Equine Nutrition

Question 1

Describe the function of each part of the gastrointestinal tract

Answer 1

mouth - chewing
esophagus - transport
stomach - enzymatic breakdown
small intestine - digestion
cecum - what ever was not digested in SI (cellulose)
colon - fecal ball creation and water reabsorption
descending colon - fecal ball formation

Question 2

where does fermentation in the horse occur?

Answer 2

hindgut fermentation
cecum and colon

Question 3

what does fermentation in the hindgut produce?

Answer 3

CO2, methane, and VFA

Question 4

what are the VFAs produced in hindgut fermentation?

Answer 4

propionate - used for glucose production
acetate - converted to acetly CoA and used for immediate energy
Butyrate - also converted to acetyl CoA

Question 5

what are the necessary nutrients for horses?

Answer 5

water
forage

Question 6

how much water should a horse drink a day?

Answer 6

5% BW
1000lb horse, 50lbs water, 7 gallons daily

Question 7

how much forage should a horse receive daily?

Answer 7

1.5-3% BW
1000lbs horse - 15-30lbs

Question 8

what are the components of forage? what is each purpose?

Answer 8

carbohydrates - primary source of energy
protein
fat - VFAs provide 30% energy requirements

Question 9

how much of the forage diet in a horse should be protein?

Answer 9

12%

Question 10

What is the ratio of calcium to phosphorus that horses should receive?

Answer 10

2:1

Question 11

what is the ratio of phosphorus to calcium that horses should receive?

Answer 11

1:2

Question 12

what are the necessary vitamins horses should receive?

Answer 12

vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, thiamine, riboflavin

Question 13

what are the necessary macrominerals horses should receive?

Answer 13

calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, and sulfur

Question 14

what are the necessary microminerals horses should recieve?

Answer 14

selenium, zinc, copper, iodine, cobalt, iron, manganese

Question 15

what is the significance of the following macrominerals -calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, and sulfur

Answer 15

calcium - critical in every pathway
phosphorous - ADP/ATP production
magnesium - enzymes, muscle contraction
potassium - cellular regulation/AP
sodium - cellular regulation/AP
chlorine - acid-base and osmotic regulation
sulfur - formation of AA

Question 16

what is the significance of the following microminerals - selenium, zinc, copper, iodine, cobalt, iron, manganese

Answer 16

selenium - thyroid metabolism
zinc - enzyme comp
copper - enzymes, CT, and mobilization of iron stores
iodine - synthesis of thyroid hormones
cobalt - needed to synthesize vitamin B12
iron - myoglobin, hemoglobin, cytochromes
manganese - carbohydrate and lipid metabolism

Question 17

How much should the dry matter be?

Answer 17

90-93%

Question 18

what should the neutral detergent fiber be?

Answer 18

less than 65%

Question 19

what should acid detergent fiber be?

Answer 19

25-30%

Question 20

what are concentrates?

Answer 20

designed for horses that do jobs and need extra calories

Question 21

Do complete pelleted diets need additional forage needed?

Answer 21

no

Question 22

what are the grains?

Answer 22

corn, oats, barley

Question 23

what is the maintenance requirement for horses caloric intake?

Answer 23

30-35 kcal/kg

Question 24

what is the maintenance requirement for performance horses - light, moderate, heavy, and very heavy?

Answer 24

light - 40 kcal DE/kg
moderate - 46 kcal DE/kg
heavy - 53 kcal DE/kg
very heavy - 63 kcal DE/kg

Question 25

what is the maintenance requirement for brooding mares caloric intake? (less than 5 months gestation and greater than 5 months gestation)

Answer 25

less than 5 months - 30-35 kcal/kg
greater than 5 months - 66kcal/kg

Question 26

what is the maintenance requirement for a lactating mare caloric intake?

Answer 26

51 kcal/kg - depends on milk production

Question 27

does a foal need to receive more or less than a 2 year old?

Answer 27

significantly more

Question 28

what are the common diseases caused by inappropriate nutrition?

Answer 28

vitamin E deficiency
selenium deficiency
nutritional hyperparathyroidism

Question 29

what are the common diseases treated with nutrition?

Answer 29

insulin dysregulation
HYPP
PSSM

Question 30

what are diseases caused by vitamin E deficiency?

Answer 30

equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM)/ neurooaxonal dystrophy (NAD)
Equine lower motor neuron disease (EMND)

Question 31

what causes white muscle disease?

Answer 31

selenium deficiency

Question 32

what is the diet that an insulin dysregulation/equine metabolic syndrome should receive?

Answer 32

WSC + starch = non-structural carbohydrates less than 10%

Question 33

how do horses get nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism?

Answer 33

fed diets low in calcium and high in phosphorous

need to have Ca:PO4 ratio of 2:1

Question 34

what is the pathogenesis of grain overload?

Answer 34

ingestion of large amount of carbohydrates overwhelms the small intestine and enters the cecum/colon > rapid fermentation decreases cecal pH > gram negative bacteria die releasing endotoxins

Question 35

how do you treat horses with OCD?

Answer 35

complete diet low in carbohydrates
remove the chip

Question 36

how do you feed a horse with HYPP?

Answer 36

dietary intake of potassium <1% total diet

hay can have 3% potassium - grass has less than alfalfa

feed grains - <0.5% potassium, grain intake releases insulin helps uptake potassium

Question 37

how do you feed a horse with polysaccharide storage myopathy?

Answer 37

keto diet - low carbs, high fat, daily exercise