Growing Horses Flashcards
What are the main considerations for growing horses?
Maintenance and growth
We strive for what kind of growth and why?
Consistent
Rapid growth does not increase mature size
Deficient nutrient intake can decrease mature size
What things are higher needs during growth?
DE, CP, Ca, P, Zn, and Cu
What 2 things should always be provided to growing horses?
Water and salt block
Why are there different growth curves for horses?
Different goals for young horses
Dressage- started at 4
Racing- by 2
Stock breeds- fitting weanlings and yearlings
Size and condition
Health
Skeletal soundness
Athletic potential
Horses reach mature weight around what age?
24-60 mo.
Horses reach mature height at what age?
12-60 mo.
High rate of gain= what?
Increased fat deposition
High energy/low protein diets = what?
Higher fat deposition and lower muscle
Training = what?
Lower fat
Rate of gain can be easily influenced by what?
Diet
What is the primary growth variable influenced by the diet? What is hard to influence?
Primary- ADG
Hard- skeletal gain
CP requirements decrease or increase with age?
Decrease
Total CP required decreases as what content increases?
AA
Horses have a thick or thin placenta?
Thick
What kind of placenta do horses have?
Diffuse epichordial placenta
Antibodies from the placenta do or do not equal the foal?
Do not
The neonate receives immunity how?
Passively
Colostrum is available for how long? When is it essential to get?
There for 48 hours, want in 24 hr. First 12 is most critical
Name a few ways to test colostrum quality?
IgG snap test
Colostrometer
Refractometer
The average neonate is born at what % height and weight?
50-60% mature height
9-10% mature weight
Neonate have an open gut, what does this mean?
Able to absorb large antibodies and proteins to give a kick start to life
The neonate has low energy stores how do they combat this?
Non-shivering thermogenesis (brown fat that helps keep foal warm)
Immediate nursing critical
Neonate intake should be what daily?
25-35% of weight AF daily
The first suckle should be when postpartum?
1-2 hours, 10 bouts/hr
At 0-2 months of age, what is the primary diet? And ADG?
Diet- mainly milk, begin trying solid food
ADG- 1-1.5 kg/d
What are the common concerns with foals 0-2 months old?
Not enough milk
Ulcers
Diarrhea
At 2 months old at weaning, milk production meets how much of nutrients?
All, decreases at 3-4 months.
When to start with foal supplemental feed?
2-3 months to increase ADG and decrease weaning stress
How does milk quality change with diet?
Higher quality=higher quality
What is the foal weight estimation formula?
Heart girth-25.1 / 0.07
Height estimation in foals how?
String test
When does most weaning occur?
4 mo or later
Day before weaning needs from milk?
50%
Day after weaning what to do?
No large feed increases, the stress causes increase in activity and decrease in ADG
What is the concentrate rule of thumb for weanlings?
No more than 1 lb/d per month of age
What to do with an orphaned foal?
Nurse mare
Supplement
Bucket feeding
How often do orphaned foals eat?
5-8 x a day every 1.5 hours decrease over 2 weeks
Always offer what with orphaned foals?
Water and and small creep feed and hay
