Lecture 22: Feeding Horse

Question 1

horse

Answer 1

• non-ruminant herbivores
  -hind-gut fermenters
  the ingested fiber in the large intestine; a second chance to process energy from feed that has already passed through the small intestine

Question 2

how much does the average horse eat per year?

Answer 2

5.0-5.5 tons of feed each year

Question 3

why should nutrition for the horse be the best science & technology can provide?

Answer 3

• confinement
• fitting - yearling
• racing (2 year olds)
• stress
• uniqueness

Question 4

what are some of the concerns for horse nutrition?

Answer 4

• owners spending millions of dollars for balanced/deficient rations
• artificial conditions=unsoundness
• limited progress = dietary improvements
• evolution of the horse has paralleled its feed types & availability
  humans replaced nature as keepers of the horse
• equine formulation is becoming more complex

Question 5

feed intake usually expressed as…

Answer 5

• % of BW
• Lbs feed/100lbs of BW
• free choice

Question 6

forages - maximize in the ration provide…

Answer 6

• fiber & energy

minimal 1% of BW (DM basis)

Question 7

what is one organ that horses do not have?

Answer 7

gull bladder

Question 8

concentrates provide…

Answer 8

energy

maximum: 1 1/2% of BW

Question 9

supplements provide…

Answer 9

energy, minerals, & vitamins

Question 10

common feedstuffs for horses; forage materials

Answer 10

• alfalfa
• timothy
• prairie grasses
• legume-grass mixture
• silage

Question 11

energy feeds

Answer 11

• oats
• corn
• braley
• milo
• bran

Question 12

protein feeds

Answer 12

• soybean meal
• linseed meal
• dried whey

Question 13

mineral feeds

Answer 13

a.Salt
b.Limestone
c.Dicalcium phosphate
d.Deflourinated rock phosphate
e.Monsodium phosphate
f. Trace mineral mix

Question 14

other feeds

Answer 14

a.Molasses
b.Dehydrated alfalfa meal
c.Vegetable oil
d.Vitamin supplement
e.Amino acid supplement

Question 15

what do we look at when feeding for maintanence?

Answer 15

• environment
• size (BW)
• individual differences
• dry matter intake; 1.5% of BW

*MOST- energy requirements are met with FORAGE ALONE

Question 16

feeding breeding herd: foal

Answer 16

decrease intake and supply bulky diet

Question 17

feeding breeding herd: 3 year old female

Answer 17

• Flush 30-45 days before breeding and until bred
• gestation:
  First 1/2 - 2/3: pregnant, idle mares maintained on good pasture
  Approx. 4 months before foaling: ½ - ¾ lb grain mix + 1½ lb hay / 100 lb bw
• Gradually bring back to full feed by 7-10 days postfoaling:
  ▪ 1 – 1¼ lb of each grain mix and hay/100 lb bw

Question 18

feeding breeding herd: stallion

Answer 18

1-2 lb / 100 lb BW as hay or pasture
equivalent

Question 19

feeding foal

Answer 19

Colostrum within 2 hrs.

➢ The foal will begin nibbling by 10 days to 3 wks
of age
▪ Provide creep feed
➢ At 4-5 wks of age: ½ lb grain mix / 100 lb BW +
hay or pasture equivalent
➢ Worm foal by 2-3 months of age, and approx.
every 2 months or as needed
➢ Wean at 5-6 months (approx. 500lbs)

Question 20

feeding yearling

Answer 20

➢ Rely on hay or pasture and reduce gain mix
depending on the growth level desired
➢ Approx. 800 lb BW by one year of age

Question 21

feeding 2 & 3 year old horses

Answer 21

➢ Same feeding program as yearlings
depending on individual performance

Question 22

hay requirement for performance horses

Answer 22

▪ Feed at least 50% of total ration
as forage (pasture &/or hay)
▪ Preferably high-quality grass hay
or alfalfa/grass mix

Question 23

feeding guidelines for performance horses

Answer 23

➢ Exercising horses do not need
high levels of protein
▪ More important – quality of
protein
➢ Horses should be fed to meet
their immediate needs
▪ Cut grain on rest days
➢ hay requirement

Question 24

hawaii’s horses

Answer 24

➢Diets are frequently pasture and cubes.
➢Pasture provides not only feed but an area
for exercise.
➢Large variation in pasture nutrient
availability
➢Grasses change in maturity and nutrient
composition very rapidly in tropical regions.
➢Feed costs in Hawaii high – lots of $$$

Question 25

feeding concerns in hawaii

Answer 25

➢Nutritional standards for tropical grass feeding
➢ Due to high levels of oxalates, tropical grass
grazing can be detrimental to healthy calcium
levels of horses
➢ Many of these tropical grasses = “hazardous grasses”
➢ Primary pasture grass in Hawaii is Kikuyu.

Question 26

hawaii feeding practices

Answer 26

➢ Tropical grasses often low in nutrition values
➢ Nutritious grains and hays being imported
➢ High humidity and hot weather needs to be
addressed