Equine Nutrition (Exam 2) Flashcards
Provide the equation to calculate the Maintenance Nutrient Requirement for a horse with minimal activity (stall confined).
DE = 30.3 x wt (kg)
Provide the equation to calculate the Maintenance Nutrient Requirement for a horse with average activity.
DE = 33.3 x wt (kg)
Provide the equation to calculate the Maintenance Nutrient Requirement for a horse with elevated activity (nervous, stallions, or young).
DE = 36.3 x wt (kg)
(T/F) Protein not actively used in the horse can be stored in a reservoir.
False - always being used, no storage reservoir
Protein deficiency leads to ______ in horses.
decreased muscle mass
What is the NRC equation which gives you the crude protein requirement for an adult horse of average activity?
Crude Protein = 1.26 x wt (kg)
“Good” carbohydrates are (highly/slowly) digestible, while “bad” carbohydrates are (highly/slowly) digestible.
slowly
highly
An excess of “bad” carbohydrates leads to a high load in the _____ and ____.
cecum + colon
Highly digestible carbohydrates exceed the absorptive capacity of the ______, so they are not digested here.
small intestine
An excess of highly digestible carbohydrates (increases/decreases) the cecal and colonic pH which leads to what?
decreases
bacterial growth
What are the 4 fat soluble vitamins?
A, D, E, K
Which two vitamins are toxic to horses in high amounts?
vitamin A
vitamin D
_______ IU/kg dietary dry matter is the upper limit of Vitamin A in a horse’s diet.
16,000
______ IU/kg dietary dry matter is the upper limit of Vitamin D in a horse’s diet.
2,200
What is the main disorder than can occur in foals with Vitamin A toxicity?
DOD (developmental orthopedic disease)
List 3 disorders consequential of Vitamin A toxicity (not in foals)
- bone fragility
- hyperostosis
- teratogenesis
Vitamin D toxicity can cause what disease which leads to death in horses?
calcinosis (internal organ mineralization)
While there are no known signs of Vitamin E toxicity in horses, its excess may inhibit absorption of other fat-soluble vitamins which could lead to ______.
poor clotting
(T/F) Macrominerals such as Ca, P, K, Na, Cl are tightly regulated so too little or too high of an amount can be lethal.
True
What category of minerals are toxic only in excess?
trace minerals
What trace mineral is highly toxic to horses and one needs to evaluate rations for its concentration?
selenium
What is the maximum tolerance of selenium in horses?
2 mg selenium/kg dietary dry matter
What should be most of a horse’s diet (70% or more)?
forage
(T/F) Horses require grain in their diet.
False
Why do you need to gradually introduce a horse to pasture?
prevent laminitis and sensitivity to sugars/starches in grass
Grain should be limited to <___% of a horse’s diet and only used when a horse needs what?
<30%
supplemental calories
List a few disorders which can result in excess grain of a horse’s diet
enteritis
obesity
DOD (foals)
muscle diseases
______ is necessary in horse commercial feeds to meet their requirements for sugars and starches.
forages (pasture or hay)
(T/F) In “complete feeds” you may need to add supplemental forage.
False
What are 4 types of By-Product feeds for horses?
- beet pulp
- wheat bran
- rice bran
- coconut meal
What By-Product feed for horses should you always soak before feeding? Why?
beet pulp
so it expands before and not in the esophagus
Wheat bran has a high _____ content and may cause development of ______.
phosphorus
enterolith
Rice bran is high in ____ and used for what kind of horses?
fat
athletes
Coconut meal is (high/low) in CHO and energy (dense/deficient).
low
dense
(T/F) Horses prefer automatic waterers and deeper buckets.
False - shorter buckets & troughs (because they are prey animals)
Warm water in cold weather will (increase/decrease) water intake.
increase
Without enough water in a horse’s diet, this can lead to what?
intestinal impactions (from dry feces)
What 2 things can you use to flavor a horse’s water to increase their water intake?
- juice/gatorade (1 cup to 2-3 gal water)
- salt supplement
What should you always provide if you give a horse a flavored water source?
an unflavored water source
What is the equation for energy requirement for a horse of average activity?
DE (kcal/day) = 33.3 x wt (kg)
Horses consume ___% of their body weight in feed daily.
2-2.5%
What percent of forage is necessary in a horse’s diet for maintenance?
80-100%
Which 3 things should be increased in a stallion’s diet to improve reproductive success?
- vitamin E
- vitamin C
- carnitine
How does increasing vitamin E & C improve stallion reproductive success?
decreases sperm cell damage
How does carnitine improve stallion reproductive success?
improve sperm motility
(T/F) A mare needs increased energy intake for reproductive success.
False - same requirements as maintenance for everything!
What is the Body Condition Score (BCS) goal for the mare when wanting reproductive success in mating?
5-6
Feeding a pregnant mare has the same requirement requirements as the maintenance state during the first __ months of gestation except an increased requirement in what two substances?
5 months
vitamin A + vitamin E
In the last 7 months of gestation, the mare has a slight increase in ______ and forage should be ___% of her daily intake.
water intake
80%
(T/F) Herbal supplements can be beneficial in pregnant and nursing mares and their foal’s health.
False - unknown effects but DO NOT feed!
What supplement is important in repairing OCD lesions later in life and the mares give birth to foals with less severe OCD lesions?
copper
Which supplement increases foal immunity if given to a mare in the last 7 months of gestation?
vitamin E
Vitamin E increases milk ___ and ___ as well as foal serum ___ for better immunity.
IgM + IgG
IgG
What is the most demanding physiological state of the horse?
lactation
How much more energy does the lactating mare require compared to the maintenance state?
2x energy
(T/F) Water intake does not increase in the lactating mare.
False - increases 2-3x
(T/F) It is normal for the mare to lose weight during the first 3 months of lactation.
True - cannot ingest enough energy
Limit the feeding of ____ to lactating mares to prevent GI complications.
grain
All requirements for ______ increase in the lactating mare, especially due to the increase in ____ needed for milk.
minerals
calcium
In lactating mares, there is an increased vitamin __ requirement, but no change in the required vitamin __ or __.
E
A or D
Name 3 things that are reduced or worsened with a senior horse (>20 years)
reduced protein digestibility
reduced mineral bioavailability
worsened dentition
What two supplements (single amino acids) can improve muscle mass in a senior horse?
lysine
threonine
What are 2 main nutrient toxicities in horses?
- selenium
- ionophore
2 signs of selenium toxicity in horses
- broken hairs (on mane/tail)
- laminitis
What are ionophores typically used for?
coccidiostat in ruminant/poultry feed
Name a few signs of acute ionophore toxicity in horses
colic, anorexia, weakness, ataxia, muscle degeneration
What are 2 delayed complications from ionophore toxicity in horses?
cardiac failure
neurological deficits
If looking at a forage analysis, mg/kg is equal to:
parts per million (PPM)
(T/F) The veterinarian must submit the a forage analysis sample for submission.
False - client should send in!
What substance is NOT automatically included in a forage analysis and must be additionally added?
selenium
________ is not listed on the feed tag label for horses.
energy density
If a forage analysis has less than 7% of calcium, that indicates its what kind of forage?
grass hay
