Animal Science Nutrition for Horses and Other Livestock: Feeds, Requirements, Safety, and Ration Skills

Feedstuffs

The actual ingredients animals eat in their diets.

Forages

Bulky, higher-fiber feeds like pasture and hay that support gut function.

Concentrates

Lower-fiber, higher-energy feeds such as grains and commercial pellets.

Energy feeds

Feeds that provide high energy, including grains and fats.

Protein feeds

Feeds rich in protein such as soybean meal and alfalfa.

Quality of feed

A combination of nutrient density, digestibility, palatability, cleanliness, and consistency.

Compatibility in feeding

Matching feeds to the digestive systems and purposes of different animals.

Ruminants

Animals like cattle and sheep that ferment fiber in the rumen, thriving on forages.

Hindgut fermenters

Animals like horses that ferment fiber in the cecum/colon.

Monogastrics

Animals like swine and poultry that digest fiber poorly and need energy-dense diets.

Feed additives

Small inclusion products that enhance animal performance or feed behavior.

Byproducts

Ingredients left after processing human food, often used in animal feed.

Deficiency

Occurs when intake of a nutrient is below the animal's requirement.

Toxicity

Occurs when nutrient intake exceeds safe limits, potentially leading to health issues.

Average daily gain (ADG)

The growth rate of an animal, calculated as (final weight - initial weight)/days.

Feed efficiency (FE)

The amount of weight gain per unit of feed intake.

Feed conversion ratio (FCR)

The ratio of feed intake to weight gain; a lower FCR is better.

Dry matter (DM)

The portion of feed that is not water, used for nutrient comparisons.

Mycotoxins

Toxins produced by molds that can contaminate animal feed.

HACCP

A system for identifying and managing feed safety risks.

Ration formulation

The process of selecting feed ingredients to meet an animal's nutrient requirements.

Nutrient density

The amount of energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals per unit of dry matter.

Probiotics

Additives that support gut microbial stability and health.

Calcium to phosphorus ratio

The balance of these minerals is crucial for skeletal health in growing animals.

Water availability

Essential for feed intake; limited access can reduce performance.

Physical contaminants

Foreign objects like metal or plastic that can cause harm to animals.

Chemical contaminants

Residues such as pesticides or heavy metals that may affect animal health.

Biological contaminants

Living organisms or their products causing illness or reduced performance.

Life stages

The different nutrient requirements of animals at various stages of growth and production.

Creep feeding

Providing supplemental feed to young stock so they can access nutrients not available to them in grazing.