Comprehensive Notes on Horse Nutrition and Feeding

Horse Industry Overview

Horse and Mule Inventory (2017)

Total: 3.2 million horses and mules in the US, a significant part of the agriculture and sport sectors.

  • Texas: 412,000 (13.0%)

  • Oklahoma: 141,400 (4.5%)

  • Kentucky: 131,800 (4.2%)

  • California: 105,400 (3.3%)

These states play crucial roles in the horse industry, with Texas leading in inventory due to its vast ranching culture and competitive events.

Economic Value

Total economic contribution of the horse industry: $1.5 billion in the US, highlighting its importance as a source of employment and revenue.

  • Texas: $125.3 million (8.4%)

  • Oklahoma: $51.1 million (3.4%)

  • Kentucky: $465.8 million (31.1%)

  • California: $48.3 million (3.2%)

Kentucky, known as the "Horse Capital of the World," has a notably high economic contribution primarily due to the Kentucky Derby and a robust breeding industry.

2023 vs 2017 Comparison Analysis

  • US horse inventory decreased by 6.6 million (7.6%), indicating a troubling trend that may reflect changing interests in horse ownership.

  • Texas horse inventory down 7.5K (2.4%), which may impact local economies that rely on equine activities.

  • Foal registrations have stabilized since 2005, suggesting that while overall inventory is declining, breeding practices may be stabilizing, and the industry is adjusting to economic conditions.

Cost of Horse Ownership

Cost Breakdown

  • Feed: $325 (40%) to $400 (26%), a necessary expenditure for health and nutrition.

  • Hay: $270 to $400, vital for maintaining energy levels and digestive health.

  • Immunizations: $80 (60%) to $150 (74%), crucial for preventive healthcare.

  • Deworming: $52 to $211, essential for maintaining internal parasite control.

  • Dentistry: $80 to $210, necessary for ensuring proper chewing and digestion.

  • Hoof Care: $260 to $900, preventing lameness and ensuring performance.

  • Bedding: $175 to $290, critical for comfort and cleanliness.

  • Pest Control: $50 to $100, important for maintaining a healthy environment.

  • Miscellaneous: $129 to $266, can include supplements, grooming, and gear.

  • Repairs: $65 to $133 for barn and stable maintenance.

Total cost: $1,486 - $3,060, depending on the quality of care and services provided.

Challenges in Feeding Programs

Forage and its supplements are often fed separately, leading to potential inconsistencies in nutrient intake. It is noted that horse feeding programs resemble beef cow diets more than those of dairy cattle, indicating a need for specialized programs tailored to equine needs that consider their unique digestive system.

Equine Digestive System

Overview

Horses are non-ruminant herbivores with a complex digestive system designed to efficiently process fibrous plant materials.

  • Foregut:

    • Stomach (≈ 8%)

    • Small intestine (≈ 27%)

  • Hindgut:

    • Large intestine (≈ 65%)

They rely on fermentative digestion in the hindgut to break down fibrous feeds. It is essential to understand this system when crafting diets.

Components of Horse Diets

  • Forages: Pasture forages, grass, and legume hays form the foundation of horse diets, ensuring adequate fiber intake.

  • Concentrates:

    • Carbonaceous: Cereal grains (Oats, Corn, Barley, Sorghum) provide energy.

    • High Protein: Soybean Meal (SBM), Corn Gluten Meal, etc., support muscle development and lactation.

  • Balanced diets are essential to meet nutrient requirements for optimal health and performance.

Forage in Horse Diets

Importance of Forage

Forage is fundamental in horse diets as it helps maintain gastrointestinal integrity and prevents disruptive behaviors such as cribbing.

Recommendations:

  • Minimum 0.75% body weight (BW) daily.

  • Recommended at least 1% BW daily.

  • Mature horses can consume 2 to 3% BW per day, which is critical for their overall health.

Potential Toxicities:

Be aware of forages causing prussic acid toxicity, such as Sorghum and Johnsongrass, and understand the risks associated with Kleingrass for liver issues, as well as common concerns with Fescue, Alfalfa, Sweet Clover, Millet, and Dallisgrass.

Concentrate Feeds: Energy

Energy Source

Concentrates are used to fill energy gaps when forages are inadequate. Small, frequent meals are preferable to reduce the risk of colic, a common digestive distress in horses.

Concentrate Details:

  • Starch Carbs: Oats ≈ 1.25 Mcal/lb; Corn ≈ 1.60 Mcal/lb.

  • Lipid Sources: Vegetable oils ~ 4.1 Mcal/lb; Animal fat ~ 3.6 Mcal/lb.

  • It’s essential to express energy as Mcal of Digestible Energy (DE) daily to ensure dietary needs are met.

Nutritional Needs by Class of Horse

Forage and Concentrate Intake:

  • Mature Idle Horses: 1.5-2.0% forage, 0.0-0.5% concentrate.

  • Pregnant Late: 1.0-1.5% forage, 0.5-1.0% concentrate.

  • Lactating: 1.0-2.0% forage, 1.0-2.0% concentrate, stressing the higher nutritional demands post-partum.

  • Exercising: Intensity of work affects feeding ratios and protein needs; understanding the energy needs is key to preventive care.

Protein Quality:

Focus on essential amino acids, particularly lysine, as they are critical for growth and development in young horses.

Dietary Crude Protein (CP):

Ranges by class, from 8-10% for mature idle horses to 14-18% for lactating mares, illustrating the increased nutritional demands during various life stages.

Nutrient to Calorie Ratios

Ratio Importance

These ratios play an essential role in improving growth and minimizing orthopedic issues, particularly in young, growing horses.

Evaluated in relation to nutrient needs of horses and should be monitored closely during active growth periods.

Requirements by Stage:

Most critical in growing horses and during lactation, ensuring they receive the correct nutrient ratios is fundamental for their health.

  • Weanlings: Ratios must particularly cover protein, lysine, and calcium needs, essential for proper skeletal development.

Mineral and Vitamin Requirements

Macro and Micro-minerals:

Supplementation is vital for performance horses, with essential minerals such as Sodium (Na), Chloride (Cl), and Potassium (K) to ensure optimal performance and recovery.

Vitamins:

In addition to vitamins A, D, E, there are supplementation guidelines provided, with B-complex vitamins synthesized but often needing additional intake for hard-working horses crucial for muscle repair and metabolic function.

Body Condition Score (BCS):

Monitoring BCS is essential for reproduction and lactation performance. The ideal BCS should be between 5-6 for pregnancy and 6 at foaling to support healthy offspring growth.

Feeding Management

General Guidelines:

The average horse consumes about 2.25 to 2.75% of its BW daily, highlighting the importance of consistent feeding practices.

Provide at least 1% of BW as forage, along with access to fresh water, and a mineral-vitamins premix to promote health and longevity.

Frequency of Feeding:

Gradual dietary changes are essential to prevent digestive disturbances; aim for at least two meals a day when incorporating supplements exceeding 0.5% BW.

Individual vs Group Feeding:

Group feeding requires adequate space and monitoring to reduce competitive feeding behaviors and stress during feeding sessions, which can negatively impact equine well-being.

Conclusion

Nutritional management is key in horse care, impacting growth, performance, and overall health. Understanding the nutritional requirements through various life stages, including foaling, growth, performance, and senior care, along with effective management practices ensures horses thrive in their environments and maintain optimum health throughout their lives