Nutrition and Feeding Management for Horse Owners (Agdex 460/51-1)
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NUTRITION AND FEEDING MANAGEMENT FOR HORSE OWNERS NUTRITION AND FEEDING MANAGEMENT NUTRITION AND FEEDING Management FOR HORSE OWNERS NUTRITION AND FEEDING MANAGEMENT FOR HORSE OWNERS Susan Novak, Ph. D Anna Kate Shoveller, Ph. D With contributions by Lori K. Warren, Ph. D Published by: Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development Information Packaging Centre 7000-113 Street Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6H 0T6 Editor: Ken Blackley Graphic Designer: Perpetual Notion Design Inc. Copyright © 2008. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Alberta (Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development) All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying,recording, or otherwise without written permission from the Information Packaging Centre, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. ISBN 0-7732-6078-1 Copies of this publication may be purchased from: Publications Office Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development Phone: 1-800-292-5697 (toll-free in Canada) or (780) 427-0391 or see our website www.agriculture.alberta.ca/publications for information on other information products. Printed in Canada NutritioN aNd FeediNg MaNageMeNt For horse owNers • i TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................1 EVALUATING YOUR HORSE’S CONDITION ...........................................1 Body Condition Scoring ...............................................................................2 Determining the Horse’s Weight ...................................................................3 DIGESTIVE PHYSIOLOGY ....................................................................4 Mouth ........................................................................................................5 Pharynx ......................................................................................................6 Esophagus .................................................................................................6 Stomach .....................................................................................................6 The Small Intestine .....................................................................................8 Large Intestine ...........................................................................................9 NUTRIENTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS ................................................11 WATER ..............................................................................................11 Water Quality ............................................................................................12 Water and Electrolyte Considerations for Active Horses ............................. 15 General Tips: Water ................................................................................... 15 ENERGY ............................................................................................16 Types of Energy ......................................................................................... 17 Energy Sources .........................................................................................18 Feed Analysis for Horses: Digestible Energy ............................................... 19 Energy Requirements ................................................................................20 Energy Intake ............................................................................................22 General Feeding Tips: Energy .....................................................................24 PROTEIN ..........................................................................................25 Protein Sources ........................................................................................25 Protein Requirements ................................................................................26 Protein Deficiency ......................................................................................28 Protein Excess ...........................................................................................29 Other Aspects of Feeding Protein ...............................................................29 General Feeding Tips: Protein ....................................................................30 MINERALS FOR HORSES ...................................................................31 Calcium and Phosphorus ..........................................................................34 Sodium Chloride (Salt) ..............................................................................37 Potassium ................................................................................................38 Magnesium ..............................................................................................39 Selenium ..................................................................................................39 Iodine ....................................................................................................... 41 Zinc ..........................................................................................................42 Iron ..........................................................................................................43 Copper .....................................................................................................44 ii • NutritioN aNd FeediNg MaNageMeNt For horse owNers Other Minerals ...........................................................................................45 General Tips: Minerals ...............................................................................45 VITAMINS FOR HORSES .....................................................................46 Vitamin A .................................................................................................48 Vitamin D .................................................................................................48 Vitamin E ..................................................................................................49 Vitamin K ..................................................................................................50 B Vitamins................................................................................................. 51 Vitamin C ..................................................................................................52 General Tips: Vitamins ...............................................................................52 FEEDSTUFFS .....................................................................................53 Forages .....................................................................................................53 Types of Forage ........................................................................................54 Feeding Forages ........................................................................................56 Selecting Hay for Horses ...........................................................................56 How To Get Your Hay Analyzed ...................................................................58 Pasture Management ................................................................................59 Selecting Concentrates for Horses ............................................................60 FEEDING MANAGEMENT ...................................................................71 Feeding the Mature, Idle Horse: Maintenance .............................................71 Nutritional Management of the Broodmare .................................................71 Feeding Management of the Stallion ...........................................................78 Feeding Management of the Growing Horse ................................................81 Feeding Management of the Performance or Working Horse .......................85 Feeding Management Over Winter ..............................................................90 Feeding Management of the Aging Horse .................................................... 91 APPENDIX 1. TYPICAL NUTRIENT VALUES FOR HORSE FEEDS .........96 APPENDIX 2. DAILY NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS FOR HORSES OF DIFFERENT MATURE WEIGHTS .......................................................100 Appendix 2A. Daily nutrient requirements for ponies-200 kg (440 lbs) ...... 100 Appendix 2B. Daily nutrient requirements for horses of different mature weights-400 kg (880 lb) ............................................. 101 Appendix 2C. Daily nutrient requirements for horses of different mature weights-500 kg (1,100 lb) .......................................... 102 Appendix 2D. Daily nutrient requirements for horses of different mature weights-600 kg (1,320 lbs) ......................................... 103 Appendix 2E. Daily nutrient requirements for horses of different mature weights-900 kg (1,980 lbs) ......................................... 104 GLOSSARY .......................................................................................105 REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING/RESOURCES ......................113 NutritioN aNd FeediNg MaNageMeNt For horse owNers • 1 INTRODUCTION With all of the feeds and feedstuffs available for horses, it is difficult to be confident that the feeding choices made are the best for the horse. This manual will provide information on horse nutrition and nutritional content of feeds so that good horse feeding programs can be designed. This manual will cover: • basic digestive physiology • the horse’s requirements for different nutrients