Equine Nutrition III

Question 1

what does the national research council represent for horse nutrition?

Answer 1

represents MINIMUM requirements for nutrients based on mature BW

Question 2

what does the equi-analytical website offer?

Answer 2

type of horse, age, current BCS, and physiologic state

Question 3

what do protein requirements of horses depend on?

Answer 3

physiologic state: ideal amino acid profile important for growth

Question 4

what are the most common essential AA that are lacking in feed?

Answer 4

lysine, methionine, threonine

Question 5

what if protein is deficient in young horses?

Answer 5

decreased growth and development

Question 6

what is mature animals are deficient in protein?

Answer 6

decreased intake of feed (need protein for GIT enzymes), loss of BCS, poor hoof and hair

Question 7

feeding trials show the benefits of adding _____ to diet of endurance horses

Answer 7

fat - reduce risk of grain overload

Question 8

what % fat are basal hay:grain diets?

Answer 8

3% fat

Question 9

what percent fat can be included in a horses diet?

Answer 9

up to 10% fat

Question 10

why must horses be acclimated to a high fat diet?

Answer 10

high fat requires balancing proteins and minerals in the diet

Question 11

how much water does a 1000 lb horse need per day for maintenance?

Answer 11

8-10 gallons per 1000 lbs

Question 12

how much does water intake increase for lactation? for exercise?

Answer 12

lactation: 50-80% increase
exercise: 20-400% increase

Question 13

what are some guidelines for water for horses?

Answer 13

provide free access to palatable water, allow horse to drink as often as possible during exercise, provide salt to encourage adequate water consumption

Question 14

should warm or cool water be given to horse?

Answer 14

cool because the stomach empties faster (except winter)

Question 15

how many pounds does each body condition score equate to on the 9 point system?

Answer 15

50 pounds

Question 16

what is the ideal BCS for performance horse? pleasure horse?

Answer 16

performance: 4-5
pleasure: 5-6

Question 17

where are places to BCS on a horse?

Answer 17

crest of neck, withers, behind the shoulder, over the ribs, along the back, tailhead

Question 18

what should starving horses be started on?

Answer 18

start on poor to moderate quality grass or oat hay because the fiber level is high

Question 19

what percent of poor to mod quality grass or oat hay should be fed to starving horses?

Answer 19

introduce at 50% of maintenance based on ideal BW and gradually increase to maintenance level over 10d

Question 20

what is an important initial first step of managing starvation to reduce nutrient drains?

Answer 20

deworm

Question 21

how long should you take to change the diet when increasing feed amount?

Answer 21

change diet over at least 10 days when increasing feed amount

Question 22

how should grain be introduced to starving horse or reintroduced after colic?

Answer 22

add 1/4 of full amount every 2-3 days to achieve 10 d minimum
start at 1/4 -> 1/2 -> 3/4 -> full

Question 23

what can occur form sudden dietary changes?

Answer 23

laminitis and colic

Question 24

what are clinical signs of equine cushing’s disease/PPID?

Answer 24

lose dopamine inhibition of ACTH release -> delayed shedding, muscle wasting, weight loss, pu/pd, sweating, abn glucose and fat metabolism

Question 25

what diet do most geriatric horses do well on?

Answer 25

grass/hay and oats diet with regular dental care

Question 26

what do thin geriatric horses with a BCS <4 do better on?

Answer 26

specially formualted complete senior rations

Question 27

how is the metabolism of ponies and mini horses different than big horses?

Answer 27

increased lipolysis from adipose tissue in response to decreased insulin and negative energy balance

Question 28

what are ponies and mini horses much more susceptible to if fasted?

Answer 28

hyperlipemia -> leads to fatty infiltration of liver, overall high TG

Question 29

how is hyperlipemia treated?

Answer 29

IV glucose and amino acids

Question 30

what do nutritional problems for growing horses cause?

Answer 30

contracted tendons, may occur at birth due to malpositions in utero or may occur in the rapid growth phase

Question 31

As a general rule for obese horses, you should not decrease feed intake to below this amount

Answer 31

below 50% of maintenance

Question 32

why should feed intake not be decreased below 50% of maintenance for obese horses?

Answer 32

less likely to exceed rate that lipid can be utilized by tissues and diet needs to provide carbs and protein necessary for metabolism

Question 33

obese horses are more susceptible to which metabolic syndrome?

Answer 33

Insulin insensitivity

Question 34

true or false: you should increase grain and remove exercise for obese horses

Answer 34

false

Question 35

what is the strategy to decrease intake of obese horse?

Answer 35

feed 2% of current body weight for 2 weeks, then 1.5% of current BW for 2 weeks, then 1.5% of target BW for 2 weeks

Question 36

what tool can be utilized when pasture access can't be limited?

Answer 36

grazing muzzle

Question 37

what supplement should be given to obese horses then weaned off once weight loss occurs?

Answer 37

thyroid hormone - levothyroxine - feed 3x normal dose

Question 38

what is exertional myopathy?

Answer 38

syndrome of muscle fatigue, pain, cramping associated with exercise

Question 39

what is recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis?

Answer 39

abnormal regulation of intracellular Ca in skeletal muscle