Equine Nutrition - Ranvet Flashcards
Ranvet
Formulation of nutritional supplements based on scientific evidence and extensive research and field work
Ranvet services
- Diet evaluation and formulation
- Consultation, advice and recommendations
- Racing/performance/stud nutrition
- Pasture and grain analysis service
- Gastric video endoscopy service
Influence of Digestive System design on feeding
- Ideally suited for small forage-type meals
- Works well with continuous feeding
- Large carb meals may induce laminitis or colic
- Forage should be the main diet component
- Concentrate feeds supplemental
Factors that influence digestibility
- Type of feedstuff
- Maturity of feedstuff
- Processing of feed
- Quantity fed
- Frequency of feeding
- Rate of passage
- Compounds that influence digestibility
Rules of thumb (9)
- Can consume up to 2-2.5% of body weight daily
- Body weight determined by weight tape
- Diet must contain at least 1% of body weight as roughage
- Must have free access to water and mineral blocks
- Switch feed type or quantity slowly
- Feed by weight not volume
- Avoid “cutting” balanced rations
- feed on regular schedule at even intervals
- Ca:P ratio of 2:1
Factors affecting nutritional requirements (5)
- Class of horse
- Nutrient requirements
- Type of roughage to be fed
- Determine how much of the requirements are met by the forage
- Determine nutrient shortages and select concentrate feeds accordingly
Importance of electrolytes for horses in work
- Osmotic pressure and body fluid balance
- Nerve and muscle activity
- Thirst response
- Maintenance of suitable blood pH
Thirst response and electrolytes
Thirst is initiated by low blood volume/high blood electrolyte concentration at which point the horse is dehydrated
- if a horse is dehydrated but has low salt conc in blood, it won’t be thirsty
Important electrolytes (5)
- Sodium
- Chloride
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Calcium
Importance of sodium (4)
- Nervous system function
- electrical charge in muscle tissue
- acid-base balance
- osmotic regulation and glucose transport
Importance of Chloride (2)
- Acid-base balance
2. osmotic regulation
Importance of potassium (3)
- acid-base balance
- osmotic balance
- neuromuscular excitability
Importance of Magnesium (2)
- Enzyme activator
2. Participates in muscle contraction
Importance of calcium (4)
- Muscle contraction
- blood coagulation
- enzyme regulation
- cell membrane function
Implications of excessive electrolyte loss:
- Tying-up
- Dehydration
- Acidosis.alkalosis
- Suppressed thirst response