Horse nutrition Flashcards
Horses - Roughage
1-1.5 per 100kg of body weight
Maintain the health of the hindgut microbes
Slow the ROP through the GIT for optimal nutrient
digestion within the SI
Buffer the constant acid secretion of the stomach
Prevent ‘bolting’ of feed and overflow of starch based
grains into the hindgut
Maintain chewing throughout day/night
Horses - Oil supplementation
Energy supplementation
Feeding oils can prolong the utilisation of muscle glycogen,
thus reducing lactic acid formation
Omega fatty acids provide additional anti-inflammatory and
immune benefits
Are horses capable of synthesizing protein from hindgut microbes?
Yes
Horse - Ca: P ratio
Growing horse = 1.8 : 1
Mature horse = 1.4 : 1
The presence of oxalates and phytates can significantly
reduce the uptake of dietary calcium
Lucerne is high in calcium
Inappropriate provisions of Ca:P may be attributed to
some developmental orthopedic disorders (DOD’s)
Water requirements of the horse
Horses require water for suitable function of the ailementary tract
and failure to provide suitable levels may increase the risk of GIT
complications
Water intake may be significantly increased depending on climate, thermoregulatory mechanisms, diet, the presence of certain metabolic disorders (e.g. Equine Cushings Syndrome)
3 main types of colic
Grain induced colic
Impaction colic
Sand colic
Horses: Tying up
Is often associated with muscle soreness following exercise
Multifactorial disease
Predisposing factors include electrolyte imbalance, excessive
provision of starch based grains and the subsequent build up of
muscle glycogen, genetic factors
Often managed through diet
Horses will often show raised muscle enzyme levels (CK, AST)
indicative of muscle damage
Provision of BCAA’s has been found to be effective in minimising the
severity of the condition
Horse: Acidosis
Is associated with excessive starch in the hindgut
May be caused by excessive intake of unprocessed grains or sudden
changes in diet
Amylolytic bacteria thrive and pH of the hindgut falls due to increased
production of D lactic acid
Lactobaccili proliferate
Endotoxins are released into the blood stream and may result in problems such as laminitis
Acidosis can be reduced by avoiding sudden changes in grain
composition of the diet (<200g/day), feeding processed grains and feed
small amounts frequently.
Virginiamycin /Founderguard – targets the production of lactobacilli
Horse - Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Also known as “Big Head” or osteodystrophia fibrosa
Associated with erosion of dense bone and
replacement with fibrous connective tissue
Membranous bones of the skull are most commonly
effected
Is the result of a lack of dietary calcium absorption
when grazing coastal pasture species
Oxalic acids bind calcium to form calcium oxalate,
which is unable to be absorbed
Pasture species include; buffalo grass, seteria, kikuyu,
pangola
Horses - EGUS
Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome
Can affect up to 90% of horses in training
Predisposed by infrequent feeding, stress,
exercising prior to feeding, high concentrate diet,
NSAIDS
Occurs due to the constant acid secretion within
the equine stomach
Areas most commonly affected are the surface of
the non-glandular region, close to the margo
plicatus
Can be minimised by frequent feeding, ad lib
access to roughage
-
Pharmacological treatment targets acid production
Horse: B group vitamins
Are involved in;
Energy and protein utilization
Red blood cell formation
Appetite
Antioxidant formation
Are often found in pre-mixed feeds and/or provided as a
powdered feed supplement daily.
Not uncommon to inject or drench with solutions containing BGroup
vitamins
The horse is able to utilise hindgut microbes to synthesise BGroup
vitamins
Horses lacking B-Group vitamins will often be said to be “flat”
Brewers yeast is a natural source of B-Group vitamins
