Horse Production Exam 3 (Part 1)

performance level

Goal is to feed a diet that effectively achieves the desired temperament, growth, production and/or _____ ____ for each individual horse.

100 ft (coiled, looped, usually has a small diameter)

How long is the entire digestive tract of a mature horse that is about 1000 lbs?

40-50 gallons

What is the capacity of the horse's digestive system?

10%

How much of the total capacity foes the stomach make up?

30%

How much of the total capacity does the small intestine make up?

65%

How much of the total capacity does the cecum and colon make up?

man, pig, dog

Horse's foregut is similar to:

Cattle, sheep, deer

Horse's hindgut is similar to:

U-shaped, muscular sac

What is the shape of a horse's stomach?

Mechanical and chemical digestion

What kind of digestion occurs in a horse's stomach?

Mix digestive enzymes with intestinal contents, brings digested materials into contact with the surface of the intestinal tract for absorption. Any chyme not digested and absorbed is passed onto the cecum and colon for 2-4 hours.

What does the small intestine do?

Digestion of fibrous material by bacteria, takes 18-36 hours

What does the large intestine do?

BCS

What is the easiest way to tell if a horse is receiving proper nutrition?

feed forage first

You should always:

Cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin

What are the fiber fractions found in plants?

lignin

____ is not very digestible

hemicellulose, cellulose

______ and some of the ____ is highly digestible in horses.

ADF and NDF

Currently, there is no exact method of measuring the proportion of digestible fiber to indigestible fiber. Today's measurement uses:

The total cell wall which includes all 3 types of fiber (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin). Indicates the amount of forage a horse can consume given physical bulk and space in the digestive tract.

NDF is:

dry matter ingested decreases = low digestibility

As NDF rises:

less the horse will eat of the hay (less digestible)

The higher the NDF, the:

lignin, cellulose, some ash, and silica

ADF is:

low digestibility

High ADF means:

digestibility and nutrient availability decreases

As ADF increases:

>45%

ADF of _____ is poor

31-45%

ADF of ____ is fine

30% or less

ADF of ____ is excellent

>65%

NDF of ____ is poor

40-64%

NDF of ____ is fine

40%

NDF of ______ is excellent

30, 40

A ____ and N ____

carbohydrates

____ are the primary source of energy in a horse's diet

fiber

What is the most common form of carbohydrates in a horse's diet?

structural carbohydrates

Fiber =

Non-structural carbohydrates, sugars and starches that get digested in the small intestine

Grains =

needs handgun and microbes to digest

Forage SC:

need hindgut microbes to digest

Forage NSC type = fructans:

obesity, laminitis, colic, developmental orthopedic disorders, metabolic disease and many more

Diets high in NSC may lead to:

low starch

NSC of 20% or less:

high starch

NSC of 35% or above:

A sugar high 1.5-3 hours after eating = "grain brain" = decreased blood sugar level and lots of highs and lows instead of a steady blood sugar level

Feeding oats to a horse can result in:

No pre-cecal digestibility, especially when fed whole or cracked. Arrives in the cecum intact and ready to cause cecal acidosis --> systemic toxins, colic, and/or laminitis

Feeding corn to a horse:

70% starch and 6% fiber

Corn has:

45% starch and 12% fiber

oats has:

65% starch and 6% fiber

Barley has:

Low pre-cecal digestibility, hard to chew and isn't very digestible

Feeding barley to a horse:

50% (11 lbs)

The grain portion of a horse's diet should never be more than ____ of a horse's total daily ration

3-5lbs

The max amount of grain that should be given per feeding is?

oats, low energy density compared to most other grains

What is the traditional favorite grain fed to horses?

Safer feed for horses, less likely to cause cecal acidosis and are highly palatable.

Oats fed to horses are:

corn

What is the second more familiar grain for horses and overall as a livestock feed?

very small safety margin, fed cautiously in small quantities. Usually needs to be processed by cracking or flaking

Corn should be fed to horses in:

sweet feed

Textured feed =

You have a picky eater, need a sticky feed as a base for powdered meds or supplements, or you like to see what you are feeding.

Sweet feed is a good choice to use if:

Horses can't sort out one feed ingredient from another

Pelleted feeds are beneficial because:

8%

Pellets rarely contain more than ____ crude fat so they won't stick together with a lot of fat present

You live in climates where textured feeds would mold or freeze, have horses that like to sort ingredients, or have horses with dental issues that no longer chew feed well.

Pelleted feeds are a good choice when:

is an excellent fiber source

Beet pulp is a grain by-product that:

pregnant or lactating mares, growing foals, hardworking athletes, or horses that have trouble maintaining body weight.

Concentrate feeds are mainly for:

higher-quality

It may be cheaper to feed a ______ product if you can feed less of it.

Contribute additional calories to the total ration in a denser form than forage. Typically provides 1.5x calories/lb than a pound of forage on a DM basis.

What is the number 1 purpose of performance feeds?

must be fed at recommended rate to avoid nutrient deficiencies

Since the vitamin/mineral concentration per pound is lower than in the ration balancer for performance feeds, ___

Vitamins and minerals are added to feeds in correct amounts and ratios for horses. Come in two main forms: sweet feeds and pelleted feeds

What are fortified feeds?

Fortified feeds must have _______ listed on feed tag, otherwise they are a grain mix instead of a fortified feed.

phosphorus, calcium

Non-fortified grains always contain more ____ than _____.

fill in any nutritional deficiencies that may exist. Feeding rate will be quite low

A ration balancer can be used on easy keepers to:

soybean meal as a protein source combined with a lot of mineral and vitamin sources, nutrients are very concentrated

Ration balancer ingredients will likely include:

No additional forage is needed as long as feeding directions are followed. Tend to have slightly higher protein. Tend to guarantee essential amino acid levels to help the horses that don't utilize dietary protein as well. Contain higher levels of fortification, more fiber, and digestible ingredients.

For a complete feed:

complete feeds

What is a good feed choice for harder keepers of all ages, especially those with digestive system issues?

12 months

How long are whole oats good for?

3 weeks in warm months

How long are rolled oats good for?

6 months

How long are commercial pellets good for?

3 months

How long is textured feeds good for?

3 months

Most vitamins and minerals lose efficacy after:

Manufacture date of March 9, 2019

What does 9MAR19 mean?

80th day of 2021 = march 21, 2021

What does 2021080 mean on a feed tag?

Use within 90 days of manufacturing date

What is the guideline for textured feed use?

180 days of manufacturing date

What is the guideline for pelleted feed use?

20% higher than maintenance (light work category)

During the breeding season, stallions require:

12-15%

By the time of delivery, a healthy pregnant mare will have increased her body weight:

early gestation

The developing fetus gains 0.2lb/day during:

Maintenance x 1.03

What is the mare's caloric demand during early gestation?

last 3-4 months gestation

The unborn foal gains 1.0lb.day during:

30% above maintenance

At full term pregnancy, the mare's energy requirements are:

forage alone

It is hard to meet the mare's late gestation requirements on _____ because the growing size of the uterus is impinging on the GI tract.

6

What is the mare's BCS goal during late gestation?

First 12 weeks of the foal's life

What is the time period of early lactation?

2x maintenance, need to increase vitamins A+E, energy, protein, C, and P

At foaling, a mare's nutrient requirements =

4-5

Mares produce an avg of ____ of milk per day during the first 4-5 months of lactation

10-18 gallons --> 20 gallons

During lactation, the mare doubles her water intake to be:

45-65 degrees F

Horses consume the best volume of water when it is what degrees?

1.6-1.75 x maintenance

In late lactation, the mare's intake is:

first year

A horse's ______ presents the most marked physiological and nutritional changes it should ever endure.

Providing quality, forage-based diet that promotes slow, steady growth and avoids spurts or lags in development.

What is the general key for feeding growing horses?

total energy required for maintenance PLUS the energy needed for gain

Growing horses need the:

colostrum

____ is the most important nutrition for a new foal

Can collect 200mL from a high-producing mare with good quality colostrum and store it for future use. Freeze for up to 2 years. Defrost in warm water

What is colostrum banking?

major changes can occur in just a few hours

Since foals have an extremely high metabolic rate and low energy reserves of energy and nutrients:

6-8 times an hour in the first week of life with frequent feedings helping to prevent ulcers

Foals will nurse:

1.5%

What is the fat % of mare's milk?