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Equine Management > Unit 3 - Nutrition > Flashcards

Unit 3 - Nutrition Flashcards

1
Q

what are the Nutrient Requirements of the Horse

A

Water
Carbohydrates
Protein
Fats
Minerals
Vitamins

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2
Q

What is the most important nutrient?

A

Water

Important for nutrient digestion, nutrient absorption, and temperature regulation
Obtained by drinking and from feeds

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3
Q

What is the best management of water

A

4-10 gallons per day
Free Choice
Clean water
Winter - automatic waters, stock tank heaters, heated buckets
Decrease if horse is pastured
Increased if horse is in heavy work, lactating, or its hot

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4
Q

What is the most significant source of energy for horses?

A

Carbohydrates

Structural and Non-Structural Carbohydrates

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5
Q

Nonstructural Carbohydrates

A

Sugars and starched (complex sugars)

Grains are considered a high energy source

Brocken down in the foregut, primarily the small intestine

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6
Q

Structural Carbohydrates

A

Fiber - Forage
Cell wall in plants - Lignin, Cellulose and Hemicelluloses
broken down in hind gut

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7
Q

Carbohydrates that are not broken down by enzymes and need to be fermented in the hind gut of the horse by the __________?

A

Microflora

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8
Q

Protien

A

Does not exactly have a protein requirement (amino acids are more important)

Protein is made up of Amino acids

Horses have Amino Acid requirements (10 Essential Amino Acids) (Lysine – limiting)

Purpose - Maintain and produce muscle, enzymes and hormones & other body processes

Broken down and absorbed in both the (mainly) small intestine and hindgut

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9
Q

Protein

A

Protein is made up of Amino acids (not exactly a protein requirement)

Horses have Amino Acid requirements (10 Essential Amino Acids) (Lysine – limiting)

Purpose - Maintain and produce muscle, enzymes and hormones & other body processes

Broken down and absorbed in both the small intestines and hindgut

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10
Q

Protein sources

A

Cereal grains and grasses (low)

Legumes (alfalfa)

Soybean meal

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11
Q

protein requirements (amino acid requirements)

A

Growth and lactation
Work? - most things have excess protein anyway

Excess protein
- Used for energy
- Excreted in the urine

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12
Q

Highly digestible, caloric energy source

A

FAT

Broken down in small intestine

Feed up to 10% of ration
- Sources, vegetable oils (corn, soybean), rice bran

Endurance
Expensive
Safe
Feed storage

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13
Q

Vitamins

A

Vitamins are generally needed in small amounts

Vitamins are important factors and/or co-factors for chemical reactions in the body

Most often requirements met by forages in diet
A D E & K
pasture, high-quality hays and grains
Storage of hay

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14
Q

Minerals

A

Required in very small amounts (ppm)

Required by the body for chemical reactions and
structure/foundation (bones and teeth)

Macrominerals & Microminerals – Supplemented in Diet
Trace Mineralized Salt
Calcium & Phosphorus 1:1
Ratio – Very Important – Never less than 1:1
Balanced in grain ration or mineral mix
Calcium – Forages (6:1)
Phosphorous – Grains (6:1) More calcium

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15
Q

What is the digestion system

A

1.The digestive system converts feed into a form that can be used by the body for maintenance, growth, work, and reproduction.

2.In the simplest form, the digestive system is a tube extending from the mouth to the anus with associated organs

3.Digestive systems vary according to whether the animals are herbivores (eating only plants), omnivores (eating plants and animals) or carnivores eating only animals. Horses are
herbivores

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16
Q

What is step one in feeding horses?

A

Determine class of horse and energy requirements (NRC)
 Maintenance - basic requirements of life, energy and protein
 Growth - increase in energy and protein requirements
 Gestation - Last three months increased energy, little protein
 Lactation - Increased energy and protein
 Work - (categories) Increased energy requirements, minimal in protein requirement (Light - Moderate - Intense)
 Geriatric - Highly digestible, high energy feeds

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17
Q

What is NRC?

A

Nutrient Requirements of Horses

National research council

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18
Q

What are the steps to feeding a horse

A
  1. Determine Class
  2. Determine bodyweight
  3. Determine body condition score
  4. Determine available feed
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19
Q

Types of hay selections

A

Grass hay
Legume hay
Mixed hay
Pasture

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20
Q

What to look for when buying hay

A

Maturity of forage (stemy)

Leafy, Green (indicator of vitamin content), Small stems (easy to digest)

Dust and mold free

Foreign material (weeds, Hoary alyssum, Blister beetles)

Forage analysis (test average)

Bale size

Purchase by weight not by volume

Moisture content (small square <18%) (Big bale <14-15%)
Feeders

Alternatives, hay cubes, hay pellets, complete feeds

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21
Q

Concentrate selection

A

Oats
⬆️Protein
⬆️Fiber
⬆️Safe
⬆️Cost
⬇️ Energy

Corn
⬆️Energy
⬇️Fiber
⬇️Protein
⬇️Cost
⬇️Safety

Commercial grain
Select using feed tag

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22
Q

Reading a feed tag

A

Directions
Class of Horse
Recommended feeding level
Energy
DE Digestible Energy
Fiber
Directions
ADF (Acid Detergent Fiber)
Fat
Protein
Lysine
Mineral
Salt
CA:P

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23
Q

Feeding Generalizations

A
  • Balance a horses ration in the following order.
    - (1) Energy, (2) Protein, (3) Minerals, (4) Vitamins
  • Very common for horses to be over fed concentrates
    - Does your horse need grain?
  • Balance ration around forage selection
    - Select forage that allows you to feed through out the day
  • Never feed more that 3/4% body weight in concentrates at one
    feeding (1/2% better choice)
  • Feed forage at the absolute MINIMUM of 1%
  • Provide feeds by wight NOT volume
  • Avoid abrupt ration changes
    - Common sense when making changes - anywhere from a
    couple days to 2 weeks
  • Don’t supplement balanced rations
  • Don’t cut balanced grain rations with cereal grains or “cheaper mixes”
  • Provide salt for all horses unless included in grain - usually 1% of ration
  • Feed daily at set feeding times
    - Fewer digestive orders
    - Fewer vices
    - Less agitated
  • Feed storage
    - Concentrates - feed room, never adjacent to stalled horses
    - Hay - Protect from moisture, environment
  • Allow for dominance behaviors when feeding
24
Q

What is the mare reproductive anatomy

A

Vulva
Vagina
Cervix
Uterus
Oviducts
Ovaries

25
Q

What is the Vulva

A

– the external opening of the reproductive
canal

26
Q

What is the Vagina

A

– 6”-8” long muscular membrane
connecting the vulva to cervix; tissues are elastic
to accommodate penis during breeding and foal,
during birth

27
Q

What is the Cervix

A

– about 4 inches, elastic muscle, located
behind vagina, Connects Vagina to Uterus

28
Q

What is the Uterus

A

– contains 2 branches that
are referred to as “horns”; protects
and nourishes the embryo/fetus

29
Q

What is the Oviducts

A

–attached to each
uterine horn; transports the
discharged egg from the ovaries;
the mare’s Fallopian tubes

30
Q

What is the Ovaries

A

– 2-3 inch bean-shaped
organs; contains follicles that
hold the mare’s egg cells

31
Q

What is the primary sex organ of the mare

A

Ovary
- The ovaries are bean-shaped organs, 2 to 3 inches long that
produce eggs.

32
Q

Each egg is contained in a bubble-like sack called a______?

A

follicle
 When the follicle is about 1 in. in diameter a hormone causes it
to rupture and discharge the egg.
 This process is known as ovulation.

33
Q

The ______ carries the egg to the uterus

A

Oviduct (fallopian tubes)
- the largest of the female reproductive organs.

34
Q

Where does the fetus develop?

A

Uterus

35
Q

At what age do fillies start coming into estrus (heat) in a rhythmic cycle

A

12-15 months.

36
Q

The estrous cycle is the interval from the onset of estrus
(heat) until the onset of the next estrus

A

Hormonal Control
 18 - 21 days long
 Two physiological parts: estrus and diestrus.

37
Q

Estrus (heat)
a. 5 – 7 days
b. Heat - sexually receptive to the stallion
c. Follicular
d. Ovulation – 24-36 hours prior to end of estrus

A
38
Q

What are the behavioral signs of Estrus (heat)

A

 Frequent urination
 “Squatting” posture
 Winking of vulva
 Raising of tail
 Receptive toward stallion
 Discharge from vagina

39
Q

What is diestrus

A

In between period during heat cycles
 14 – 16 days
 Mare is not receptive to the stallion.
 Ovulated follicle develops into a CL – Corpus Luetem forms
 The primary function of the CL is the secretion of
progesterone, which is necessary for the
maintenance of pregnancy
 Nonpregnant mares must regress their CL in order
to initiate another estrous cycle
 Pregnant mare doesn’t regress her CL

40
Q

What is polyestrous

A

Mares only have multiple estrus cycles only during certain times of the year. (warmer seasons) - long day breeders*

41
Q

what is the Anestrous (nonovulatory) period

A

Time of year the mare does not come into heat

Most mares show no behavioral signs of sexual
receptivity (estrus) and fail to develop follicles that ovulate.

42
Q

What can we do to manipulate the estrus cycle

A
  • Artificial lighting (not necessarily heat)
    - 16 hours light
    - 30 – 60 days
  • Inducing Ovulation
  • Estrus synchronization
43
Q

Estrus (Heat) Detection

A

 Tease Stallion
 Special considerations
 Mare with foal at side
 Young maiden mares
 Rectal palpation and ultrasonography

44
Q

Transrectal Palpation and Ultrasonography

A

 Monitor follicular growth and development
 Determine the optimal time for breeding
 Identify ovarian and / or uterine abnormalities (ultrasonography)

45
Q

Breeding Methods

A

 Pasture Breeding
 Hand Breeding
 Artificial Insemination

46
Q

Processed Semen for Artificial Insemination

A

Three kinds of processed semen are used in horses – fresh, cooled, and frozen.

       Fresh semen- Fresh semen is collected, and an 
         extender is usually added. The semen may be stored in 
         a refrigerator at about 55° F and used within 24 hours.

       Cooled semen- Cooled semen is slowly cooled from 
          body temperature down to 41° F. Cooled semen is 
          usually viable for 24 to 72 hours, depending on the 
          stallion. 

        Frozen semen- Following collection, an extender is 
          added to semen that is to be frozen. This semen can 
          be stored indefinitely. Pregnancy rates reduced
47
Q

Artificial Insemination

A

 Examine mares with palpation and ultrasonography
once daily while in heat

 Deposit semen into the uterus a maximum of 48
hours prior to ovulation or a maximum of 12 hours
after ovulation

 Generally the only way you can breed to upper-level stallions
 Allows stallion to breed more mares
 lower risk to stallion & mare
 Allows for differences in location
 higher Expense

48
Q

Shipped – Cooled Semen

A

 Management
 Coordination of shipping
 Shipping costs
 FedEx or Counter to Counter
 Semen quality
 Ability to predict ovulation

49
Q

Pregnancy Evaluation

A

Ultrasound, 14-18 days
 ID twins
 ID placental development
Ultrasound, 25-40 days
Check heartbeat
Progesterone Test

50
Q

What is the Gestation period for a mare?

A

340 days

51
Q

Care of the pregnant mare

A

 Feeding of the pregnant mares
 0-9 Months
 9-11 months
 Lactation
 Routine health care, including; worming, vaccinations, teeth and hooves
 Mare Vaccinations (Nathan’s house)
 Rhino – 5,7,& 9 months gestation
 Eastern, Western, Tetanus, West Nile, Influenza,
Rhino, & Deworm – 30 Days prior to foaling
 Deworm Mare – Day of foaling
 Foaling
 Where?
 Determine extent of management!

52
Q

Late Pregnancy

A

 Abdomen greatly enlarged
 Ventral edema
 Mammary gland enlargement – 2-4 wk
 Gluteal muscles relax – 7-10 d
 Teats fill with milk – 4-7 d
 Waxing of teat ends – 1-4 d
 Vulva soft & relaxed – 1-2 d

53
Q

What is Parturition?

A
54
Q

Stages of Parturition

A

 Stage 1
 Onset: initial uterine contractions
 End: rupture of water bag
 Stage 2
 Onset: rupture of water bag
 End: delivery of fetus
 Stage 3 (< 3 hrs)
 Onset: delivery of fetus
 End: passage of the fetal membranes
(After Birth)

55
Q

After Foaling

A

If foaling has been normal, the attendant should enter the stall to make certain that …
 The foal is breathing
 The membranes have been removed from its mouth and
nostrils.
 Colostrum (first milk) - antibodies
 1-2 pts of high-quality colostrum
 Takes ~ 12 hours for all antibodies ingested in colostrum
to show up in the blood
 IGG Test
 Dip Navel
 Iodine Solution

56
Q

Key points

A

 First two weeks- lay the groundwork by ensuring adequate colostrum
 Preventative health program in place
 Appropriate nutrition
 Problems must be addressed rapidly when they arise. No time for a “wait and see”
attitude

Equine Management (4 decks)

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