Equine Nutrition Flashcards
What are the three types of GI tracts?
- Monogastric - Omnivores: pigs, bears, rats.
- Hindgut fermenter - Herbivore: horses, rabbits, Guinea pigs.
- Ruminant - Herbivore: cows, alpacas, llamas.
T/F: Hindgut fermenters have a simple GI system with a large cecum.
Where is the cecum located?
- True! Cecum is an important part of their GI tract.
- Cecum is located between the small and large intestine
Where does the fermentation of food occur in the hindgut fermenter?
Fermentation occurs in the cecum. That’s why it’s so big!
Where does the enzymatic digestion occur?
Small intestine!
After the food has been broken down into smaller bit through the oral cavity, it will pass through the esophagus. The surface area increases as it moves to the small intestine, where enzymatic digestion will begin.
T/F: Hindgut fermenters are not designed to extract nutrients from roughage
False! They are designed to extract roughage (grass or hay) by fermentation
In the large intestine & cecum, microbial fermentation occurs. This produces _____. A horse can extract up to _____kcals per pound of hay.
- Volatile fatty acids (VFAs)
- They can extract up to 900 kcals per pound of hay
What is absorbed in the large intestine? (2)
- Water
- Electrolytes: Na, K, Cl, Ph
How much and how often should a horse be fed?
Frequently and small meals. They have a simple stomach!
A horses enlarged cecum & large intestine is dedicated to digesting primarily ____.
Fiber digestion
Many nutrition disorders occur due to humans changing horse diet & eating habits. What are some reasons?
- To fit the owners schedule (work, school, etc).
- Convenience (giving 2-3 large meals a day).
- Availability of feedstuff.
Define forage
Grass, hay, or plants for horses to eat
In what ways is the quality of forage affected? (4)
- Plant type
- Climate
- Growing conditions of forage
- Cutting conditions
What are the four essential nutrients for horses?
- Water
- Forage - hay or pasture
- Grain - occasionally
- Supplements
T/F: Hindgut fermenters can digest mold & toxins due to their ability to digest roughage.
FALSE!!
Forage should be free of mold and toxins. Be sure the forage is palatable and provide significant amounts of nutrition.
Alfalfa and clover hay are what type of hay?
Legume
Oat grass, timothy & orchard grass are what type of hay?
Gramineous
- High in energy, protein, & calcium
- Good for growing horses, late gestation, & lactation
What is it?
Alfalfa hay!
- Good for adult horses (not lactating!)
- Can be mixed with alfalfa
What is it?
Timothy grass & Brome hay
When is pasture most rich in protein (and most ideal time to cut) in the northwest?
Spring time! Especially in WA
What are factors of determining hay quality? (8)
- Young hay - more calorie dense
- Color - richer color higher in vita
- Dust
- Lack of foreign material (plastic)
- Area of origin
- Weather during cut
- Mature pasture - longer stems, larger seed
- Can be tested by a lab - $30
T/F: A forage only diet will be able to maintain a horses weight and essential nutrients
False.
A forage diet WILL be able to maintain their weight, but will LACK in trace minerals. So you should ass supplements to their diet.
What are common trace minerals that would need to be supplemented in a forage only diet? (3)
- Selenium (Se): muscle soreness (WA is deficient in this)
- Zinc (Zn): immune function
- Copper (Cu): joint health
Among others: Ph, Mn, Ca
What are “brood mares”?
Horses producing or nursing offspring
T/F: A brood mare in early to midgestation should get an increased amount of calories and minerals
False!
There is no need to increase calorie/mineral intake. Be sure they have access to quality calories and minerals though!
T/F: Brood mares in months 9 to 11 (late gestation) should not receive grain.
False!
Mares should be given grain to increase their calorie intake. Now is the time to up those calories.
T/F: During lactation, high energy, protein, Ca, & Ph is necessary. The goal is to maintain BCS this way.
True! Lactating horses should be consuming 2.5% in fed dry matter during this time.
Neonatal foals
commercial feeds
amount of concentration additives
feeding growing horses
senior horses
equine BCS
