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5a. Feeding Horses Flashcards

1
Q

What are unique facts about equine digestion?

A

hind gut fermentors
Selective grazers - prehensile, sensitive lips
grind food w/ molars - grow continuously
eat thruout day - sm stomach, no gall bladder
monogastric - mammalian digestion in sm intestine, fermentation in cecum and large intestine

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2
Q

What is the optimal characteristics of giving water to horses?

A

must have access to fresh, clean water
storage tanks, troughs or pails
water lvls kept high enough - reluctant to place head in a trough or pail below eye lvl
Optimal temp 20-26C
average minimal water intake is 5L/100kg BW/day - inc w/ work req and diet, if fed only dry hay, req double, lactation or sweat losses inc needs by 50-200%

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3
Q

What is maximum dry matter intake?

A

the most food a horse can consume in a day
it increases with need and the digestibility of the feed
1.5-2% of BW, maintenance - 1000lb horse = 20%
3% of BW, peak lactation
growth 3.5% (nursing/weaning) to 2%

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4
Q

What is the difference in energy needs of easy keepers vx hard keepers

A

nonworking in good BCS easy keeper: 30kcal(0.03 Mcal)/kg BW
Hard keeper
40kcal (0.04 Mcal)/kg BW

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5
Q

How might cold weather, growth, preg/lactation and work affect energy needs?

A

COLD: lack adequate shelter otside
GROWTH: rapid and slow growth periods
PEG/LACT: maintenance until last 90d of gestation, inc in energy needs by 10-20%, lact may req 2-3x maintenance
WORK: type of work, condition and training of horse, enviro, skill of driver or rider

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6
Q

What are protein requirements?

A

some microbia synthesis and absorption of AA occurs in cecum and lg intestine
not sufficient to meet the amino acid needs

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7
Q

What might affect the protein requirements?

A

growth(14-16%total ration), mature horses(8-10), aged (>20yrs)(14-16), pregnancy(10-11%), lactation(12-14)

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8
Q

What are some mineral requirements for horses?

A

calcium and phosphorus - greater needs during growth, last third of preg, lactation
phosphorus needs of older horses may be higher
maintain ratio >1:1

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9
Q

What are some nutritional problems at growth that could occur?

A

developmental orthopedic dz
Flexural demformity

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10
Q

What is developmental orthopedic dz?

A

include deformed limbs (angular limb deformities) and bone malformations that cause problems later in life
Too much grain (energy)
improper amount of minerals like Ca, P, Cu and Zn
Exercise strengthens bone
Inheritance also most likely cause

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11
Q

What is a flexural deformity?

A

inflam of growth plates (physitis)
2nd to insulin dysregulation from rapid digestion of easily available carbs
Physitis results in pain and lack of weight bearing - unstretched tendors cause flexural deformities
Tx/prevention - restrict energy-heavy feed, no alfalfa, timothy (low energy hay)

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12
Q

What are some qualities of feeding at pasture/

A

pasture should be permanant, mixture of grasses and legumes (boost protein and energy content)
over mature pasture (stems and flowers) is poor quality grazing for horses

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13
Q

What does it mean that horses are selective grazing

A

graze the palatable areas to the ground, leave the stemmy areas to overgrown, will not graze ner fecal pats

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14
Q

Why is pasture rotation important?

A

parasite control (no/few eggs survive prairie winters), diff types for diff seasons
Grass for spring, alfalfa for summer

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15
Q

How should pastures be utilized?

A

prevention of over or undergrazing
if they’re grazing the pasture close to the ground -move to prevent damage to plants
If overgrazing - mow for hay
overgrazed pastures contribute to inc parasite burdens and favor overgrowth of weeds
Avoid lg pastures to ensure appropriate size and access - 1 acre per horse
Horses avoid feces (latrines)
avoid forages w/ a lot of stem
results in roughs and lawns (good areas)
Cows will eat the rougha nd graze near feces

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16
Q

How could we manage a pasture?

A

chain harrow to spread manure - hot dry periods, no horses
Clip or mow or spo 2, 4-D (selective weed killer) application to remove unpalatable weeds - once a year

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17
Q

How can you tell if a pasture is adequate?

A

condition of horses/pasture, analysis of plants
most horses can maintain a BW when fed good-quality forage, water and a mineral block

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18
Q

What is pasture-associated laminitis causing NSC

A

non-structural carbs (NSC)
sugars, fructans and starch
rapid growth pastures (spring, summer, fall after heavy rain) favor accumulation - ideally digested in sm int, up to half the starch and all the fructans can reach lg intestine where it is rapidly fermented

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19
Q

What happens with excessive NSC in the lg intestine?

A

overgrowth of bact that can digest starch and fructans
prod lactic acids, lower pH
destruction and inflam of gut wall, absorb of toxins - colic, diarrhea, laminitis -systemic inflam response that contributes to destruction of lamellar epithelium and matrix

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20
Q

What are the risk factors of NCS

A

genetic predispositions, equine metabolic syndrome (obesity, insulin-resistance, hyperinsulinemia)

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21
Q

How can we reduce the occurance of NCS?

A

RESTRICT GRAZING - especially spring early summer - rapid growth
Pasture overnight/early morning - fructans inc thruout morning and reach max values in afternoon
Grazing muzzles, hay steamers
Avoid stemmy, mature pastures - contain more fructans
Avoid grazing in low temps - dec grass growth and inc fructans
Supplement w/ hay - mature grasses or legume containing hay
Soak hay - 30-60m
analyze grasses and hay for NSC and feed low NSC hay <10%
avoid obesity
equids w/ prev laminitis episode especially @ risk

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22
Q

What is tall fescue?

A

Endophytic fungus
poor growth, prolonged gestation and agalactia in mares, inc foal mortality

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23
Q

Why might we feed preserved roughage?

A

fed to satisfy maintenance requirements
at least 50% of diet - higher conc inc risk of laminitis and obesity, except intense exercise, feed smler, frequent feedings of concentrates, no more than 0.5% BW per feeding
Good quality hay fed at 1.5% BW
Poor quality hay is about 2/3 the energy content - adjust feeding amounts
Always allow up to 30% extra for waste

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24
Q

What are grass hays and its characteristics, what is it best for?

A

Timothy, brome
lower in cals and protein
Higher in fibre- support hindgut fermentation
best for: easy keepers, stalled horses, to support GI health

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25
What are legume hays, in what types of horses can we replace 10-20% of grass
alfalfa, clover higher in energy, protein and calcium lower in fibre - not advised as sole diet Can replace 10-20% of grass hay -> heavy work or training, lactating mares, growing horses, to improve palatability
26
What are the different methods of feeding hay?
continuous acess round bale feeder some put out mixture of good hay and straw bale to prevent obesity hay rack hay net if group feeding there must be adequate space so that all horses can eat
27
What are some problems of feeding with hay
dust - equine asthma syndrome, heaves, recurrent airway obstruction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, speak hay and feed close to ground, pelleted hay alternatives Mold Choke - hay cubes, soak cubes
28
What do we need to keep in mind when feeding straw
unintentional - eat bedding Intentional - part of diet, fat horses, low K diets, oat straw vs wheat straw problems - impactions
29
Why might we feed concentrates?
some horses req concentrate supplement bc their lactating mares, weanlings, yearlings, working horses Fed ad lib or limit fed (better) If limit fed - have N+1 bowls, feed 2-3xd, inc portion of concentrate - when grass is mature (flowering or flowered) when grass is not growing
30
In horses, what BCS do we want them at. What about max concentrate portion?
max conc portion of diet 50% (weanlings) Maintain weanlings in lean to mod BCS 4 ribs barely visible, cannot see bony structures of hips or lumbar vertebrae, dec risk of DOD/OCD
31
How might we want to feed working horses?
free choice good quality hay can support moderate work Must feed concentrate (grain) to heavily exercising horses as cannot eat enough hay to meet needs often advantageous to feed all exercising horses some grain - at least half the diet should be roughage to stop GI problems, reduces hay belly - extra weight the horse does not need to lug around while trying to work
32
What is the type of concentrate: oats
most traditional processing improves digestibility hulled oats more energy dense
33
What is the type of concentrate: barley
higher in energy than oats causes lower glycemia response good choice for insulin-resistant horses
34
What is the type of concentrate: corn
high-energy feed hard working horses, horses in need of weight-gain inc risk of laminitis or colic
35
How might we feed fat and performance horses?
endurance horses burn fat - endurance rides, 25-100kn over 1-2d Beneficial to acclimate to fat utilization by feeding fat feeding trials show benefits of adding fat to diet of endurance horses reduces risk of grain overload type problems as replaces some of the grain
36
What is supplemental fat?
typical diets are about 2.5-3% fat Can add fat up to 10% of diet Must acclimate horses to higher levels of fat High levels of fat will require careful balancing of protein and minerals in diet may improve coat sheen Reduces gastric acid secretion (Helps prevent ulcers) Sources - corn oil, rice bran, canola oil
37
Why might pelleting and pellet feeds be useful?
done by grinding ingredients >mixing and compacting particles > steam heating at high temps > pushed thru pellet die Grinding increases feeds overall digestibility Low dust (good for resp patients) low moisture lvl (resistant to mold and freezing
38
Why might extrusion and extruded feeds be useful?
grinding and mixxing ingredients > steam heat, pressure and extremely high temperatures > mash sent thru extruder > die used to give shape Good for pre-cecal digestibility of starches Slow feed intake
39
Why might textured feeds be useful?
aka sweet feeds Historically, a mixture of oats, corn and molasses - nutritionally incomplete Now see addition of pellets - contains minerals and vitamins molasses increases palatability moisture content increases risk of mold/freeze
40
What is starch in the equine diet?
too much delivery of starch to lg intestine fermented can cause diarrhea, colic and laminitis as for fructans Prevent by limiting a concentrate feeding to a maximum of 0.5% of BW, feeding at least 50% hay
41
What is cribbing?
wind sucking, aerophagia, stable vice/oral stereotypy Predisposing factors - weaned in a stall rather than a pasture, kept in a stall following weaning, being fed concentrates, lack of time at pasture, lack of straw bedding in stall more susceptible to colic
42
What are gastric ulcers?
most common in performance horses - 60-80% of racehorses in training risk factors: exercise, inc time in a stall, feeding in meals, not having hay available ad lib feeding alfalfa is protective - calcium buggers gastric pH Signs: colic, poor performance treat with antacids, H2 blocker (gastrogard Prevent - diet, feed alfalfa or pasture (alfalfa buffers acid), roughage continuously available, avoid lg grain meals, add oil (450ml) to diet
43
What are other feeding supplements?
brans,pulps, fats and oils, molasses
44
What is brans?
wheat bran and rice bran are brain by-products water, palatant, fat (calories) high phosphorus content, limited feeding
45
What is pulps?
beet pulp by-product of sugar beet industry source of calories and fibre, must be soaked
46
Why might fats and oils be used?
increase energy density - corn, soy and other vegetable oils
47
Why might molasses be used?
palatable reduces dusts of concentrate mixtures
48
Why might dentition matter in geriatric horses?
60% of horses >20yrs expired teeth (cupping out) - continuously growing teeth, but reserve crown is finite, enamel wears away, dec grinding ability chewing forage difficult reduced protein, phosphorus and fiber digestion
49
What might we feed geriatric horses?
many do well on grass or grass-alfalfa pasture or hay supplemented w/ oats - plus dental care, edible oil or rice bran can be added if need more calories
50
Why might we feed thin horses with a BCS lower than 4 a senior ration?
Better quality/more protein ca and P content adjusted for changes in digestibility in older horses pellets (ground) and extruded (improves digestibility) roughage/stem length to stimulate gut motility Feed 2-4x/d
51
What is equine metabolic syndrome?
genetic predisposition "thrifty horses" ic adipositu, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia - respond to high carb foods w/ exaggerated inc in insulin and high BG lvl w/ slow return to normal Nutritional strategies - restrict dietary carb lvls, restrict total calories to promote weight loss, methods to reduce NSC, promote optimal BCS, "work" for their food
52
What is pars pituitary media dysfunction
PPID, equine cushings EMS may be predisposing factor, but both disorders can occur concurrently in middle-age to older horses Metabolism of starch difficult Medical strategy:pergolide Nutritional strategies: avoid overfeeding, but encourage proper BCS High-fat senior diets provide energy w/o overwhelming carb lvls
53
What is hyperlipemia?
fasting ponies, donkeys and mini horses poor quality/decreased feed during high-energy periods (preg, systemic dz), liver dysfunction/failure Neg energy balance > mobilization of fatty acids > inc hepatic triglyceride synthesis > fatty infiltration of liver
54
What are small equids and what nutritional characteristics are different from horses?
ponies, mini horses, donkeys Diff metab than horses greater fat release from adipose tissue in response to dec insulin much more susceptible to hyperlipeia if fasted never starve a pony/donkey/mini
55
How gave we give nutritional support to starving equids?
reverse neg energy balance inc serum glucose conc promote insulin release inhib mobilization of peripheral adipose tissues enteral and/or parenteral nutritional support may be necessary
56
What happens with starvations?
body reserves of fat/protien used for energy > elyte and mineral stores also dec > if refed: insulin released in response to blood glucose > stims protein synth and movement of elytes and glucose into cells > low blood conc of elytes. P needed for energy prod in cells and delivery of O2 by RBC's
57
How can we start to refeed a starvation case?
start on poor to moderate quality grass or oat hay - introduce at 50% of maintenance (based on ideal BW), gradually build up over 10 days to maintenance, then gradually introduce concentrate monitor blood glucose to ensure euglycemic feeding carbs before gut flora has time to adap can also result in colic, diarrhea and laminitis reduce nutrient drains by deworming, blanketing, stable to reduce exercise, make sure no competition for food
58
How might we feed obese horses?
Reduce weight by decreasing the quality or quantity of the diet Cut out any grain Feed lower quality hay, but ration must be balanced Commercial "complete feed" type pellets based on alfalfa and straw for weight loss - horses can still spend a lot of time eatingduce feed intake is handled much better than starvation, even if more prolonged Do not dec feed intake below 50% of maintenance to allow slow lipid metabolition, less likely to exceed rate that it can be utilized by peripheral tissues, residual diet provides minerals, carbs, and protein necessary for normal body function
59
What might we do when feeding obese horses in regards to exercise and feeding times?
exercise: start slow - 30m walk/trot 2-3x weekly, increase steadily Increase feeding time: sm, frequent eedings, slow-feed hay nets and grain feeders, feed obstacles, feeding order
60
How might we maintain dietary changes
change diet over at least 10 days do not increase concentrate by more than 0.5 kg (1lb) a day Problems from sudden dietary changes - laminitis, colic
61
WHy might we feed anti-inflam diets?
increasing ratio of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet is anti-inflam Fish oil is a particularly good source bc the fatty acids, EPA, require less metabolism than plant source omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linoleic) Limited conversion of alpha linolenic to EPA
62
What is good to give as anti inflam supplements as commercial supplements
Flaxseed oil (linseed oil) - typically, add 30mL (an ounce) 1-2 a day, anti inflam and improves coat sheen Diet for lameness may be anti-inflam and/or contain nutrients found in, or precursors of, cartilage and synovial fluid Glucosamine Glycosaminoglycan supplements - chondroitin sulfate

Nutrition (13 decks)

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