Lecture 9 - Equine Nutrition 1 Flashcards
Why is it easy for the digestive capacity of the stomach and small intestine to get overwhelmed?
These areas of the GI tract are very small, and feed passes through these areas rapidly as the horse eats
Food source which provides fiber to keep the horse full and encourage good GI motility
Hay or haylage
Natural food source that is good for the digestive system
Grass
Food sources which add moisture to the feed
Fruit or vegetables
Concentrated energy sources added to the diet
Concentrates
Can be offered to horses to help replenish electrolytes
Salt lick blocks or loose salt
True or false: Forage is the basis of a healthy horse diet and should constitute the majority of the ration
True
True or False: Most horses only need good forage, water, and a mineral block to maintain their body weight
True
True or False: When exercise decreases for a horse, the amount of grain in their diet should increase
False; amount of grain in the diet should DECREASE with a decrease in exercise
True or False: Daily water requirements (ml) = kcal requirements
True
What is considered normal drinking behavior for horses?
Small volumes at a time, about 2 to 3 drinks per visit to water source (may increase in frequency when hot/active, but still small volumes at a time)
Colic, poor performance, and Impaction are all consequences of…
Dehydration
Why is stagnant water dangerous for horses?
It can grow blue-green algae (can cause liver necrosis, tremors, diarrhea, and death if ingested by the horse)
What are the three ways the body makes energy during energy malnutrition/starvation?
(Hint: Second option occurs after first is depleted, and the third option occurs after the second option is depleted)
- Carbohydrate store depletion (glycogen)
- Fat catabolism (spares protein)
- Protein catabolism
Type of catabolism associated with illness, lactation, and obesity; may lead to hyperlipidemia
Fat catabolism
Type of catabolism that targets liver protein and leads to edema, poor immunity/skin/respiratory/cardiac function; skeletal muscle spared as long as possible, but can be a target
Protein catabolism
True or False: Protein requirement refers to the requirement for essential AAs and for nitrogen used as a building block for non-essential AA synthesis
True
How does a mature horse (at maintenance) primarily synthesize essential AA?
Colonic conversion of nitrogen (if there is enough dietary nitrogen)
When protein digestibility decreases due to hay being heated or getting wet
Maillard reaction (“non-enzymatic browning”)
Why is non-protein nitrogen (NPN) not a good source of nitrogen in horses?
It will be absorbed in the small intestines and excreted as urea in the urine
(Extra note: foregut fermenters, in contrast, have bacteria that can utilize the nitrogen before it is absorbed in the SI)
True or False: NPN is more toxic in horses than foregut fermenters
False; NPN is LESS toxic in horses than foregut fermenters
Weight loss, poor skin/hair quality, poor growth, decreased lactation, poor performance, edema, low BUN, and low albumin/TP are all clinical signs of…
Protein deficiency
Why does excess protein cause increased heat production?
Protein is thermogenic
How would you calculate protein requirements for a mature idle horse?
(BW in kg) x 1.26 g CP/kg BW/d
What can excessive carbohydrate intake lead to?
GI dysbiosis
(Examples: colic, laminitis, diarrhea)
What is fiber essential for?
Regulating GI motility and providing substrate for GI microbiota
Type of fiber which usually results in increased stool water content; examples include pectin and gums
Soluble fiber
Type of fiber which has lower digestibility and produces VFAs that are absorbed; examples include cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin
Insoluble fiber
What are the two essential fatty acids?
Linoleic acid and arachidonic acid
Why is it unnecessary to provide arachidonate in a normal horse diet?
They can synthesize arachidonic acid fro linoleic acid
Why might lipids be preferable to highly digestible carbohydrates when energy demands are high?
Less risk of developing colic and laminitis
Calcium and phosphorus comprise 70% of all minerals in the body, and they are stored in the ______.
Bone
Phosphorus is important for…
Energy metabolism (ATP), membrane function, and enzyme regulation
Calcium is important for…
Neural function, enzyme activity, and cell signaling
True or False: Excess calcium impacts phosphorus absorption more than the other way around
False; excess PHOSPHORUS impacts CALCIUM absorption more than the other way around
What impact do excess phosphorus and oxalates found in certain grass have on growing foals and mares?
The excess phosphorus and oxalates can bind calcium, and this can impact skeletal health in growing foals and mares
True or False: Calcium is mostly absorbed in the large intestines whereas phosphorus is mostly absorbed in the small intestines
False; calcium is mostly absorbed in the SMALL intestines whereas phosphorus is mostly absorbed in the LARGE intestines
True or False: Horses have an appetite for salt and will consume adequate amounts if available
True
Why might salt toxicity occur?
If water is not available or not palatable
What are some clinical signs of salt toxicity?
- Colic
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Neurological signs
What are some clinical signs of salt deficiency?
- Weakness
- Decreased sweating
- Decreased performance
- Decreased lactation
- Pica
When refeeding a starved horse, how should meals be offered?
Small portions, frequent intervals (every 4 hours), high quality forage
(Goal = to stabilize insulin)
What is the feeding protocol for a starved horse in days 1 to 3?
50% of DER requirement, 6 feedings per day (4 hour intervals)
What is the feeding protocol for a starved horse in days 4 to 5?
75% of DER requirement, 6 feedings per day (4 hours intervals)
What is the feeding protocol for a starved horse in days 6 to 10?
100% of DER requirement, 3 feedings per day (every 8 hours)
What is the feeding protocol for a starved horse in days 10 to 120?
100% of DER requirement, 2 to 3 times per day (increase quantity if fully consumed) - NO GRAIN until BCS of 2 or higher achieved
