Equine: carbohydrates Flashcards
non structural carbs
simple sugars (glucose, fructose, galactose)
starches and fructans
structural carbs
take more work to digest
cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin
carb digestion
in SI, some fermentation and microbial digestion in LI
roughage-pasture
-2 types with clinical significance
tall fescue and clover
avoid over/under grazing, mow, control seeds, fertilize
seasonality of non structural carbs on pasture
increase in NSC in fall and spring, and highest between 4 PM-6 PM
ideal time: 5AM - 10AM
legume hay best for
nurtient and E dense, high protein and Ca, best for high performance, growing, pregnant and lactating mares, gastric ulcers (Ca buffers acidity of stomach)
grass hay best for
easy keepers, stall bound, lower protein, more volume
better quality hay is harvested…
EARLY
digestibility and protein content decreases as it matures
want to feed leaves and not stems
hay vs straw
straw is yellow or golden, very little nutritional value and used for sleeping
hay is green and for eating
first limiting AA in equine
lysine!!
what age needs the most protein requirement
foals!!
excess protein = ???
not better!
can cause growth depression and make race horses slower
Fat is important for
concentrating calories in a small volume, vegetable and seed oils
-allows for reduction of total feed intake!
impt vitamins and minerals
calcium, phosphorus, vit A, E, selenium
Ca phosphorus impt for?
Ca: muscle contraction
P: E generating reactions
most extensively studied minerals in the growing horse
IMPT 2:1 ratio
vit A req
vision, immune, reproductive system
decreases with decrease quality of hay
green hay = higher vit A
poor quality hay = supplement vit A
vit E req
high in green pasture grasses - impt in horses iwthout access to pasture
corn pros and cons
2x energy of ats, least expensive, high in vit a
lower protein than oats, needs more careful management (mold toxicity)
add soybean meal
oats pros and cons
safter due to higher fiber content, better protein quality
more expensive
rice bran
best for hard keepers because high fat
beet pulp can be how much of the diet
50% of the diet, substitute for roughage or grain
best for hard keepers
fat supplement EX
vegetable and seed oils – added for concentrated calories
-up to 2 cups/day
2-3 months to adjust
2 types of commercial feeds
- complete: fed as entire diet, concentrate and roughage, all protein/vit/mineral req
- mixtured/textured feeds: need feed roughage, vit and mineral supplement?
complete feeds pros and cons
intake increased, waste decreased, decreased storage space, not dusty, good for senior horses
cost, choke on pellet
mixtured/textured feeds pros and cons
cost, variety, allow for individual diet
roughage cost, easy to create unbalanced diet
ration balancers
supplement, provide essential nutrients that are insufficient in a forage based diet
ADDED TO FORAGE BASED DIET
EX: horse on pasture not egetting enough vitamins
-small daily rec. feeding rate
contamination
mold, insects, pests, toxic plants, foreign bodies = dont feed!!
