The Cost of NutritionExploring Options for Breeders

Catherine Rudenko BSc Equine ScienceConnolly’s RED MILLS

The facts..

Breeding is an area in which nutrition has a key role

Creating a balanced diet is essential for correct development and soundness

Cost : Performance

What can be done to minimise cost without compromising performance ?

Topics for today

Feeding accurately by stage of development - focus on the mare

Understanding key elements of a diet

Complete feeds vs balancers + straights

Accurate feeding

Stages of pregnancy

0-6 months, 7 & 8 months, 9-11 months

The balancing act

The essential elements to the diet which are not naturally provided in most forage or grains are Vitamins and Minerals

Vit / Min roles...

Vitamin A

Important for fertility

For Osteoclast function ( bone making cells )

Lack of Vit A causes growth retardation in first 12 months

Vit / Min roles...

Zinc

Part of the enzyme which helps calcify (harden) cartilage in joints

Vit / Min roles...

Manganese

Part of chondroitin 4 sulphate and chondroitin 6 sulphate

Chondroitin is a major component of cartilage

Vit / Min roles...

Iodine

Involved in thyroid function and production of T4 (thyroxine)

T4 regulates metabolic growth rates

Vit / Min roles...

Copper

Needed for lysol-oxidase function

The enzyme that provides ‘cross-links’ in bone structure

0-6 months (500kg mare)

MAINTENANCE

DE : 63 mj

Protein : 540 g

Calcium : 20 g

Phosphorus : 14 g

Copper : 100 mg

Vitamin A : 15000 iu

Vitamin D : 3300 iu

Vitamin E : 500 iu

6 MONTHS PREGNANCY

DE : 72 MJ

Protein : 704 g

Calcium : 20 g

Phosphorus : 14g

Copper : 100 mg

Vitamin A : 30000 iu

Vitamin D :3300 iu

Vitamin E : 800 iu

DE and Protein

DE increases by 9 MJ

1kg stud cubes provides 11.5 MJ

Protein increases by 164 g

1.2 kg stud cubes provides 168 g protein

Natural changes in pasture sugar (MJ) and protein levels will also meet the gap from resting to early pregnancy

Vits and Mins

Not fully catered for by pasture or forages !

Vitamin E is found in high levels of fresh pasture ( 25-90 iu/kg DM), this decreases when drying

Vitamin E

Horse on pasture will consume approx 8kg DM, providing up to 720 iu Vitamin E

Requirement after pasture : 80 iu

Ikg stud cubes provides 100 iu

Vitamin D, A & Copper

VD 3300 iu required

1.75 kg stud cubes provides 3500

VA 30000 iu required

2 kg stud cubes provides 30000

Cu 100 mg required

2.5 kg stud cubes provides 100 mg

Calcium & Phosphorus

Ca 20 g required

2 kg stud cubes provides 20 g

Phosphorus 14 g required

2.4 kg stud cubes provides 14.4 g

Cost of this diet ?

2.5 kg stud cubes costs €1.10

Alternatives ?

Balancers + forage

Balancers + straight

Balancers are more flexible and often more economic

Balancers

Balancers ensure you have covered all the essentials of vitamins, minerals, amino acids

They do not contribute as much in the way of MJ ( calories ) or protein

Balancers

For meeting the MJ requirements you are then reliant on your pasture or straights

Gro-Care Balancer

VD 3300 iu required

330 g Gro-C provides 3300 iu

VA 30000 iu required

500 g Gro-C provides 30000

Cu 100 mg required

600 g Gro-C provides 108 mg

Text

Gro-Care Balancer

Ca 20 g required

600 g Gro-C provides 19.2 g

Phosphorus 14 g required

600 g Gro-C provides 9.6 g** phosphorus gap is met by pasture

Gro-Care Balancer

Vit E req 800 iu

550 grams provides 825 iu

Cost of this diet ?

600 grams Gro Care costs €0.61

Balancers vs Cubes

If your pasture quality is high and the mare will hold body condition then balancers are a more economic option and all essentials are met

Another benefit

Gro-Care fed at 600 g provides 825 iu of Vit E

So ensuring full Vit E levels are met even if pasture is poorer of if relying on dried forages

Cubes benefits

Provide all essentials plus proteins and calories

For mares covered in February until spring grazing is available cubes are a better option

Savings ?

Stud Cubes €1.10 per day

Gro-Care €0.61 per day

Over a 6 month period Stud Cubes costs € 198 vs Gro-Care cost of € 109

6 months +

At 7 and 8 months requirements increase slightly from the 6th month

6 MONTHS PREGNANCY

DE : 72 MJ

Protein : 704 g

Calcium : 20 g

Phosphorus : 14 g

Copper : 100 mg

Vitamin A : 30000 iu

Vitamin D :3300 iu

Vitamin E : 800 iu

7-8 months8 MONTHS PREGNANCY

DE : 77 mj

Protein : 759 g

Calcium : 28 g

Phosphorus : 20 g

Copper : 100 mg

Vitamin A : 30000 iu

Vitamin D : 3300 iu

Vitamin E : 800 iu

7-8 months

At this stage the only increases are in protein, energy, calcium and phosphorus

Increasing stud cubes to 3.3 kg meets the gap

Increasing gro-care to 900 g meets the gap

Pasture

At 7-8 months the pasture quality will be lowering so additional calories may be needed if using a balancer

Straights for energy

3.3 kg stud cubes provides 37.9 mj

900 g gro-care provides 10 mj

To make diets ‘equal’ in energy a further 27 mj would be needed

Energy values per kg

Oats whole 10 mj

Flaked oats 11 mj

Barley flaked 13 mj

Wheat flaked 14 mj

Beet pulp 10 mj - as fed 2.5 mj

Cost of diets

3.3 kg stud cubes costs € 1.45

900 g gro-care costs € 0.92

2 month period costs, stud cubes €87.00, gro-care €55.20

9-11 months8 MONTHS PREGNANCY

DE : 77 mj

Protein : 759 g

Calcium : 28 g

Phosphorus : 20 g

Copper : 100 mg

Vitamin A : 30000 iu

Vitamin D : 3300 iu

Vitamin E : 800 iu

11 MONTHS PREGNANCY

DE : 89 mj

Protein : 893 g

Calcium : 36 g

Phosphorus : 26.3 g

Copper : 125 mg

Vitamin A : 30000 iu

Vitamin D : 3300 iu

Vitamin E : 800 iu

9-11 months

This period is the most significant increase as the fetus builds body mass and finishing touches to digestive, respiratory and nervous systems take place

Increased rate of nutrient transfer across the placenta 16,000 ml/min to 32,000 ml/min

9-11 months

Increasing stud cubes to 4.5 kg meets the gap

Increasing gro-care to 1.5 kg meets the gap*

Cost of diets

4.5 kg stud cubes costs € 1.98

1.5 kg gro-care balancer costs € 1.53 *

Over 3 month period stud cubes €178.20, gro-care €137.70

*note - this is using the balancer to meet protein gap, if straights are fed then the balancer can be left at 900g

Cost of €0.92 per day, or €82.80 for the 3 months vs stud cubes at €178.20

Balancers are good for vit/min intake but are expensive when used as the sole protein source.

Use quality forages / straights to provide protein at this time of year.

Balancers 9-11 months

At this time of year (Nov,Dec,Jan) cold weather will increase energy requirements and balancers will need to be fed with straight to increase calorie intake

Amounts required will also depend on forage quality and intake

Intake

In the last 4-5 weeks the mares digestive capacity will naturally decrease by up to 20%

Ensure meals are small especially evening feeds as this helps reduce likelihood of colics after foaling

Supplement with a balancer if needed

Quality of Forage

If your forage quality is lower and your mare is eating less than 6 kg stud cubes a day it is advisable to add in 200 grams of balancer to boost vitamin E intake

Quality of grains

If feeding straights feed good clean grains

Beware of rolled grains sprouting or moulding

Cooked grains eg flaked offer better digestion and increased nutrient uptake so can be fed in lower volumes than whole or rolled grains

Maximising digestionFeed forage first - better for stomach health and slows rate of passage, allowing more nutrient uptake

Feed several small meals to avoid overloading the system and causing bacterial imbalances of the hind-gut

Do not suddenly change the diet

Summary

Ensure diet is balanced for vits / mins

Make the most of your pasture

Quality forage will reduce costs

Only use good clean straights

Do the maths ! Cost your straights + balancers vs complete diets

Questions ?

Catherine RudenkoE : crudenko@redmills.ie

T : 059 9775800