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465 - Applied Nutrition > Equine > Flashcards

Equine Flashcards

1
Q

What is the primary function of the mouth in digestion?

A

Mastication/chewing, reduce feed particle size, mix feed with saliva, starch digestion.

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2
Q

How much saliva is secreted per day?

A

Approx 40L/day, only secreted while eating.

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3
Q

List the relative sizes of the stomach, small intestine, cecum, and large intestine in horses from largest to smallest.

A

From biggest to smallest:
* Large intestine
* Small intestine
* Cecum
* Stomach

The stomach is relatively small compared to body size.

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4
Q

Where do microbial and enzymatic digestion occur in the GIT?

A

Enzymatic:
* Stomach
* Small intestine

Microbial
* Cecum
* Large colon
* Small colon

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5
Q

What enzyme is involved in starch digestion in the mouth?

A

Amylase

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6
Q

What are the main functions of the stomach in horses?

A
  • Storage and physical mixing
  • Initial chemical digestion
  • Propel food to small intestines
  • Protein digestion.

Protein digestion occurs here with the aid of HCl and pepsin.

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7
Q

What enzymes are involved in protein digestion in the small intestine?

A
  • Trypsin
  • Chymotrypsin
  • Carboxypeptidase
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8
Q

What is the rate of passage in the small intestine?

A

Fast rate of passage

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9
Q

Where are the majority of carbohydrates digested and absorbed?

A

Small intestine

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10
Q

How much of the small intestine can be removed during anastomosis and resection?

A

Up to 75%

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11
Q

What nutrient types are digested in the small intestine?

A
  • Protein
  • Carbohydrates
  • Fat

Main site of carbohydrate digestion.

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12
Q

What is the main function of the large intestine in equine nutrition?

A
  • Fermentation vat
  • Microbial breakdown of cellulose
  • Water and salt absorption
  • Reservoir for water and electrolytes
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13
Q

What is absorbed in the large intestine?

A
  • Water
  • Salt (Sodium Chloride)

The large intestine also serves as a reservoir for water and electrolytes.

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14
Q

What is the rate of passage in the large intestine?

A

Slow rate of passage

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15
Q

How much ingesta can the large intestine contain?

A

75-90kg

Important when treating colics because it is a misconception that if horses pass manure, they are not in colic. This is wrong! They can have up to 5 days of manure in the LI and can still pass it if obstruction is before LI.

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16
Q

What is the primary function of the small colon?

A

Water absorption and fecal ball formation

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17
Q

What are the main factors that determine feed requirements for horses?

A
  1. Forage requirements
  2. Energy requirements
  3. Protein requirements
  4. Nutrient composition of feed
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18
Q

How many hours a day should horses ideally be eating?

A

15 hours a day

This is crucial for meeting their nutrient requirements.

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19
Q

True or False: Most of a horse’s nutrient requirements can be met with forage alone.

A

True, if it is a good quality forage.

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20
Q

How much pasture is required to graze one horse during the summer?

A

3-5 acres of good pasture

Adequate grazing land supports the horse’s dietary needs.

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21
Q

What is the average daily dry matter intake (DMI) for adult horses?

A

1.5% - 3.0% of body weight (2% avg) but depends on body condition!

For a 500 kg horse, this translates to about 10 kg dry weight of feed.

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22
Q

What is the minimum maintenance energy requirement for horses in kcal/kg body weight?

A

30.3 kcal/kg BW

This is the baseline energy needed for maintenance.

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23
Q

What is the average maintenance energy requirement for horses in kcal/kg body weight?

A

33.3 kcal/kg BW

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24
Q

What is the elevated maintenance energy requirement for horses in kcal/kg body weight?

A

36.3 kcal/kg BW

This may be necessary for horses with higher activity levels.

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25
Q

What is the daily energy maintenance requirement (DEM) for a 500 kg horse?

A

16.7 Mcal/day

This accounts for maintenance without production factors - mainly metabolism.

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26
Q

What factors are included in the maintenance energy requirement?

A
  • Basal Metabolism
  • Basic Activity
  • Temperature Regulation
  • Maintenance of weight
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27
Q

How much weight change is required to increase/decrease body condition by one score?

A

25 kg of weight

This change should occur gradually over 60-180 days.

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28
Q

How many Mcal above maintenance is required to increase body condition by 1 kg?

A

20 Mcal

TOTAL! Not per day lol

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29
Q

If a 500 kg horse is at a current BCS of 4 and desired BCS of 5, how much weight change is needed? How much additional energy is required for this change?

A

25 kg gain to change from a 4 to 5 BCS.

20Mcal x 25kg = 500Mcal of additional feed required TOTAL.

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30
Q

What is the basal daily energy maintenance (DEm) for a horse?

A

17 Mcal/Day

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31
Q

What happens if energy needs are not met in an animal?

A

The animal will burn protein for energy instead

Important to meet energy requirements before supplementing protein!

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32
Q

Is there any benefit to supplementing protein if energy requirements are not met?

A

No

Supplementing protein without meeting energy needs is ineffective.

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33
Q

What is the average digestible protein requirement for a 500kg horse?

A

500 g digestible protein, 10% protein in feed.

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34
Q

What percentage of protein is typically found in horse feed?

A

10% protein in feed

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35
Q

What is the maximum percentage of fat allowed in a horse’s total diet?

A

Max ~20% in total diet

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36
Q

How much fat can a 500kg horse typically handle?

A

500 ml of fat (just over 2 cups)

This is an efficient source of digestible energy.

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37
Q

How much energy does half a cup of fat provide?

A

1 MCal

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38
Q

What is the fat content in natural horse diets?

A

< 3-4% fat

39
Q

What is the fat content range in ‘high fat’ concentrates?

A

6-10% fat

These concentrates are formulated to provide more energy.

40
Q

Describe how omega 6 is metabolized.

A

Limoleic acid to arachidonic acid to prostaglandin E2

Prostaglandin E2 is an inflammatory mediator.

41
Q

Describe how omega 6 is metabolized.

A

Alpha linoleic acid converts to EPA and DHA, which compete with prostaglandins to suppress inflammation.

42
Q

What is the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in flax oil?

A

1:5

Flax oil is particularly high in ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid.

43
Q

What is the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in marine oils?

A

1:3

Marine oils are a good source of DHA and EPA.

44
Q

Which is pro-inflammatory and which is anti-inflammatory between Omega 3 and 6?

A

Omega 3 - Pro-inflammatory
Omega 6 - Anti-inflammatory

45
Q

What is recommended for diets consisting only of forage?

A

A vitamin and mineral supplement

This is important because forages may not provide all essential nutrients.

46
Q

What is the importance of salt in a horse diet?

A

It increases the amount of water a horse drinks / encourages more drinking.

47
Q

What happens to hay as it ages?

A

It loses nutrient value, especially vitamins

48
Q

What are two important nutrients to monitor in horse diets?

A

Vitamin E & Selenium

49
Q

What are the essential functions of water in the body?

A

Essential for all body functions!

  • Temperature regulation
  • Feed digestion
50
Q

What factors influence the amount of water intake for horses?

A
  • Level of exercise
  • Sweat losses
  • Ambient temperature
  • Quality of feeds in ration
  • Proportion of diet that is forage
51
Q

Inadequate water intake can lead to…

A

impaction colic (constipation)

52
Q

What is the minimum water requirement for a horse per day?

A

50-60ml/kg/day = ~24L/day

This is a general guideline for hydration.

53
Q

True or False: Eating snow is sufficient for a horse’s water intake.

A

False

54
Q

What is the Thermoneutral Zone?

A

The range of temperatures at which metabolic heat production doesn’t change.

55
Q

What happens below the lower critical temperature (LCT)?

A

Metabolic heat production increases, requiring more energy.

The LCT ranges vary for different age groups of horses.

56
Q

What is the estimated time to acclimatize to a new environment?

A

21 days to ‘reset’ the Thermoneutral Zone.

Acclimatization is important for proper thermoregulation.

57
Q

How does cold weather affect the daily energy requirement (DE) for horses?

A

DE requirement increases 1.3-2.5% for each 1°C below LCT.

58
Q

What is the LCT range for newborn and week-old foals?

A

Newborn: 16-26°C.
Week-old: 13-23°C.

59
Q

What is the LCT range for adult horses?

A

-20 – +5°C.

60
Q

What are the effects of heat on metabolic rate?

A

Increased energy requirements and main loss of heat through sweat.

Other factors include increased activity and electrolyte needs.

61
Q

How does obesity affect heat stress in horses?

A

Obesity increases heat stress due to less circulation through adipose tissue.

62
Q

What is the UCT range for adult horses?

A

20-30°C.

This is an estimate.

63
Q

What is the heat increment of feeding?

A

Different feeds produce different amounts of heat.

64
Q

What are the heat increments of different feeds?

A

Hay > Grain > Fat

Fibre > Protein > Starch > Fat

65
Q

What factors affect nutritional needs?

A
  • Size, body type and weight
  • Age
  • Work: production stage
  • Breed: temperament
  • Environment: climatic conditions
  • Health status (external & internal parasites, dental disorders, systemic disease)
  • Vices
66
Q

What happens if energy needs of performance horses are not met?

A

Performance horses have increased energy requirements.

If energy needs are not met, the animal will burn protein for energy instead.

67
Q

Performance horses need _______ as part of their diet.

A

[forage]

68
Q

What are the feeding requirements for a stallion?

A

Similar to adult horse, adjusted for level of breeding activity

69
Q

What is the ideal body condition score for stallions?

A

5 or 6 out of 9

70
Q

What is the effect of supplements on stallions?

A

Provide varied and inconsistent results, limited to no changes in semen quality

71
Q

What are the nutritional requirements for broodmares during early to mid-gestation?

A

Good quality forage + mineral supplement

72
Q

What are the increased nutritional requirements at 5 months gestation for broodmares?

A
  • Energy
  • Protein
  • Mineral
73
Q

What is required for broodmares in late gestation?

A

Additional energy through concentrates, BCS 6+ as a buffer for poor feed conditions

74
Q

What is the ideal body condition score (BCS) for foaling mares?

A

5-7

This score helps optimize conception rates and overall health.

75
Q

When does the fetus grow the most?

A

In last trimester

76
Q

How much body weight will pregnant mares gain?

A

12-15%

77
Q

What percentage of body weight can a lactating mare produce in milk per day?

A

2–4% of her body weight

Lactation is very energy demanding!!

78
Q

What happens to a lactating mare’s nutrient stores?

A

Mares will use nutrient stores to supply milk nutrients first

79
Q

True or False: It is common to overfeed pregnant mares.

A

True

Overfeeding can lead to complications during pregnancy and foaling (dystocia).

80
Q

What is the primary diet for a growing horse from birth to 3 months?

A

Primarily milk, starts eating what dam does within a week.

81
Q

What is the primary diet for a growing horse from 4 to 6 months?

A

Drop in milk consumption, increased forage and concentrates.

Weaning usually around 5 mo.

82
Q

What is creep feeding and when should it start?

A

Creep feeding involves providing supplemental feed to foals while they are still nursing from their mothers.

Should start at 8 weeks of age.

83
Q

What is the rule of thumb for creep feed intake?

A

Feed 0.45 kg per day for each month of age.

84
Q

What are the goals of creep feeding?

A
  • Accelerate digestive tract maturation
  • Allow for consistent growth
  • Decrease stress of weaning
  • Provide adequate nutrients (if milk doesn’t)

Creep feeding helps in the transition from milk to solid food.

85
Q

What strategies can help maintain growth rate around weaning?

A
  • Introduce foal to concentrates and forages before weaning
  • Wean foals onto the best quality forages available
  • Supply additional supplementation in winter and cut back on dietary energy in spring
86
Q

How does the diet of yearlings differ from that of weanlings?

A

Dietary nutrient concentrations for yearlings are less than that for weanlings.

Yearlings’ diet is more similar to that of an adult horse.

87
Q

What is a key consideration in feeding yearlings?

A

Use nutrition to reduce drastic changes in growth rate.

This helps mitigate risks of developmental orthopedic disease (DOD).

88
Q

What is an old horse?

A

Generally healthy and over 20 years old

89
Q

What defines a geriatric horse?

A

Older horse with signs of senescent changes, may have concurrent disease.

90
Q

What are some digestive changes in geriatric horses?

A
  • Reduction in digestion and changes in microbial population
  • Fiber digestion decreases
  • Decreased ability to produce or absorb certain vitamins
  • Poor dentition
  • Over/underweight
91
Q

Which vitamins may geriatric horses struggle to manufacture or absorb?

A
  • B vitamins
  • Vitamin C
92
Q

What factors can lead to decreased feed intake in geriatric horses?

A
  • Less active
  • Decreased basal metabolic rate
  • Dental disease
  • MSK pain - Decreased movement
  • Changes in hierarchy - Bullying
  • Health changes (e.g., PPID, Asthma, Neoplasia)
93
Q

What are some considerations for selecting feed for geriatric horses?

A
  • Highly palatable
  • Easy to chew & swallow
  • Clean & dust free
94
Q

What are some recommended feeding strategies for geriatric horses?

A
  • Highly digestible pellets or extruded feeds
  • High quality fiber to aid digestion
  • Chopped hay, hay cubes or pellets
  • Soaked feeds or mashes

465 - Applied Nutrition (3 decks)

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