Equine Nutrition

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Equine Nutrition Feeding
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Time-Budgets

• Feral Horses
• Select highest fiber, lowest protein content
• 70 of its day foraging
• Stabled Horses
• 10 of their day feeding
• Meal fed

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Mastication

• Jaw sweeps 60,000 times/day when grazing
• Saliva contains little, if any amylase

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Left Side of Horse
Right Side of Horse
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Digestion is organ specific
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Amino acids and fat digested and absorbed in
small intestine Vitamins/minerals absorbed in
small intestine
Starch digestion occurs in the stomach and small
intestines (Stomach 15 min. Small intestine
30-90 min.)
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Fiber digestion occurs in the cecum/colon (48-72
hours)
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Stomach

• 9-15 liters
• Trickle feeders
• Transit time lt2 hr
• Cardiac sphincter does not relax to allow
  regurgitation

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Small Intestine

• 30 of GIT, 70 ft. long
• contains 24 gallons
• 3 Segments
• Duodenum
• Jejunum
• Ileum
• Starch digestion occurs in the stomach and small
  intestines
• Amino acids and fat digested and absorbed in
  small intestine
• Many Vitamins/minerals absorbed in small
  intestine

a-Amylase low varies widely between horses
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Large Intestine

• Hindgut 60 of digestive tract capacity
• Cecum
• 25-35 liters
• Large muscular mixing vat
• Initiates fermentation
• Begins protein degradation B vitamin synthesis
• Large Colon
• 50-60 liters
• Continuation completion of microbial digestion,
  absorption of VFA, B vitamins
• Conservation of electrolytes (Na, Cl, K),
  absorption of P
• Small Colon
• 18-19 liters
• Primary function is to conserve water

Fiber digesters most active pH of 6.2-6.8 Starch
digesters prefer pH 5.2 6.0
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Microbial Fermentation
Microbe
Fibrous Non-Fibrous Carbohydrate
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Aspects of The Foal GI Tract

• Small digestive tract
• The small intestine does not increase in length
  from 4 wks of age
• Cecum not fully functional until 15-24 mo of age
• The large intestine increases with age even up to
  20 yrs

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Carbohydrates
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How Hindgut Acidosis Can Occur In Hindgut And How
It Can Be Attenuated
Pagan, J. 2007. Feedstuffs
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Postprandial Cecal pH Change
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Same DE in each sample, take a look at the amount
of starch though!
Corn 4.3 2.71
Oats 5.0 1.82
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Starch Comparisons (whats low, whats high)
Ingredient NSC Sugar Starch Pectins Beta-Glucans
DM -------------------------- of NSC --------------------- -------------------------- of NSC --------------------- -------------------------- of NSC ---------------------
Alfalfa hay 23.0 0.0 40.9 33.0
Grass hay 17.2 35.4 15.2 49.4
Barley 61.8 9.1 81.7 9.2
Corn 71.4 20.0 80.0 0.0
Oats 42.4 4.4 95.6 0.0
Wheat 73.8 8.9 80.2 10.9
Distillers 10.3 0.0 100.0 0.0
Corn gluten feed 24.7 3.7 71.2 25.1
Corn gluten meal 17.3 0.0 69.4 30.6
Soyhulls 14.1 18.8 18.8 62.4
Soybean meal, 44 34.4 25.0 25.0 50.0
Wheat midds 31.2 10.0 90.0 0.0
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Starch Digestion

• Critical capacity for hydrolysable carbohydrate
  overload 0.4 of BW
• Maximizing starch digestion in small intestine
• Properties of the starch granule
• Grain processing
• Plant cell walls
• Transit time through the small intestine
• Availability concentration of enzymes

Cuddeford, D. 1999 Harris et al. 1999
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Comparison of Small Intestinal Starch
Digestibility of Processed Corn
Whole corn Crushed corn Ground corn Popped corn
Starch intake (g/kg BW/meal) Morningevening 1.91.0 1.91.1 2.12.0 1.31.5
Preileal starch digestibility () 28.9 29.9 45.6 90.1
Processing affects the site of starch digestion.
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REMEMBER!

• The number one cause of deaths from colic is
  from starch overload due to feeding
  mismanagement.

Dr. John Reagor, PhD Chief of Toxicology Texas
Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
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Building a Horse Ration

• Start with horse needs
• Maximize forage
• Add energy if needed
• Add protein minerals if needed
• Consider adding vitamins supplements
• Consistency is key to good feeding practices

Feed concentrate that makes-up the difference
between nutrients needed nutrients in roughage
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1. Know What How Much Your Horse is Eating

• Grain
• Hay
• Supplement
• Pasture

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2. Know Your Horse Provide Feed Based on

• Class
• Weight
• Body Condition Score
• Stage of production
• Age
• Activity level
• Growth

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Nutrient Requirement Varies With Class of Horse

• Lactation
• 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th mo
• Growing
• 4, 6, 12 mo
• 18 mo
• Light exercise
• Moderate exercise
• 24 mo
• Light exercise
• Moderate exercise
• Heavy exercise
• Very heavy exercise

• Adult (no work)
• Working
• Light exercise
• Moderate exercise
• Heavy exercise
• Very heavy exercise
• Stallions
• Pregnant Mares
• lt 5 mo
• 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th mo

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3. Feed According to Body Wt.

• Feed intake usually expressed as
• of Body Weight
• Lbs feed/100 lbs body weight
• Free Choice
• Forages
• Provide fiber energy
• At least 1 of body weight (dm basis)
• Concentrates
• Provide energy
• Supplements
• Provide protein, minerals and vitamins

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How Much Hay Grain Should an 800 lb. Yearling
Foal Receive?

• Total Intake
• Forage Intake
• Concentrate Intake

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How Much Hay Grain (800 lb. Yearling)?

• Total Intake 20 pounds
• 800 x .02 16 pounds
• 800 x .03 24 pounds
• Forage Intake 10 pounds
• 800 x .01 8 pounds
• 800 x .015 12 pounds
• Concentrate 10 pounds (20 total10 forage)
• 800 x .01 8 pounds
• 800 x .02 16 pounds

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4. Know Your Forage

• Forage quality depends on
• Pasture vs hay
• Legume vs grass
• Cool vs warm season species
• Plant maturity
• Growing conditions
• Harvest conditions

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Forages are the FoundationPasture, Hay

• Grass
• Bromegrass
• Orchardgrass
• Tall Fescue
• Timothy
• Grain Hay
• Oat Hay
• Wheat hay
• Straw

• Legume
• Alfalfa
• Birds Foot trefoil
• Clovers
• Lespedeza

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5. Maximize Pasture Production

• Fertilize grasses
• Overseed
• Frostseed
• Interseed
• Rotationally graze
• Control weeds
• Avoid overgrazing
• Correct stocking density

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6. Evaluate Hay Quality

• Visually
• Stage of Harvest
• Leafiness
• Color
• Odor
• Softness
• Penalties

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7. Match Hay Quality to the Horse
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8. Evaluate Hay Substitutes

• Handout Hay Substitutes
• Note
• Fed as sole part of diet?
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Special comments
• Compare on cost per pound of Digestible Energy
  (DE)

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Hay Substitutes

• Hay cubes
• Haylage
• Beet pulp
• Rice bran
• Wheat barn
• By-products from grain harvest
• Straw
• Complete Feed with gt15

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9. Control Loss by Method of Storing Hay

• Square Bales
• Barn or some kind of permanent structure
• Tarp with hay stacked off the ground

• Round Bales
• Barn
• Tarp
• Sleeves or bonnets
• Plastic wrap
• Net wrap
• Twine wrapped, outside

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Round Bale, Hay Storage Losses
Storage Conditions Approximate Dry Matter
Losses, Outside, on ground, without
cover 13-30 Outside, on ground, plastic or tarp
cover 8-9 Outside, on drained surface, without
cover 7-8 Outside, on ground, net wrapped
6-7 Outside, on ground, full plastic sleeve
5-6 Outside, drained surface, plastic or tarp
cover 5-6 Inside bale storage 5
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10. Control Hay Loss in Feeding
Method of Feeding Loss
Unprotected round bales fed free choice on the ground 25
Protected round bales fed in a feeder 5
Square bales fed on the ground 25
Square bales fed in a feeder 5
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Control Hay Loss in Feeding

• Use a container for hay
• Hay feeder
• Feed bunk
• Hay net
• Limit the amount of time to access round bales
• Feeders should be no higher than shoulder level

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11. Feed by WeightNOT Volume

• Weights vary by
• Feed type
• Processing method
• So, the amount of energy provided varies

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Calculating Nutrients

• 3-lb coffee can full of
• 32 lb/bushel oats 2 1/2 lbs
• 34 lb/bushel oats 4 lbs
• corn or pellets 5 lbs
• Oats 1.46 Mcal/lb
• Corn 1.76 Mcal/lb
• 2.5 1.46 3.65 Mcal
• 5 1.76 8.8 Mcal

• Hay
• Bale 40-130 lbs
• 10 flakes/bale
• Avg 4 flake alfalfa 5 lbs
• Avg 4 flake grass 3 lbs
• Alfalfa 1.10 Mcal/lb
• Grass .99 Mcal/lb
• 5 lbs 1.10 5.5 Mcal
• 3 lbs .99 2.97 Mcal

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Forage Isnt Everything

• Most do not have all the minerals /or vitamins a
  horse requires. Four ways to add these.
• Add 1 to 4 oz mineral or mineral/vitamin
  supplement per day or
• Add 1 to 2 lbs ration balancer (mineral plus
  protein) per day or
• Feed 5 to 7 lbs fortified grain per day or
• Feed 12 14 lbs complete feed (forage grain)

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12. Evaluate Your Mixed Feed

• Relative quality of the ingredients
• Amount of crude fiber energy
• Price
• Cost/pound
• Cost/pound of nutrient
• Grain Intake Comparison

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Energy Sources - Grains

• Oats
• variable
• crimped vs. whole
• Corn
• cracked, steam rolled

• Barley
• Sorghum wheat
• less than 30
• rolled, cracked, flaked,

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Fat/Fatty Acids

• No gall bladder
• Horses can be safely fed up to 20 fat in the
  total diet
• Energy from fat is 90 utilizable
• Often used to supplement calories for
  hard-working horses and hard keepers
• Reduction in DM intake bowel weight
• Calmer temperament

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Protein

• Muscle bone growth, milk production, fetal
  growth, normal metabolism
• Requirements can be met with good quality hay or
  pasture forage
• Low requirements for maintenance
• Quality amino acid balance
• Very important for young horses
• Lysine, methionine, tryptophan most limiting for
  growth milk production

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Minerals

• Content in the diet
• Determined by soil water
• Quality of feed proportion of grain to hay
• Macro-minerals
• Ca P - quality forages usually provide adequate
  amount
• This ratio is very important 1.51 to 21
• Grains are rich in P and low in Ca
• NaCl (Salt)
• Salt block will meet many horses needs
• If horses sweat a lot - need salt in the ration
• Trace Minerals
• Look for iron, zinc, copper, selenium

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Minerals

• Macro-minerals
• Ca P - quality forages usually provide adequate
  amount
• This ratio is very important 1.51 to 21
• Grains are rich in P and low in Ca
• NaCl (Salt)
• Salt block will meet many horses needs
• If horses sweat a lot - need salt in the ration
• Trace Minerals
• Look for iron, zinc, copper, selenium

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A guide to the recommended concentrations of
trace elements in the diet, mg/kg dry matter.
(Modified fromthe NRC 2007). These will need to
be adjusted to suit individual circumstances,
growth rate and appetite etc.
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Vitamins

• Fat soluble
• stored in body - A, D, E, K
• Toxicitys can occur if fed in excess
• Water soluble
• must be continuously supplied
• B-complex niacin, thiamin, riboflavin

• High quality fresh forages maintenance for
  mature horses
• Hay is poor in Vit A, supplement Vit A in the
  ration
• Exposure to sunlight provides Vit D
• Supplement Vitamin E

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Guide to recommended levels of Fat-soluble
vitamins (need to be adjusted according to
individualcircumstances).
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13. Control Waste in Feeding Grains Mixes

• Use a storage container
• Buy a monthly supply
• Feed in a container
• Trough
• Pan
• Bucket

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14. Do the Little Things

• Feed smaller amounts more often
• Feed individually if possible
• De-worm regularly
• Float the teeth
• Provide shelter and bedding
• Always have fresh, clean water

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15. Formulate the Total Ration

• REINS
• Work with a consulting nutritionist

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Water

• Essential for all body functions
• Temperature regulation
• Feed digestion
• Amount of water intake
• Level of exercise
• Ambient temperature
• Quality of feeds in ration
• Proportion of diet that is forage
• Minimum 1 gallon/100 lbs BW/day

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Maintenance

• Dry matter intake 1.5-2.0 of the BW
• Feed selection
• Good quality grass hay ? 0.8-0.9 Mcal DE/lb
• Alfalfa ? 0.9-1.2 Mcal DE/lb
• Traditional concentrates (3-3.5 fat) ? 1.25 Mcal
  DE/lb
• Fat added (6 Fat) ? 1.45 Mcal DE/lb

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Maintenance

• Physiological Maintenance
• 2007 NRC
• Low Maintenance
• DE req. 30.3 kcal/kg BW (kg)
• CP req. 1.08 BW
• Average Maintenance
• DE req. 33.3 kcal/kg BW (kg)
• CP req. 1.26 BW
• High Maintenance
• DE req. 36.3 kcal/kg BW (kg)
• CP req. 1.44 BW

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Recommended Daily Feed Intakes as of Body
Weights
Class Forage Concentrate Total Example 1,000 lb horse
Mature (Idle) 1.5 - 2.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.5 - 2.0 15-20 lb
Geriatric 0.8 2.0 0.5 2.0 1.5 3.0 15-30 lb
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Geriatric Horses

• Nutrient Considerations
• Reduced salivation
• CF digestibility ?
• Total fiber lt 30
• CP digestibility ?
• 12-14 CP
• Energy
• Increase soluble carbohydrates, fats, oils
• Caloric Restrictions
• Supplement minerals vitamins including vitamin C

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Typical Nutrient Content of some Senior-type Feeds
Crude Protein 12-14
Crude fat Not less than 5
Crude fiber Not less than 16
Lysine 0.6-0.7
Ca 0.6-1.2
P 0.4-0.8
Mg 0.15-0.30
S 0.15-0.30
Cu 26-55 ppm
Zn 100-220 ppm
Vit A 1500-3000 IU/lb
Vit E 40-80 IU/lb
Biotin 0.4-0.5 mg/lb
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 2.2-2.6 mg/lb
Vitamin C 5-10 g/day
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SELECTION OF FEED FOR THE GERIATRIC HORSE

• Hay cubes, ground hay, wet down hay
• Soft Multiform feed
• Moderate fat level - 5 fat
• Highly digestible fiber sources
• Guaranteed amino acid levels- rebuild muscles
• Direct fed microbials Yeast Cultures
• Stabilized high fat rice bran, ground flaxseed,
  beet pulp
• Organic trace mineral complexes avoid stress
  from excess mineral intake

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Feeding The Athlete
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Levels of Performance/Work

• Light Recreational riding, beginning of
  training programs, Show horses (occasional)
• Moderate School horses, Recreational riding,
  Show horses (frequent), Polo, Ranch
• Heavy Ranch, Polo, Show horses (frequent,
  strenuous events), Low-medium eventing, Race
  training (middle stages)
• Very Heavy Racing, Elite 3-day event

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Aerobic and Anaerobic Metabolism

• During exercise, ATP is generated from breakdown
  of
• Glucose
• Fatty acids
• Amino acids
• ATP low in muscles essentially no storage
• Continuous ATP production vital for athletes

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Simplified Energy for Muscle Contraction
Blood Glucose
Free Fatty Acids
Lipolysis
Muscle Glycogen
Oxidative Metabolism
Pyruvate
Lactate
ATP
Creatine Phosphate
CO2and Water
O2
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Energy

• Predict substrate used based on type of exercise
  performed
• Endurance
• Long term exercise utilizes fatty acids as
  primary energy source
• Needs muscle glycogen as well
• Racehorse
• Predominately uses muscle glycogen stores

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Work

• ENERGY, ENERGY, ENERGY
• Electrolytes water ? muscle function and fluid
  balance
• Forage is not enough for 1 hour/d moderate work.
  Starch is necessary for replacing glycogen stores.

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Required Energy
Activity DE (Mcal/d)
Maintenance 16
Light 20.0
Moderate 23.3
Heavy 26.6
Very Heavy 34.5

• Non-Structural CHOs
• Sugars starches
• ? intestinal pH ? risk of colic
• Fiber
• Beet pulp or soy hulls
• ? glycogen usage
• Fat
• Protein (minimal usage)

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Feeding Guidelines for Performance Horses

• Starch is necessary for replacing glycogen
  stores.
• Hay
• Feed at least 50 of total ration as forage
  (pasture /or hay)
• Preferably high quality grass hay or
  alfalfa/grass mix
• 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

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Feeding Guidelines for Performance Horses

• Hay requirement
• Feed at least 50 of total ration as forage
  (pasture /or hay)
• Preferably high quality grass hay or
  alfalfa/grass mix
• 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

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FAT SUPPLEMENTATION

• No gall bladder
• Max 20 in total diet
• Energy from fat is 90 utilizable
• Reduction in DM intake bowel weight
• ? metabolic heat production
• Improvement of acidemia during high-intensity
  exercise
• Calmer temperament

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FAT SUPPLEMENTATION

• Enhanced stamina
• ? capacity for uptake oxidation of fatty acids
  in muscle
• Dose dependent ? in activity of lipoprotein
  lipase skeletal muscle citrate synthase
  ß-hydroxy acyl-coA dehydrogenase
• Concomitant decrease in use of endogenous
  carbohydrate stores - Muscle glycogen sparing

Min. 3 weeks for response Add 6-10 weeks before
performance
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Breeding Animals

• Open Mare
• Maiden mare
• Barren mare
• Gestating mare
• Lactating mare
• Stallion

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Open Barren Mares

• Flushing- Increasing energy intake 20-25 3 wks
  prior to breeding.
• Maintain optimum body condition

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Late Pregnancy

• Last 3 months - Unborn foal growth averages 1
  lb/day
• During the 10th month, the largest amount of
  mineral retention occurs in the unborn foal
• In the last trimester of pregnancy, the mare
  should be on a growth- type feed formula,
• A balanced feed will decrease severity of
  orthopedic problems in foals

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Feed Consumption ( BW)
Mare status Forage Concentrate Total
Early pregnancy 1.5-2.0 0-0.5 1.5-2.0
Late pregnancy 1.0-1.5 0.5-1.0 1.5-2.0

• Adding concentrate to late pregnancy mares
  accounts for limited energy acclimates microbes
• Allow 1 wk to 10 d for mares to adjust to intake
  changes

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Lactating Mare
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Lactating Mare

• Mares produce average of 24 lbs (3 gallons)
  milk/day
• High producing mares give as much as 32 lbs (4
  gallons) milk/day
• Low producing mares often produce 21 lbs (2.5
  gallons)

Y a x (d0.0953)x c(-0.0043d) Y daily milk
yield in kg a0.0274287x mature wt in kg d
day of lactation
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Feed Consumption ( BW)
Mare status Forage Concentrate Total
Early lactation 1.0-2.0 1.0-2.0 2.0-3.0
Late lactation 1.0-2.0 0.5-1.5 2.0-2.5
Heavy milkers may require as much as 1.75-2.0
(17.5-20 lbs for a 1000 lb mare) of BW in
concentrate feed/day
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Approximate Amounts of Grain (lb) Needed with Hay
for Broodmares
1100 lb mare 1100 lb mare 1300 lb mare 1300 lb mare
DE Req (per lb of feed) Mcal Avg Hay lb Good Hay lb Avg Hay Lb Good Hay Lb
Barren Mare 1st 2/3 of pregnancy (maintenance) 1.00 3.0 - 4.0 -
Pregnancy (last 90 days) 1.10 7.0 5.0 8.0 5.0
Lactation (1st 3 months) 1.20 14.0 12.0 16.0 14.0
Lactation (3 months to weaning) 1.10 9.0 6.0 10.0 6.0
Nutrition of the Broodmare. KY Cooperative
Extension
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Body Condition Score

• Reason Standardized scale for estimating and
  comparing body fat
• Developed in 1983 by Dr. Don Henneke
• System for assessing subcutaneous fat
• Nine levels of body condition
• Six body areas of fat storage
• Uses
• Research
• Feed management
• Health management

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Body Condition Scoring

• 1-3 Poor-Thin
• 4 Can see ribs, vertebra ridge evident
• 5 Back flat, cant see ribs, but can feel
  them
• 6 Crease down back, fat deposits
• 7-9 Fleshy - Extremely fat

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Time Additional Grain Required To Improve BCS
by 1 level
Improving 1 Condition Score Improving 1 Condition Score Improving 1 Condition Score
Days Needed Daily Gain Additional Grain Needed
60 0.75 lbs/day 4.5 lbs/day
90 0.50 lbs/day 3.0 lbs/day
120 0.40 lbs/day 2.3 lbs/day
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Economic Optimum

• Mares with scores of 5.5-7.5
• Spend fewer days at the breeding farm
• Less time open

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Body Condition Affects Reproductive Performance

• Mare managers should monitor body condition on a
  regular basis
• Mares should be optimum condition for breeding

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Body Condition Score
Reproductive performance of mares in varying body condition Reproductive performance of mares in varying body condition Reproductive performance of mares in varying body condition
Body Condition Cycles per Conception Conception Rate ()
lt4.5 2.8 71
5.0-6.5 1.4 93
gt7.0 1.4 96
From Nutrition Feeding Management of Broodmares From Nutrition Feeding Management of Broodmares From Nutrition Feeding Management of Broodmares
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Body Condition Score

• Condition score of 5 or less in milking mares -
  do not have enough stored fat to support
  efficient reproductive performance
• Mares with BCS of 5 or less
• More likely to skip a breeding season
• Incidence of embryo loss increase

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Body Condition Score

• Weight loss by pregnant mares does not affect
  foals birth weight, but may decrease mares
  colostrum and milk production.

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Body Condition Score

• Maximize Reproductive Efficiency
• Moderately fleshy to fat mares can be expected to
• Cycle earlier in the year
• Have fewer cycles per conception
• Have a higher pregnancy rate
• Maintain pregnancy more easily
• Mare prior to breeding should have a BCS of 6 or
  greater and fed to maintain weight.
• BCS of 5.0 is marginal especially for lactating
  mare.

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Lactating Mares

• Early lactation weight loss in mares that foal in
  thin condition
• lengthen rebreeding time
• lower conception rates
• threaten the subsequent pregnancy

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Body Condition Score

• Excess obesity (BCS 8 or lt) doesnt appear to
  affect pregnancy, foaling ease, foals birth
  weight, or reproductive efficiency.
• May decrease milk production

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Feeding The Growing Horse

• Goals
• Maximize genetic potential for growth
• Sound musculoskeletal system

• Nutrient Balance is important
• Requires higher quality feeds
• Growth rate age determines requirements
• Growing till reach 30 months

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Average Daily Gain
Avg. Daily Gain, lbs/d
Month of Age
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Nutritional Strategies Aimed at Minimizing DOD
Rations should be balanced to promote a
consistent growth curve
www.Foalcare.com
Requires periodic updating of the ration
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Size Matters at the Sales
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Amount of Feed Recommended for Growing Horses
Lb grain mix/day/mo of age Lb grain mix/day/mo of age
Horse Age (mo) Grain mix in total diet Lb Grain Mix/100 lbs body wt/d Ponies Others
Nursing foals 0-4 100 0.5-0.75 .25 1.0
Weanlings 4-12 70 1.7-2.0 0.5 1.5
Yearlings 12-18 60 1.3-1.7 For all age horses feed grain only up to a max. of 0.9 lb/100 lb of anticipated mature wt/day For all age horses feed grain only up to a max. of 0.9 lb/100 lb of anticipated mature wt/day
Long Yearlings 18-24 50 1.0-1.25 For all age horses feed grain only up to a max. of 0.9 lb/100 lb of anticipated mature wt/day For all age horses feed grain only up to a max. of 0.9 lb/100 lb of anticipated mature wt/day
Two-year olds 24-36 50 1.0-1.25 For all age horses feed grain only up to a max. of 0.9 lb/100 lb of anticipated mature wt/day For all age horses feed grain only up to a max. of 0.9 lb/100 lb of anticipated mature wt/day
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Nutritional Strategies Aimed at Minimizing DOD

• Feed selection
• High quality forage is a must
• Grain mix concentrates formulated specifically
  for growing horses
• Improper use of supplements
• Feed amounts
• Forage
• Minimum of 1 lb / 100 lb BW / d
• Fed to appetite is best
• Concentrate
• 1 lb / 100 lb BW / d
• Max. 8 to 10 lbs /d

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Monitor The Growth Process

• Daily Intakes
• Body Weight
• Average daily gain
• Signs of Skeletal Abnormalities
• Physitis
• Joint effusion
• Lameness

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Feeding Guidelines Strategies To Minimize Risk
Of Hind Gut Dysfunction

• Consider..
• Body condition
• Stage of production
• Quality of feeds available

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Feeding Guidelines Strategies To Minimize Risk
Of Hind Gut Dysfunction

• Check for Refusals
• Change type amount of feed gradually. 7-10 d
  period
• Provide Salt

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Feeding Guidelines Strategies To Minimize Risk
Of Hind Gut Dysfunction

• Control amount of NSC (sugar, starch fructan)
  the horse consumes.
• Minimize the flow of fermentable polysaccharide
  to the large intestine
• Feed starch sources little and often i.e., less
  than 5g oats/(2g starch)/kg body weight/meal
• Pre-feed forages

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Feeding Guidelines Strategies To Minimize Risk
Of Hind Gut Dysfunction

• Minimize the flow of fermentable polysaccharide
  to the large intestine
• Limit rate of concentrate intake through physical
  obstruction
• Maximize substrate (glucose) availability to the
  performance horse
• Ensure good occlusion of teeth through regular
  dentistry

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Feeding Guidelines Strategies To Minimize Risk
Of Hind Gut Dysfunction

• Group Feeding Should Account for Dominance
  Hierarchies
• Recognize Feeding-Related Behavior Problems

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