Equine NutritionEquine NutritionRandy C. WebbRandy C. Webb

Virginia Tech 2007Virginia Tech 2007

Horse Digestive Tract Horse Digestive Tract

ReviewReview

Protein, Carbohydrates, fat, minerals Protein, Carbohydrates, fat, minerals and vitamins are all digested in the and vitamins are all digested in the small intestinesmall intestine

Cecum is a section of the colon Cecum is a section of the colon where digestive bacteria break down where digestive bacteria break down roughageroughage

Water is absorbed in the large Water is absorbed in the large intestineintestine

DefinitionsDefinitions– Ration – Feed allowed for a given animal during a Ration – Feed allowed for a given animal during a

day of 24 hours, whether it be fed at one time for day of 24 hours, whether it be fed at one time for in portions at different timesin portions at different times

– Balanced ration – Feed that furnishes the Balanced ration – Feed that furnishes the necessary nutrients in such proportion and necessary nutrients in such proportion and amount as will properly nourish a given animal for amount as will properly nourish a given animal for a 24-hour perioda 24-hour period

– Nutrient – Applies to any food constituent or Nutrient – Applies to any food constituent or group of food constituents of the same general group of food constituents of the same general chemical composition that aid in the support of chemical composition that aid in the support of lifelife

– Feedstuffs – Nutrients which are taken into the Feedstuffs – Nutrients which are taken into the digestive systemdigestive system

– Mastication – Chewing Mastication – Chewing

DefinitionsDefinitions Chyme – Semi fluid mass of partly digested food Chyme – Semi fluid mass of partly digested food

expelled from the stomach into the small expelled from the stomach into the small intestinesintestines

Carbohydrates – Sugars and starches in feeds used Carbohydrates – Sugars and starches in feeds used for energyfor energy

Fats – Similar to carbohydrates, but contain higher Fats – Similar to carbohydrates, but contain higher percentage of chemical compounds, thus yielding percentage of chemical compounds, thus yielding 2.25 times more energy than carbohydrates2.25 times more energy than carbohydrates

Protein – Any group of complex compounds which Protein – Any group of complex compounds which contain nitrogen and are composed of amino acidscontain nitrogen and are composed of amino acids

Vitamin – Essential organic nutrient which is Vitamin – Essential organic nutrient which is required in only small amountsrequired in only small amounts

DefinitionsDefinitions

– Minerals – Inorganic matter which aids Minerals – Inorganic matter which aids in skeletal growth and chemical in skeletal growth and chemical reactionsreactions

– Epiphysis's – Inflammation of growth Epiphysis's – Inflammation of growth plates at ends of long bones; occurs plates at ends of long bones; occurs mostly in knees one and two year oldsmostly in knees one and two year olds

– Rickets – Abnormal bone growth Rickets – Abnormal bone growth caused by Vitamin D deficiency caused by Vitamin D deficiency

So is a horse a Non-ruminant orRuminant ?

Digestive systems ...Digestive systems ...

Enzymatic digestion Enzymatic digestion of carbohydrates, of carbohydrates, proteins and fats in proteins and fats in foregutforegut

Limited fiber Limited fiber absorption in hindgutabsorption in hindgut

Man, pigs, dogsMan, pigs, dogs

Fiber digestion in Fiber digestion in rumenrumen

Enzymatic Enzymatic digestion in foregutdigestion in foregut

Minimal fiber Minimal fiber digestion in hindgutdigestion in hindgut

Cow, sheep, deerCow, sheep, deer

NonruminantsNonruminants RuminantsRuminants

So where do horses fit in?So where do horses fit in?

Somewhere in Somewhere in between:between:– High rates of High rates of

enzymatic digestion enzymatic digestion in foregut (mouth to in foregut (mouth to small intestine)small intestine)

– High rates of High rates of fermentive fermentive microbial digestion microbial digestion in hindgut (cecum in hindgut (cecum to rectum)to rectum)

Functions of digestive Functions of digestive system include:system include:

Prehension of food (grabbing)Prehension of food (grabbing) Mastication (chewing)Mastication (chewing) DigestionDigestion AbsorptionAbsorption Initial nutrient storageInitial nutrient storage

NutritionNutrition

What is nutrition?What is nutrition?– NutritionNutrition is a science that studies the is a science that studies the

relationship between diet and health. relationship between diet and health.

What is first thing we need to know ?What is first thing we need to know ?– Body weight and what the horse is used Body weight and what the horse is used

for.for.

Estimate body weightEstimate body weightwith ...with ...

Hearth girth weight tapesHearth girth weight tapes

or or

Body weight equationBody weight equation

W = Weight

HG = Heart Girth

BL = Body Length

HG squared x BL (inches)W = 330

Why is horse body weight so Why is horse body weight so important?important?

Horses should be fed a percentage of Horses should be fed a percentage of their body weight.their body weight.– Mature, idle and late gestation mares:Mature, idle and late gestation mares:

1.5 to 2% of body weight– Mares in early lactation and growing Mares in early lactation and growing

horses: horses: 2 to 3% of body weight– Working horses:Working horses:

1.5 to 3% of body weight

REASONS WHY ANIMALS REASONS WHY ANIMALS NEED FEEDNEED FEED

MAINTENANCEMAINTENANCE GROWTHGROWTH REPRODUCTIONREPRODUCTION LACTATIONLACTATION WORKINGWORKING OTHER PRODUCTS AND USESOTHER PRODUCTS AND USES

WAYS ANIMALS WAYS ANIMALS USE NUTRIENTS USE NUTRIENTS

TO MAINTAIN TO MAINTAIN THEMSELVESTHEMSELVES

Used to keep the Used to keep the body warmbody warm

Replace old cellsReplace old cells Run the internal Run the internal

organs and for organs and for body movementbody movement

SIX TYPES OF MATERIALS SIX TYPES OF MATERIALS THAT PROVIDE NUTRIENTSTHAT PROVIDE NUTRIENTS

CARBOHYDRATES:CARBOHYDRATES: Major sources Major sources are corn, oats, hay, soybean oil meal are corn, oats, hay, soybean oil meal and grain sorghum. and grain sorghum.

FATS:FATS: Meat scraps, tankage, Meat scraps, tankage, cottonseed and fish meal are cottonseed and fish meal are examples. examples.

PROTEIN:PROTEIN: Tankage, soybean meal, Tankage, soybean meal, legume hay, blood meal, feather legume hay, blood meal, feather meal, fish meal and skim milk. meal, fish meal and skim milk.

TYPES OF MATERIALS TYPES OF MATERIALS (CONT.)(CONT.)

MINERALS:MINERALS: Eighteen minerals are Eighteen minerals are needed by animals;six are macro needed by animals;six are macro minerals. Includes calcium, salt, minerals. Includes calcium, salt, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and sulfur.sulfur.

VITAMINS:VITAMINS: Vitamins A,D, and the B Vitamins A,D, and the B vitamins are most important in animals.vitamins are most important in animals.

WATER:WATER: Most important of all nutrients. Most important of all nutrients. A market hog is 40% water; newborn calf A market hog is 40% water; newborn calf is 70% water.is 70% water.

The Purpose of the The Purpose of the NutrientsNutrients

Carbohydrates – Supplies EnergyCarbohydrates – Supplies Energy Proteins – composed of units called amino Proteins – composed of units called amino

acids which are used as building blocks to acids which are used as building blocks to develop body tissuedevelop body tissue

Vitamins – Essential for normal body Vitamins – Essential for normal body functionsfunctions

Minerals – Aid in skeletal growth and Minerals – Aid in skeletal growth and chemical reactionschemical reactions

Water – used for body’s chemical reactions, Water – used for body’s chemical reactions, regulate body heat, lubricantregulate body heat, lubricant

TWO GENERAL CLASSES OF TWO GENERAL CLASSES OF FEEDSTUFFSFEEDSTUFFS

ROUGHAGES:ROUGHAGES: Feedstuffs that are high in Feedstuffs that are high in fiber and low in energy.fiber and low in energy.

Examples include hay, green pasture Examples include hay, green pasture grasses and legumes and silage.grasses and legumes and silage.

CONCENTRATES:CONCENTRATES: Feed that are low in Feed that are low in fiber and high in energy.fiber and high in energy.

Examples are corn, oats, wheat, meat Examples are corn, oats, wheat, meat scraps, blood meal, soybean meal and scraps, blood meal, soybean meal and urea. urea.

DIGESTIBLE NUTRIENTDIGESTIBLE NUTRIENT

A digestible nutrient is the part of a A digestible nutrient is the part of a feedstuff that can be digested, or feedstuff that can be digested, or broken down.broken down.

Fiber in roughage is not easily Fiber in roughage is not easily digested.digested.

Ruminants and horses are efficient Ruminants and horses are efficient users of roughage.users of roughage.

TERMSTERMS

RATION: The total amount of feed an RATION: The total amount of feed an animal gets in a 24 hour period.animal gets in a 24 hour period.

BALANCED RATION: A ration that BALANCED RATION: A ration that provides all of the nutrients needed provides all of the nutrients needed by the animal in the right amount by the animal in the right amount and proportion.and proportion.

DIET: Type and amount of feed and DIET: Type and amount of feed and water an animal eats.water an animal eats.

THREE TYPES OF THREE TYPES OF ROUGHAGE FOR ANIMALSROUGHAGE FOR ANIMALS

PASTURE- Land where grasses and PASTURE- Land where grasses and other plants grow for animals to other plants grow for animals to graze.graze.

HAY- Made of the leaves and stems of HAY- Made of the leaves and stems of plants that have been cut and dried plants that have been cut and dried for feed.for feed.

SILAGE- Made from cut green plants SILAGE- Made from cut green plants by chopping them into small pieces by chopping them into small pieces and placing the “chop” in a silo.and placing the “chop” in a silo.

EXAMPLES OF GRAIN EXAMPLES OF GRAIN CONCENTRATESCONCENTRATES

Grains are high in TDN but do not Grains are high in TDN but do not provide a balanced ration.provide a balanced ration.

Examples include corn, oats, wheat Examples include corn, oats, wheat and grain sorghum.and grain sorghum.

Corn is the most widely used grain.Corn is the most widely used grain.

SOURCES OF PROTEIN SOURCES OF PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTSSUPPLEMENTS

Protein supplements are high in TDN and Protein supplements are high in TDN and high in protein.high in protein.

Three types:Three types: Animal - meat scraps and tankage, blood Animal - meat scraps and tankage, blood

meal, fish meal, and skim milk.meal, fish meal, and skim milk. Plant- soybean oil meal, cotton seed Plant- soybean oil meal, cotton seed

meal and various grain by-products.meal and various grain by-products. Synthetic- Urea, molasses, rice hulls, Synthetic- Urea, molasses, rice hulls,

and citrus pulp treated with ammonia.and citrus pulp treated with ammonia.

FEED ADDITIVESFEED ADDITIVES

Placed in feed while it is being Placed in feed while it is being manufactured to preserve it and manufactured to preserve it and enhance growth of the animals.enhance growth of the animals.

MedicationsMedications WormersWormers Marketing enhancementMarketing enhancement AntioxidantsAntioxidants

FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN SELECTING FEED FOR SELECTING FEED FOR

ANIMALSANIMALS NUTRIENT CONTENTNUTRIENT CONTENT PALATABILITYPALATABILITY FREE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALSFREE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS VARIETYVARIETY BULKINESSBULKINESS COSTCOST FEED STORAGEFEED STORAGE

THREE FORMS IN WHICH THREE FORMS IN WHICH ROUGHAGE IS FEDROUGHAGE IS FED

BALES BALES

LOOSE CHOPLOOSE CHOP

PELLETS AND WAFERSPELLETS AND WAFERS

WAYS CONCENTRATES ARE WAYS CONCENTRATES ARE MADE INTO FORMS OF FEEDMADE INTO FORMS OF FEED CRACKING AND ROLLINGCRACKING AND ROLLING

GRINDINGGRINDING

EXTRUDINGEXTRUDING

WAYS SUPPLEMENTS ARE WAYS SUPPLEMENTS ARE PREPAREDPREPARED

BLOCKS- Salt or mineral blockBLOCKS- Salt or mineral block

LIQUIDS- MolassesLIQUIDS- Molasses

MIXES- Salt, protein sources and MIXES- Salt, protein sources and other materialsother materials