Nutrition

Question 1

Equine Digestion

Answer 1

Horses are non-ruminant, hind-gut fermenters that use a cecum to break down and digest structural CHO
“Trickle feeders” - small, frequent meals

Question 2

Nutrients

Answer 2

WATER
Proteins
Fats - energy
Carbs - energy
Vitamins/minerals

Question 3

Carbohydrates

Answer 3

Structural CHO - cell walls, difficult to digest unless using microbial fermentation
- Lignin/fibers
Non-structural CHO - cell contents, easy to digest
- Sugars/starches

Question 4

Overfeeding

Answer 4

Feeding too much starch/sugar can result in too little being broken down/absorbed in the small intestine and the excess settling in the cecum, where it will cause acidosis and possibly laminitis

Question 5

Digestion

Answer 5

Breakdown of larger molecules into simple chemical components

• Mechanical
• Chemical
• Enzymatic
• Microbial

Question 6

Mouth

Answer 6

Mechanical

Limited Enzymatic

Question 7

Stomach

Answer 7

Chemical - HCL, pepsinogen (activated by HCL - pepsin), gastrin
- Protein digestion
- NO absorption
If the acidity of the stomach drops too low, ulcers may develop on non-glandular portions

Question 8

Small Intestines

Answer 8

Enzymatic - amylase (pancreas), chemical - bile (liver)
- Digests non-structural CHO, some proteins/lipids
- Absorbs sugars, AA, FA
Normal passage is 1-3 hours; the larger the meal, the faster the feed will pass through the GI tract and the less nutrients will be absorbed

Question 9

Cecum/Large Colon

Answer 9

Microbial

• Digests structural CHO (some non-structural CHO) and proteins
• Absorbs VFA’s. Vit. B and K, minerals
• Produces heat, gas, volitile FA, lactate

Question 10

Nutrient Requirements

Answer 10

Established by the National Research Council
- the MIN standard to prevent diseases - many competitive horses need a more specialized diet
Requirements include : DM, Digestible energy, Proteins, macro/micro minerals, vitamins

Question 11

Factors Affecting Nutrition

Answer 11

Age, weight, growth rate, milk production/pregnancy, climate/environment, LEVEL OF ACTIVITY

Question 12

Influencing Energy with Feed

Answer 12

Grain - >2 lbs - increases blood glucose content, increases insulin
- poor aerobic performance
Forage (large) >6 lbs - decreases blood volume, increases weight carried
- poor performance, decrease plasma/electrolytes
ANY large meal will pull blood supply away from working muscles
Forage (small) <4 lbs - body fluids equilibrates, stabilizes gut fill
- better performance

Question 13

Ration Evaluation

Answer 13

Base on horse’s appearance, BCS, and weight
Base on feed and management practices
Try to MAX roughage (fiber, forages) or find alternative fiber
- Cereal grains have high starch but low fiber
- Oils give 2-3x as much energy as grains
- Mineral/vitamin supplements