meal and cooking) How do you explain calories vs energy How do you explain heating vs non heating How do you choose the correct concentrate feed Describe how to work out how much to feed a horse Based on BW and adjusting forage:conc rations How do you advise controlling calories but maintaining bulk How do you choose feed according to workload How do you adjust product depending on horse’s body fat score How do you ensure clients fed by weight not volume 5 5 Establish forage type, intake & analyse Fibre = foundation feed Forage first and foremost 6 3  15/11/2024 Large Intestine Hind gut fermenter Fibre maintains healthy bacteria Herbivore Fibre digestion takes up to 65hrs Water and electrolytes absorbed pH 7 Bacteria can change 100 fold in 24hrs B vitamins produced 7 Hay analysis Adequate energy for maintenance and light work Inadequate protein quality Deficient in all vitamins, some minerals especially anti-oxidants Recognising a horse fed a predominate hay diet 8 4  15/11/2024 Predominately hay diet Clinical relevance Carrying adequate fat Vitamins A D E cover iu/kg Dull coat Horse needs /kg 2- 800 50-80 Poor of food 3000 development 1kg of Hay 1000 200 4 Poor feet provides Lack of muscle Minerals Cu Zn Se More prone to mg/kg infection Horse needs/kg of 10 40 0.1 Potentially food overfed but 1kg of Hay 2 20 0.01 undernourished provides 9 Dusty hay * Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) * Asthma Ferrari, et al., (2018). Horses With Pasture Asthma Have Airway Remodeling That Is Characteristic of Human Asthma. Veterinary Pathology, 55(1), 144– 158. https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985817741729 10 5  15/11/2024 Haylage is dust free Is it a good alternative to hay? Higher or lower in Analytical results of UK hay and haylage (Lax, Jones & Hollands, 2004) Hay n = 91 Haylage n = 196 Mean % (range) Mean % (range) Protein 7.6 9.9 (2.5-30.9) (2.8-15.2) Dry matter 88.4 69.0 (61.4-94.6) (40.0-89.8) Energy DE 9.6 10.7 (4.2-12.8) (6.6-16.0) NDF g/kg 660 589 (426-862) (388-743) All results on a dry matter basis 11 Water content in 1kg of:- Water 150g 100g 125g 300g 500g 700g 850g 875g 900g Dry 500g Matter Small Big bale Hay Straw Fibre bale haylage cubes haylage Will be hidden in session 12 6  15/11/2024 Grazing For horses in light work provides excess calories 13 Controlling calorie intake restrict grazing Nutrient intake as % (NRC 2007) of requirements from, 24hrs grazing, sparse, poor pasture Reduced dry 140 matter intake 120 Deficient in 100 Energy, 80 protein 60 Phosphorus, 40 magnesium 20 Cu, Mn, Zn, 0 Se, Na energy protein calcium lysine magnesium phosphorus copper manganese sodium zinc 14 7  15/11/2024 Restricting DMI intake Clinical compromise Horses fed on low forage diets spent significantly more time chewing wood. Walters.A (2002) What are the consequences of reducing fibre intake? 15 Horses have a psychological need to chew 16 8  15/11/2024 Horses fed on low forage diets spent significantly more time chewing wood. Walters. A (2002) Horses that wood chew are at higher risk of simple obstructive and distension colics Hillyer. M(2002) 17 250kg Ponies on restricted intake (1.5% BW as DM) Individuals ate up to 3kg wood shavings/day 18 9  15/11/2024 Lack of fibre effects stomach health. 6b 19 Clinical relevance Stereotypies Horses fed on low forage diets spent significantly more time chewing wood. (2002) Walters.A Colic Horses that wood chew are at higher risk of simple obstructive and distention colics (2002) Hillyer.M Gastric ulcers Low fibre diets seem to predispose horses to gastric ulcers (Murray et al, 1996; Hammond et al 1986) 20 10  15/11/2024 Saliva & chewing maintains stomach health 1ml saliva/chew Upper stomach Saccus caecus Non glandular, pH 5.4 Buffering capacity of saliva protects this part of the stomach from the acid in the Saccus Corpus Lower stomach Saccus Corpus, highly acidic (pH 2), stops fermentation of food from the upper part of stomach, protein digestion starts here 1. Saliva is a source of bicarbonate ions 2. buffers the top part of the How does fibre help saliva unprotected stomach production? 3. Reduces risk of gastric ulcers 22 22 Restricting grazing- less chews BUT Restriction Winter might not Summer always be necessary. Depends upon season and grass quantity as well as quality Spring grazing 24/7 Autumn light work:! 23 11  15/11/2024 What to advise clients? How would you recommend feeding fibre to horses 24 Advising restricted grazing- how much is too little/too POO PICK!! Count/weigh much? Faecal output 1-3% BW 25 12  15/11/2024 Managing laminitic prone horses @ WHW Grazing 24/7 ü Occupational therapy ü Bulk adequate Nourish Balancer ü Calories restricted Low calorie × Provision of optimum nutrition Nutrient dense 100g/100kg BW/day × Need to balance protein, vitamins & minerals 26 What? Too much grass, unable to restrict Bring into stable or on sand paddock for 12-18hrs- Needs occupational therapy Needs bulk Needs optimum nutrition Back to feeding hay 27 13  15/11/2024 Difficult to lose weight when in bed!!!! Stabled horses lose fitness1 but pastured horses remained as fit as exercised horses Turn out with muzzle2 Why not advise cutting the grass; remove it 1Journal of Equine Veterinary Science (2013) 33, (8) , 581-585 2J Equine Veterinary Science (2011) 31: 282-283 , 28 Environmentally sustainable solutions #universityofsurrey 29 29 14  15/11/2024 Sustainable ways to keep horses healthy #universityofsurrey 30 30 Keep them chewing - Occupational therapy 1. replace some grass with a lower calorie forage 500kg horse DMI 12.5kg Chews once/sec Hay Mix Time chewing Hours not (hrs) chewing Adlib - 16-18 0 J 7.5kg 5.0kg 11.4 4.5 K (60%) (40%) 3kg 7kg 6.1 10 L (30%) (70%) 31 31 15  15/11/2024 2. Soak hay:- to maintain bulk and reduce calories ½ hr:- maximise dust suppression, minimise nutrient loss Reduces dust 12hrs:- maximise calorie loss; allows DMI to be maximised Reduces calories by up to 50% 32 3. Recommending straw When? horses not losing weight on soaked hay hay shortage Low calorie How? Not wheat straw Advise introducing slowly Check teeth Keep an eye on fibre length in droppings https://www.redwings.org.uk/news-and- views/straw-study https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2021/07/25/wheat- straw-test-dietary-horses/ 34 34 16  15/11/2024 Solution maintain chewing 4. Slow fibre intake Small hole haynets Double wrapped nets Slows intake 35 Keep them chewing 5. Extend eating time Chaff with concentrates (unless being fed>2.5kg starch based feed in a meal) Carrots/apples ‘Boulders’ in manger 36 17  15/11/2024 5. Adjust haylage intake to a account for water content Otherwise forage intake (DMI)is very compromised not normally fed to leisure horses TYPICAL TYPICAL DRY WET HAY HAYLAGE HAYLAGE HAYLAGE ENERGY MJ 33.9 29.5 32.9 19.2 PROTEIN g 268.7 273.2 261.4 216.9 DRY MATTER 3.5 2.76 3.1 1.9 kg (fibre) Nutrient Intake (as fed) from 4kg of typical forage 400kg horse eating 2% BW = 4kg feed and 4kg forage Mean dry matter:- hay 88%; typ haylage 69%; dry 77.8%; wet 48% 37 Summary – Forage/ fibre first and foremost Advise maximum forage intake possible Take into account Needs chewing haylage water content Reduces risk of oral stereotypies Ensures saliva production Get owners to weigh out what they feed Reduces risk of gastric ulcers in Know how much a haynet upper stomach holds Provides a fibre mat in the stomach Advise chaff Stops splash back of acid from lower stomach Soak hay to decrease Maintains hind gut health calories for fat horses Provides fibre for cellulytic bacteria Haylage best for Reduces the risk of colic performance horses Minimises risk of endotoxemia Barley or oat straw for horses that cant lose weight Maintains healthy gut epithelium – on soaked hay butyrate Control grazing through muzzles 38 38 18  15/11/2024 Diet details Concentrate considerations 39 39 Learning outcomes List how concentrates should be fed How are concentrates digested How do you explain calories vs energy How do you explain heating vs non heating How do you choose the correct concentrate feed 40 40 19  15/11/2024 The Small Intestine 21-25m (70ft) long Everything other than plant cell walls are digested here Food moves 1ft/min Stays in SI for 45mins- 1.5hrs Amylase < 6% of pigs How are concentrates digested pH 7 MT9a 41 Main supplementary energy source fed to competition horses is starch; #universityofsurrey 42 42 20  15/11/2024 Leisure horses do not need starch #universityofsurrey 43 43 Client misunderstanding of what diet can do. Energy and ‘calories’ How do you explain calories vs energy 45 45 21  15/11/2024 My horse needs more energy He needs a bit more energy, to get him moving more quickly off my leg; what can I feed him? My horse needs more energy, he needs some ‘pep’; what can I feed him?’ 46 Use appropriate terms Base explanation on science Measurable and defendable Get them to relate to digestion How do you explain calories vs energy? I want him to be more fizzy 47 47 22  15/11/2024 Energy/Calorie feeds Oats are ‘Heating’? Help clients understand marketing Relate to gut physiology 48 Energy/calories (MJ/kg as fed) of common cereals fed to horses Cereal DE Starch Protein Fibre % MJ/kg % g/kg Maize 14 71 90 2.4 Wheat 13 70 120 2.6 Barley 12 60 108 5.6 Oats 10 48 107 12.5 McDonald et al., Animal Nutrition 49 49 23  15/11/2024 Fast, fast, slow? 50 Use appropriate terms What is heating- what do they mean? Base explanation on science Measurable and defendable Get them to relate to digestion How do you explain heating vs non heating? 51 51 24  15/11/2024 Fibre Fermentation produces heat VFAS produced Measurable up to 65hrs afte Heat increment eating fibre Heat of digestion Low calorie feeds Hay, straw, alfalfa, Fibergy HIGH Fibre cubes, oats, soya, molasses MEDIUM Oil, maize, barley, wheat LOW Hind Gut = Heating 52 Cereal Digested by enzymes In small intestine Rapidly available Speed of digestion measurable No internal warmth Small intestine = Non heating High glycaemic response 53 25  15/11/2024 Be hidden in talk, see VMS1004 Digestion of calories Large intestine Small intestine (caecum and colon) By enzymes By bacteria Rapidly Slowly High energy Low energy feeds feeds 54 Energy is the same as calories ãCalories Laid back/ lazy horse puts on weight Excitable horse has more energy to burn 55 26  15/11/2024 In summary- Concentrates – to balance the deficiencies in forages Maximise forage intake Advise compound according to type of forage and workload Consider vitamin and mineral supplements if calorie intake from forage is adequate Do not advise ‘supplements’ that make claims Advise balancers 56 56 Ration How much to advise 57 57 27  15/11/2024 Learning outcomes Give examples of the daily food intake for a horse based on bodyweight, fat score and workload Describe how to work out how much to feed a horse Based on BW and adjusting forage:conc rations How do you advise controlling calories but maintaining bulk How do you adjust product depending on horse’s body fat score How do you ensure clients fed by weight not volume 58 58 How much to advise? Maintain same dry matter intake – ratio of food types varies Decide on workload Obtain Body weight 2.5% BW as DM 95:5 -100:0 Work out total daily Forage: concentrate maintenance & light work intake Adjust according to ‘fat score’ and work load 59 28  15/11/2024 How much forage/fibre to advise Minimum of 50% of DMI regardless of workload Leisure horses = should be 90- 99% of DMI Do not forget grass – can provide 200% of leisure horse’s calorie intake Can work out approximate grass intake DMI of horses is 2.5%BW ( 2.5kg DMI/100kgBW) eat for 16-18hrs within the 24hrs 60 How much forage/fibre to advise How much DM can the Need BW and hours horse eat in a day? If 500kg horse out 24/7 will eat How much DM can the around 12.5kg in 18hrs horse eat in 1hr Therefore eats 0.7kgDM/hour 8hrs = 0.7kg X 8hrs = How many hours is the 5.6kgDM horse grazing? If a 300kg pony out 24/7 can eat 7.5kg /day 0.41kgDM/hour 8hrs = 3.3kgDM How much fresh grass is this? Spring grass = 15%DM Autumn grass = 25%DM 61 61 29  15/11/2024 Advise the right forage to maintain bulk but count calories 500kg horse @ maintenance 63MJ –owner has been advised to reduce DMI to 1.5%BW Forage Dry matter Fresh weight Calories % of calorie (kg) (kg) MJ/DE requirements Winter pasture 17hrs average 7.5 30 47 74 grass Late cut meadow hay 7.5 8.9 52.5 83 High Fibre haylage 7.5 12.5 60 105 Straw 7.5 8.9 37.5 59 Summer grazing 8hrs plenty of grass 7.6 38 76 120 Good quality meadow hay 7.5 8.9 60 105 Spring -average grass all night 7.5 50 90 142 62 Advising the right type of feed 1. Pick from appropriate 3. Choose appropriate feed range ‘normal’ = Horse & Pony Nuts/Leisure type mix (300g/100kgBW) i. Leisure- 90% ‘good doer ‘ maintaining weight on forage + low calorie forage = Balancer /high vits and mins (100g/100kgBW 4. Recommend clients feed quantities on back of bag Energy/calorie & nutrient 2. Balance vitamins & requirements for work level met minerals by formulation If client feeding < or > recommended intake to maintain weight horse = on wrong product 63 30  15/11/2024 The right feed »Product MJ/kg How- calorie Feed–rate counting Scoops 500kg horse inDaily lightcalorie work Main source intake of calories Balancer 11.5 500g 0.5 5.75 Minimal Leisure Mix 10 1.5kg 1.5 15 High fibre cereals and byproducts Healthy Hooves 8.5 2.5kg 5 21 Chopped fibre High Fibre nuts 9.5 1.5 kg 1.25 14.25 Slow Fibre 64 Finally Ask clients to weigh, not feed by volume One stubbs ( the round scoops in photo below) scoop holds 65 31  15/11/2024 Remember to advise Fibre first and foremost clients to Maintain bulk but count calories Important that horses chew Important for stomach health Most leisure horses only need a balancer to complete their ration Important for peristalsis Important for hind gut health 66 66 Basic nutrition is not complicated Help owners to apply digestive physiology to avoid many nutritionally related diseases Support owners in developing a clinical attitude to feeding…..record and observe Adapt a practical explanation of scientific principles 67 32