Feeding Performance Horses Flashcards
what are the primary goals of feeding performance horses?
maintain BW and keep reserves up
support tissue adaptation, growth, and repair
maintain health and well-being
appropriate competition feeding
what are practical considerations for feeding performance horses?
ingredients
fiber for gut function/health
good energy density
nutrients being met
quality
feeding timing
what are nutrient considerations?
amount of water
energy (CHO, protein and fat)
electrolytes
supplements if needed
why does forage and the performance horse matter?
maintain healthy gut
prevent stereotypes
low energy density
slow rate of passage
dead weight in GIT
what is a source of sugars and starches?
glucose
simple sugars are readily ___ and ___?
available and digestible
beet pulp is what?
a highly fermentable fiber
in high CHO diets, what was seen in research?
higher HR and lactate accumulation during exercise and higher excitability at rest
what is the fat threshold?
20%
what is the benefit of fat in the diet?
easy way to add energy, reduces heat, no sugar high
in fat supplemented diets, what was seen?
increase in performance
what is the optimum level of fat in the diet?
3-12%
starch in diet adaptation and fat?
starch- 3 weeks
fat-10-12 weeks
cessation of fat in diet- 5 weeks
muscle glycogen is used how?
converted to glucose and used for ATP
are pre-exercise muscle glycogen levels are important?
yes, determines aerobic and anaerobic performance
how many hours does it take glycogen stores to restore?
48-72 hours
is IV or oral glucose more effective?
IV
how much starch in the diet?
4g starch/kg BW
how much fat/oil in the diet?
3.5 oz/100 kg
what are the factors affecting requirements?
intensity of exercise
duration
recovery time
sweat losses
anaerobic vs. aerobic metabolism
why do horses need energy?
to maintain body condition and perform work
horses in light work
type
metabolism type
___ increase over maintenance
for % forage
type: pleasure
no anaerobic work
20% increase
75-100% forage
horses in moderate work
type
metabolism type
___ increase over maintenance
for % forage
performance horses
aerobic and anaerobic metabolism
40% increase
70% forage
horses in heavy work
type
metabolism type
___ increase over maintenance
for % forage
ranch, polo, race training
aerobic and anaerobic
60% increase
60% forage
horses in very heavy work
type
metabolism type
___ increase over maintenance
for % forage
race horses
aerobic and anaerobic
90% increase
0.75% forage
protein requirements are based on what?
maintenance, muscle gain and sweat losses
horse sweat contains what?
water, electrolytes, and latherin
swhat electrolyte is of greatest concern?
chloride
latherin is a ____ protein and reduces what?
surface active protein
reduces water surface tension
equine sweat is what?
hypertonic, looses electrolytes in sweat
amount of solute in a given volume of solvent
concentration
total amount of solute in the fluid compartment or body
content
what supplements may performance horses need?
B vitamins and Vitamin E
biotin?
limited research, bad
equine sports and feeding mgt?
racing: hold grain and forage
endurance: feed grain 4-5 hours before and hat and water
issues with performance on an empty stomach?
ulcers
what should be kept in mind when top dressing feeds?
nutrient to calorie ratios
___ week adaptation period to new feeds?
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