Equine Nutrition

Question 1

What are the first steps to take when a horse presents with weight loss?

Answer 1

1. Measure quantity of feed consumed
2. Assess quality of feed consumed
3. Check teeth
4. Perform a fecal
5. Additional diagnostics

Question 2

What are the caloric requirements for (1) normal horse, (2) easy keepers, and (3) hard keepers?

Answer 2

Normal = BW x 0.0333
Easy keepers = BW x 0.0303
Hard keepers = BW x 0.0363

Question 3

How can caloric intake be adjusted for maintenance vs light/moderate/hard work?

Answer 3

Question 4

How many calories are in hay vs grain?

Answer 4

Hay = 0.8 Mcal/lb
Grain = 1.3 Mcal/lb

Question 5

What is the cornerstone of the equine diet?

Answer 5

Hay!
Grain is NOT an essential part of the equine diet

Question 6

How much hay is in a flake of “small bale” hay?

Answer 6

5 lbs

Question 7

How often should horses be fed?

Answer 7

Allow access to feed (hay) 24hrs/day
Preferably feed small meals frequently

Question 8

What effects do fats have on the horse?

Answer 8

Use of rations with high fat content (vegetable oils, linseeds, rice bran) spares the use of glucose/glycogen and increases the use of body fat = less lactic acid and heat during exercise
May offer natural protection against gastric ulceration

Question 9

What effects do carbs have on behavior?

Answer 9

Carbs (certain grains) can make horses “hot”
Dietary fats can reduce excitable behavior in horses

Question 10

Benefits of fat supplemented diet

Answer 10

Energy density
No mastication required
Less risk of GI disturbance
Behavioral benefits
GI protection (ulcers)
Glycogen sparing diet

Question 11

Disadvantages of fat supplemented diet

Answer 11

Weight gain
Reduced palatability
Costs
“Messiness” of oils
Shelf life
Insulin sensitivity

Question 12

What health problems are associated with feeding large grain meals?

Answer 12

Colic
Colitis
Diarrhea
Gastric ulcers
Laminitis
Rhabdomyolysis
Obesity
Joint disease
Hyperlipidemia

Question 13

Characteristics: Oats

Answer 13

Palatable
Best nutrient balances
Starch is foregut digested
“Sugar high”

Question 14

Characteristics: Corn

Answer 14

Denser than oats (overfeeding)
Not nutrient balanced
Starch mostly hindgut digested (unless processed)
Hindgut acidosis

Question 15

Characteristics: Sweet Feed

Answer 15

Palatable
Quickly consumed
Lower digestibility
Short shelf life
Expensive for nutrients they provide

Question 16

Characteristics: Pelleted Feed

Answer 16

Less “messy”
Longer shelf life
More economical
Available as complete feeds
Horse with bad teeth

Question 17

How much hay should be fed per bw per day?

Answer 17

2% of bw

Question 18

What amount should concentrates be limited to?

Answer 18

3lbs/meal (if they are needed at all)

Question 19

To increase energy content, supplement with _______

Answer 19

Fats (rather than carbs)