Quiz Review 1 Flashcards
What are the ABC’s of Equine Nutrition?
A - hay/roughage, B - concentrate/energy, C - vitamins/minerals, D - supplements
What is the risk of hay moisture content higher than 20%?
Can cause mold, dust, microbial fermentation, and potential fire hazards
How must hay be stored?
In dry storage, not on bare ground
What should make up the majority of a horse’s diet?
Hay (roughage)
Why is hay essential for horses?
Foundation of equine nutrition, prevents ulcers, and aids in energy production
Fill in the blank: Horses should have frequent access to _______ as they are hindgut fermenters.
forage
What do horses create from the fiber found in forage?
Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs)
True or False: Baled hay can catch fire if moisture content is too high.
True
What is the purpose of having a roughage mat in a horse’s stomach?
Prevents issues like ulcers in the stomach and gastrointestinal tract
What is the COB formula?
Corn/Oats/Barley
The COB formula is a traditional diet for horses but is now considered too high in starch.
Why is the COB formula not a preferred diet now?
It is too high in starch, leading to problems such as laminitis.
What is the most common reason for feeding concentrates to horses?
To provide additional energy, improve overall nutrition, and compensate for bad teeth.
How should new feed be introduced to a horse?
Slowly, over 7-10 days, to prevent colic.
What should you do if there is only a single feeding amount recommended?
Start at 2 of the recommended amount.
Do horses on a complete diet need supplemented vitamins and minerals?
No, unless they have dietary restrictions due to issues such as dental disease.
Fill in the blank: Horses need vitamins and minerals added to their special diets to ensure they are getting a complete and balanced _______.
nutrition
Why might we add additional supplements to a horse’s diet?
For many reasons including joint health, calming supplements, muscle growth, and more.
Supplements can help address specific health concerns in horses.
What is the horse feeding motto?
‘Little and often’
This approach promotes better digestion and overall health in horses.
What is mastication?
The process of chewing food.
It is essential for breaking down food for digestion.
Which teeth are primarily used in mastication for horses?
Molars
Molars are flat and designed for grinding food.
What types of teeth do horses have?
Wolf teeth, incisors, premolars, canine teeth, and the interdental space.
Each type of tooth serves a different function in feeding.
What effects does old age have on horses’ teeth?
Old age dentition, irregular wear, and/or missing teeth.
These issues can affect a horse’s ability to chew and digest food properly.
What might elderly horses need to ensure proper nutrition?
A mash that is supplemented with vitamins and minerals.
An example of a food that can be made into mash is beet pulp pellets soaked in water overnight.
What causes oral ulcers in horses?
Sharp points on the horse’s teeth.
Regular dental care can help prevent this issue.
How can oral ulcers be prevented in horses?
By yearly dentals and having the teeth floated.
Floating involves filing down sharp points on the teeth.
Why can’t horses vomit or regurgitate?
Because the distal end of the esophagus has a one-way valve.
What is choke in horses?
When food/objects get stuck in the horse’s esophagus.
What can cause choke in horses?
Greedy eaters, certain feed stuffs, or insufficient mechanical grinding.
What are stomach ulcers in horses formed by?
Situations like stall confinement or limited grazing.
Why is access to forage important for horses?
It helps prevent stomach ulcers.
What risks do horses face when fed pellets that swell in the stomach?
They can be at risk for stomach ulcers.
What are two methods for preventing stomach ulcers in horses?
- Access to forage
- Ulcer preventative medications.
Where is the major site of nutrient absorption in horses?
The small intestine.
What happens to carbohydrates in the cecum?
They are fermented by microbes.
What are VFAs and where are they created?
Volatile fatty acids created during carbohydrate fermentation in the cecum.
What is the role of VFAs in horses?
They are a source of energy.
What is the major site of water and electrolyte re-absorption in horses?
The small colon.
What are some negative effects of overfeeding horses?
- obesity
- decreased performance
- $$ loss
- colic
- laminitis
Overfeeding can lead to serious health issues in horses, affecting their overall well-being and performance.
What is laminitis?
Inflammation of the separation of the laminae in a horse’s hoof
Laminae are the tissues that connect the hoof wall to the coffin bone, and laminitis is a painful condition.
What causes the microbial imbalance in a horse’s hindgut when overfed?
Overflow of sugar and starch
This imbalance can lead to the proliferation of harmful bacteria that produce lactic acid.
What is produced by bacteria that ferment sugar/starch in the horse’s hindgut?
Lactic acid
The production of lactic acid creates an acidic environment that is harmful to fiber-loving bacteria.
What happens to fiber-loving bacteria when the hindgut becomes acidic?
They are killed off
The death of these bacteria leads to the release of endotoxins into the horse’s bloodstream.
Where do the endotoxins released from dead bacteria travel to in horses?
To the horse’s foot
This can cause damage and inflammation to the laminae in the hoof.
True or False: Laminitis is not a painful condition for horses.
False
Laminitis is known to be very painful for affected horses.
