Feeding horses Flashcards

Question

What should grazing look like in a horse

Answer 1

Selective grazers Graze the palatable areas of the ground Leave the stemmy areas to overgrow Will not graze near fecal pats

Answer 2

Multiple pastures Pasture rotation Parasite control (no/few survive prairie winters) Different types for different seasons Grass for spring Alfalfa for summer

Answer 3

Prevention of over or undergrazing Grazing pasture close to the ground Move Prevents damage to plants Excessive pasture growth? Mow for hay Overgrazed pastures contribute to increase parasite burdens and favour overgrowth of weeds Ovoid large pastures Under and overgrazed areas Ensure appropriate size and access 1 acre per horse Horses avoid feces (latrines) Avoid forages with a lot of stem Results in roughs and lawns (good areas) Cows eat roughs Cows graze near feces

Answer 4

Chain harrow to spread manure Hot dry periods No horses Clip or mow or spot 2,4-D (selective weed killer) application ro remove unpalatable weeds Once a year

Answer 5

Condition of horses Condition of pasture Analysis of plants Most horses can maintain body weight when fed good quality forage, water and a mineral block

Answer 6

Non structural carbohydrates (NSC) Excessive NSC in large intestine

Answer 7

Non structural carbohydrates (NSC) Sugars, fructans and starch Rapid growth pastures ( spring, summer, fall after heavy rain) favour accumulation Ideally digestion in small intestine Up to half the starch and all the fructans can reach large intestine where it is rapidly fermented

Answer 8

Overgrowth of bacteria that can digest starch and fructans Produce lactic acids, lower pH Destruction and inflammation of gut wall, absorption of toxins Colic Diarrhea Laminitis Systemic inflammatory response that contribute to destruction of lamellar epithelium and matrix

Answer 9

Genetic predisposition Equine metabolic syndrome Obesity Insulin resistance Hyperinsuliemia

Answer 10

Restrict grazing Especially in spring and early summer Rapid growth Pasture overnight throughout morning Fructans increases throughout morning and reaches maximal values in afternoon Grazing muzzle Avoid stemmy, mature pastures Contains more fructans Avoid grazing in low temp Decreases grass growth and increases fructans Supplement with hay Mature grasses or legume containing hay Soak the hay 30-60 minutes Hay steamers Analyze grasses and hay for NSC and feed low NSC hay <10% Avoid obesity Equids with previous laminitis episode especially at risk

Answer 11

Endophytic Fungus Poor growth Prolonged gestation and agalactia in mares Increased foal mortality

Answer 12

Fed to satisfy maintenance requirements At least 50% of diet Higher concentrations increase risk of laminitis and obesity Exception intense exercise Feed smaller, frequent feedings of concentrates No more than 0.5% BW per feeding Good quality hay fed at 1.5% BW Poor quality hay is about 2/3 the energy content Adjust feeding amounts Always allow up to 30% extra for waste

Answer 13

Timothy, brome Lower in calories and protein Higher in fibre Support hindgut fermentation Best for: Easy keepers Stalled horses To support GI health

Answer 14

Alfalfa, clover High in energy, protein and calcium Lower in fibre Not advised as sole diet Can replace 10-20% of grass hay: Heavy work or training Lactating mares Growing horses To improve palatability

Answer 15

Horses like to eat Spreads out nutrient intake (continuous eating) Prevents Cribbing Ulcers

Answer 16

Continuous access Round bale feeder Some put out mixture of good hay and straw bales to prevent obesity Hay rack Hay net If group feeding there must be adequate space so that all horses can eat

Answer 17

Dust Pelleted hay alternatives Mould Choke Hay cubes Soak cubes

Answer 18

Equine asthma syndrome, heaves, recurrent airway obstruction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Soak hay and feed close to the ground

Answer 19

Unintentional Eat bedding Intentional Part of diet Fat horses Low potassium diets Oat straw vs wheat straw Problems Impactions

Answer 20

Some horses require concentrate supplement Lactating mares Weanlings Yearlings Working horses Fed ad lib or limit fed (better)

Answer 21

If limit fed Have N+1 bowls Feed 2 or 3 times a day Increase portion of concentrate When grass is mature (flowering or flowered) When grass is not growing

Answer 22

Maximum concentrate portion of diet 50% (weanlings) Maintain weanlings in lean to moderate body condition (BCS 4) Ribs barely visible Cannot see bony structures of hips or lumbar vertebrae Decrease risk of DOD/OCD

Answer 23

Free choice good quality hay can support moderate work Must feed concentrate (grain) to heavily exercising horses as cannot eat enough hay to meet needs Often advantageous to feed all exercising horses some grain At least half the diet should be roughage to stop GI problems Reduces hay belly–extra weight the horse does not need to lug around while trying to work.

Answer 24

Oats -Most traditional -Processing improves digestibility -Hulled oats more energy dense Barley -Higher in energy than oats -Causes lower glycemia response -Good choice for insulin- resistant horses Corn -High-energy feed -Hard working horses, horses in need of weight-gain -Increased risk of laminitis or colic

Answer 25

Endurance horses burn fat Endurance rides, 25 to 100 km over 1 or 2 days Beneficial to acclimate to fat utilization by feeding fat Feeing trials show benefits of adding fat to diet of endurance horses Reduces risk of grain overload type problems as replaces some of the grain

Answer 26

Typical diets are about 2.5-3% fat Can add fat to up to 10% of diet Must acclimate horses to higher levels of fat High levels of fat will require careful balancing of protein and minerals in diet May improve coat sheen Reduces gastric acid secretion (helps prevent ulcers)

Answer 27

Corn oil Rice bran Canola oil

Answer 28

Grinding ingredients → Mixing and compacting particles → Steam heating at high temperatures → Pushed through pellet die Grinding increases feed’s overall digestibility Low dust (good for respiratory patients) Low moisture level (resistant to mold and freezing)

Answer 29

Grinding and mixing ingredients → Steam heat, pressure and extremely high temperatures → Mash sent through extruder → Die used to give shape Good for pre-cecal digestibility of starches Slow feed intake

Answer 30

Aka sweet feeds Historically, a mixture of oats, corn and molasses Nutritionally incomplete Now see addition of pellets Contains minerals and vitamins Molasses increases palatability Moisture content increases risk of mold/freeze

Answer 31

Too much delivery of starch to large intestine Fermented Diarrhea, colic and laminitis as for fructans Prevent by: Limiting a concentrate feeding to a maximum of 0.5% of BW Feeding at least 50% hay

Answer 32

Wind Sucking, Aerophagia Stable Vice / Oral Stereotypy Predisposing factors Weaned in a stall rather than at pasture Kept in a stall following weaning Being fed concentrates Lack of time at pasture Lack of straw bedding in stall More susceptible to colic

Answer 33

Most common in performance horses 60 to 80% of racehorses in training Risk factors Exercise Increased time in a stall Feeding in meals Not having hay available ad lib Feeding alfalfa is protective Calcium buffers gastric pH? Signs, colic, poor performance Treat with antacids, H2 blocker (Gastrogard)

Answer 34

Diet Fed alfalfa or pastures Alfalfa buffers acid Rhoughage continuously available Avoid large grain meals Avoid (450mL) to diet

Answer 35

Wheat bran and rice bran are grain by-products Water, palatant, fat (calories) High phosphorus content, limited feeding

Answer 36

Beet pulp by-product of sugar beet industry Source of calories and fibre Must be soaked

Answer 37

Increase energy density Corn, soy and other vegetable oils

Answer 38

Palatable Reduces dusts of concentrate mixtures

Answer 39

Poor dentition 60% of horses > 20 years Expired teeth (“cupping out”) Continuously growing teeth, but reserve crown is finite Enamel wears away, decreasing grinding ability Chewing forage difficult Reduced protein, phosphorus and fiber digestion Many do well on grass or grass-alfalfa pasture or hay supplemented with oats Plus dental care Edible oil or rice bran can be added if need more calories Thin horses BCS <4 Do better on specially formulated senior rations Better quality / more protein Calcium and phosphorus content adjusted for changes in digestibility in older horses Pellets (ground) and extruded (improves digestibility) Roughage/stem length to stimulate gut motility Feed 2 to 4 times a day

Answer 40

Genetic predisposition “Thrifty horses” Increased adiposity, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia Respond to high carb foods with exaggerated increase in insulin and high BG level with slow return to normal

Answer 41

Restrict dietary carbohydrate levels Restrict total calories to promote weight loss Methods to reduce NSC Promote optimal BCS “Work” for their food

Answer 42

PPID, ie Equine Cushing’s EMS may be predisposing factor, but both disorders can occur concurrently in middle-age to older horses Metabolism of starch difficult Medical Strategy: Pergolide

Answer 43

Nutritional Strategies: Avoid overfeeding, but encourage proper BCS High-fat senior diets provide energy without overwhelming carbohydrate levels

Answer 44

Fasting ponies, donkeys and miniature horses Poor quality/decreased feed during high-energy periods (pregnancy, systemic disease) Liver dysfunction/failure Negative Energy Balance → Mobilization of Fatty acids → Increased Hepatic Triglyceride Synthesis → Fatty Infiltration of Liver

Answer 45

Small equids: Ponies, miniature horses, donkeys Different metabolism than horses Greater fat release from adipose tissue in response to decrease insulin Much more susceptible to hyperlipemia if fasted Never starve a pony/donkey/mini

Answer 46

Reverses negative energy balance Increases serum glucose concentrations Promotes insulin release Inhibits mobilization of peripheral adipose tissues Enteral and/or parenteral nutritional support may be necessary

Answer 47

Body reserves of fat and protein used for energy Electrolyte and mineral stores also decrease Refed: Insulin released in response to blood glucose Stimulates protein synthesis and movement of electrolytes and glucose into cells Low blood concentrations of electrolytes. Phosphorus needed for energy production in cells and delivery of O2 by RBCs

Answer 48

Start on poor to moderate quality grass or oat hay Introduce at 50% of maintenance (based on ideal BW) Gradually build up over 10 days to maintenance Then gradually introduce concentrate Monitor blood glucose to ensure euglycemic Feeding carbohydrates before gut flora has time to adapt can also result in colic, diarrhea and laminitis Reduce nutrient drains Deworm Blanket for warmth Stable to reduce exercise Males are no competition for food

Answer 49

Do not underfeed lactating animals or those in last trimester of pregnancy Reduce weight by decreasing the quality or quantity of the diet Cut out any grain Feed lower quality hay, but ration must be balanced Commercial “complete feed” type pellets based on alfalfa and straw for weight loss Horses can still spend a lot of time eating Reduced feed intake is handled much better than starvation, even if more prolonged. Do not decrease feed intake below 50% of maintenance. Increase exercise Start slow 30 min walk/trot 2-3x weekly Increase steadily Increase feeding time

Answer 50

Allows slow lipid mobilization Less likely to exceed rate that it can be utilized by peripheral tissues Residual diet provides minerals, carbohydrates and protein necessary for normal body function

Answer 51

Small, frequent feedings Slow-feed hay nets Slow-feed grain feeders Feed obstacles Feeding order

Answer 52

Change diet over at least 10 days. Do not increase concentrate by more than 0.5 kg (1lb) a day. Problems from sudden dietary changes Laminitis Colic

Answer 53

Increasing ratio of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet is anti- inflammatory Fish oil is a particularly good source because the fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), require less metabolism than plant source omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linoleic). Limited conversion of alpha linolenic to EPA

Answer 54

Commercial supplements Flaxseed oil (linseed oil) Typically, add 30 mL (an ounce) once or twice a day Anti-inflammatory Improves coat sheen Diets for lameness may be anti-inflammatory and/or contain nutrients found in, or precursors of, cartilage and synovial fluid Glucosamine Glycosaminoglycan supplements Chondroitin sulfate

Answer 55

Overfeeding typically more a problem than underfeeding Most pleasure horses do not need supplementation with concentrate or pelleted ration High performance horses require balanced, supplemented feed