L10 Horse | Nutrition

With food and feed in equine, how does grinding affect the rate of passage and absorption of nutrients

grinding:

inc rate of passage

dec absorption of nutrients

What nutrient stimulates motility

longer fiber stimulates motility

What are the results of fermentation of grain in the large intestines in equines

results are fermentation and production of lactic acid and gas

What are the results of dehydration in equines

1. colic

2. poor performance

3. impaction

What leads to major water insufficiency in equines

causes:

• broken equipment

• poor quality/dirty/unpalatable water

• water w high particle count >6500 mg/L

Which water grows blue-green algae

stagnant water

Stagnant water leads to what diseases

• liver necrosis

• tremors

• diarrhea

• death

Energy malnutrition in equines leads to fat catabolism causing what symptoms

fat catabolism

• lead to hyperlipidemia (potentially)

• risk in overweight horses

• occur in illness during lactation

Energy malnutrition in equines leads to protein catabolism causing what symptoms

protein catabolism of liver protein

• dec plasma protein

• poor immunity, skin, resp, cardiac functions

• skeletal muscle spared

During malnutrition of equines, once fat catabolism is depleted what does it lead to

protein catabolism

A mature horse (at maintenance) synthesizes essential AA (if there’s enough nitrogen) through what process

colonic conversion of nitrogen

A combination of essential AA (from diet) and colonic production give important protein requirements to what life stages of equine

• foals

• reproductive mares

• (other physiological demanding life stages)

What is the protein requirement equation for mature idle horse

BW x 1.26g CP/kg BW/d

Is non-protein nitrogen a good source of nitrogen in the horse

NPN urea is not useful bc:

• absorb in SI

• excreted as urea in urine

Unlike hindgut fermenters, how do foregut fermenters utilize NPN

foregut fermenters’ bacteria utilize the NPN before it is absorbed in SI

If feed contains urea, how should it be calculated from the crude protein analysis

urea should be subtracted (from crude protein analysis)

With protein deficiency, what does biochemistry (CBC) look like in equines

• low BUN

• low albumin/TP

With protein deficiency, what are the clinical signs

• edema possible

• weight loss

• poor skin/hair quality

• poor growth

• dec lactation

• poor performance

Excessive protein in equines leads to what clinical signs

• inc heat production

• ammonia smell in urine-stall sanitation

EX Protein calculation

mature horse weighs 400 kg and is not exercising, maintaining his weight and body condition — what is the daily protein requirement for this horse

400 kg x 1.26 = 504g protein/day

Why is fiber essential to regulate (in equines)

fiber essential to regulate GI motility

• provide substrate for GI microbiota

What does soluble fiber result in in equines

• inc stool water content

• pectin, gums

What does insoluble fiber result in in equines

• lower digestibilty

• cellulose, hemicellulose, ligin

• producing VFA that are absorbed

Why is not necessary to provide arachidonate from diet in horses

lionelic acid is used to form arachidonic acid in horses

Why is lipids preferable to highly digestible carbohydrates in equids

lipids fulfill high energy demands whilst reducing risk of colic and laminitis

What can bind to excess phosphorus or oxalates in certain grasses

calcium

How does inc in salt intake affect equines

excess salt intake → inc drinking → inc urine

How does sweat impact potassium

inc K excretion; K deficiency

When refeeding a starved horse, what are risks in emancipated horses (what is refeeding syndrome)

• diarrhea

• neurologic signs

When refeeding a starved horse, what is the nutritional management

small portions of high-quality forage offered as frequent internals to stabilize insulin (every four hours)

What is the nutritional management of stallions

• inc amount of concentrate in breeding stallions

• avoiding obesity - poor fertility

What is the nutritional management of non-lactating mare

• maintain BCS 5-6

• no inc in food intake necessary until last trimester of pregnancy

What is the nutritional management of lactating mare

• protein requirements inc to 13%

  • can be balanced w a combination of legume hay or legume grass

What is the nutritional management of weanling foals

BCS should be 4/9

A suckling foal should be offered what type of feed (and what is it)

creep feed - feed that is offered to suckling animals to support growth in addition to milk

What could be the cause of orthopedic disease in growing foal

result of accelerated growth and energy excess (which is a genetic trait)

How can you prevent foal orthopedic diseas

maintain ideal BCS 4/9

What is the major concern for performance horses

loss of electrolytes: Na, Cl, K, Mg, Ca

How to treat electrolyte deficiency in performance horses

Legume hay

salt blocks

What species of equid can feed on lignin-rich low energy food

donkeys

What happens if donkeys are fed the same as horses

metabolic complications (such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, laminitis)

What should you avoid in diet of donkeys

avoid concentrates and too rich foods (→ lead to high risk for laminitis and colic)

What is the ideal BCS of equine

4-6 BCS