Transcript It`s not always the feed! - 2017 Kalmbach Feeds Agribusiness

It’s Not Always the Feed!
Colic. Laminitis. Choke. Allergies. Fast Weight Loss.
Feed Acceptability.
Many common health issues associated with feeding horses are quickly
(and most times incorrectly!) blamed on the feed.
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If only hay bales and pastures had feed tags on them!
Kentucky Blue
Bale O’ Hay
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (Min.)…..12.00%
Crude Fat (Min.)…………3.00%
Crude Fiber (Max.)…….35.00%
Calcium (Min.)……………0.40%
Calcium (Max.)…………..0.50%
Phosphorus (Min.)………..0.26%
Copper (Min.)…………..7 ppm
Selenium (Min)…....…..0.1 ppm
Zinc (Min.)………………25 ppm
Ingredients
Timothy and Brome Grass
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Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (Min.)…..20.0%
Crude Fat (Min.)…………3.00%
Crude Fiber (Max.)…….30.00%
Calcium (Min.)……………0.44%
Calcium (Max.)…………..0.53%
Phosphorus (Min.)………..0.35%
Copper (Min.)………….10 ppm
Selenium (Min)………..0.15 ppm
Zinc (Min.)………………30 ppm
Ingredients
Kentucky Blue Grass
 Horses will eat 2 -2.5% of body weight in dry feed
each day
 For a 1,000 lb. horse, that’s 20 -25 lbs. of feed,
roughage and concentrate combined
 Can be 3-4% on pasture
 For a 1,000 lb. horse, that’s 30 – 40 lbs. of dry
feed!
 Typically 50 – 100% roughage
 Thus, intakes can range from:
 10 to 25 lbs. of roughage per day
 Maybe 1 to 12 lbs. of concentrate
WHICH HAS A GREATER EFFECT?
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COLIC
 Colic is the most common medicinal problem
seen in adult horses.
 Defined as abdominal pain
 CAN’T ALWAYS DETERMINE WHY!!!!!!!!!
 Competition horses more likely to suffer colic
than pleasure horses, due to:
 Lower fiber intakes
 Increased grain intake
 Increased stress
 Increased trailering
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 Main causes of colic – impaction or gas?
COLIC
 Internal parasites/damage
 Blockage of the GI tract – roundworms (young horses)
 Damage to intestinal lining
 Blockage of major arteries supplying GI tract
Gas production in hindgut due to high NSC intake
Decreased water intake in winter
Abrupt feed changes – concentrate/grain, even hay
Strangulation of intestinal tract – lipoma?
Twisted intestine – gas displacement? Rolling?
Stall bound
Wind-sucking (“cribbing”)
Moldy feed – HAY TOO!
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FEEDING MANAGEMENT TIPS TO
REDUCE CHANCES OF COLIC
 Allow access to fresh clean acceptable water at all times
 Feed according to temperament and condition of horse
 Feed for work done that day, less on a day off.
 Feed plenty of fiber for healthy gut function.
 Aim for at least 50% of diet as roughage (or minimum 1% of
body weight)
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FEEDING MANAGEMENT TIPS TO
REDUCE CHANCES OF COLIC
 Feed by weight, not by volume of feed
 Weigh the scoop/coffee can of feed
 Weigh a typical flake of hay
 Horses are creatures of habit: keep to a routine
 Feed little and often to mimic the horses grazing nature
 Keep amounts of concentrates to 4-5 lbs. per feeding
or less
 Do not feed dusty or moldy feed
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FEEDING MANAGEMENT TIPS TO
REDUCE CHANCES OF COLIC
 Make any changes to the diet gradually to reduce
risk of the digestive upset
 Don’t exercise immediately after feeding
 Allow 2-3 hours after feeding before working the
horse
 Don’t feed until 1 hour after working (must be cool!!)
 Allow horses stabled for prolonged periods some
exercise even if only in-hand or turn out
 Allows movement of gases built up in the digestive tract
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NUTRITION TIPS TO
REDUCE CHANCES OF COLIC
 Feed high quality, green, good-smelling, soft forages –
softness ~ to digestibility
 Minimize sugar/starch intake; more calories with fat and
fiber
 Also applies to ulcers!!!!
 Don’t over-supplement!!!
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Choke
The lodging of feed in the esophagus (not windpipe!).
Causes:
Most frequently seen in greedy animals fed dry grains
 Inadequate chewing: horses choke because they do not
mix the feed with enough saliva
Poor dentition
Inflammation of the esophagus can increase the chances of choke
(often from prior episodes of choking)
Congenital or acquired stenosis (narrowing of the esophagus)
that requires surgery.
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Choke (cont.)
Contributing factors:
Old age
Poor teeth – even after “floating”
o Just the sharp edges, doesn’t balance teeth
o Over filing (power tools)
Greedy eaters (“bolting”)
 Usually eat pelleted feed faster
 Competition between horses at feeding time
 Common stall wall
 Group feeding
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Choke (cont.)
Potential Solutions:
Fix dental issues – float teeth, double-check work
Slow rate of consumption:
 Spreading grain out in shallow troughs
 Wet feed
 Large stone or salt brick in feeder
 Reduce competition among horses – in groups or stalls!!
 Mix chopped hay in with grain/concentrate
 Use feeder with spacer bars (like “creep feeder” for adult horses)
 Offer softer, pelleted feed – Kalm Ultra
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http://www.barranchequipment.com/barn.htm
Causes:

Diet rich in non-structural carbohydrates – sugar/starch
(i.e. rich spring grass, corn, molasses etc.) - ~ high
Obesity/Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)
 Toxemia – moldy feed; toxins from NSC fermentation
 Trauma

Laminitis
insulin
Drug related
 Pituitary Dysfunction (Cushing’s Syndrome)
 Signs:

“Rocked-back” stance
 Heat in hooves
 Throbbing digital pulse
 Long-term – “founder lines” on hooves

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Laminitis (cont.)
Nutritional
Management:
 Short-term (acute phase when deemed acceptable by veterinarian)
 Grass or mixed hay
 Limit or ELIMINATE pasture
 Provide essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals
with Essential K

Long-term
Above and…
 Feed 3-4x/day – smaller meals
 May add balanced fat source for adding weight

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Allergies
Type 1 hypersensitivity is an allergic reaction provoked by reexposure to a specific antigen.
Antigens usually proteins or polysaccharides, but can be any type of
molecule
Antigen stimulates an immune response, primarily the production of
antibodies
This causes inflammatory response leading to immediate (within
seconds to minutes) reaction
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Allergies (cont.)
Exposure may be by:
 Ingestion = food allergies
 Inhalation = airborne molds, particles, pollen – SPRING & FALL
 Injection = bug bites, medications
 Direct contact = fabrics, shavings, fly spray, coat conditioners, etc
In Vivo Testing (“in life”) - IDST: Intradermal Skin Testing
 highly non-specific
 no value for food allergy
In Vitro Testing (“in glass”) Blood (Serum) Testing
 highly non-specific, except for molds
 no value for food allergy
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Allergy Test
Results
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Allergies
A HORSE THAT IS POSITIVE ON AN
ALLERGY TEST IS LIKELY ALLERGIC TO
SOMETHING – TESTS DO NOT TELL US
EXACTLY WHAT!!
What do I do??
Remove suspected allergens one-at-a-time
Omega 3 fatty acid may reduce inflammatory symptoms
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Feed Refusal
Not touching the feed or not finishing what you offered?
Not touching - causes
Spoiled feed
Ulcers
Dental issues
Not finishing amount offered - causes
Over-feeding
If horse is finishing minimum recommended amount, no
issues
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Rapid Weight Loss
Potential non-nutritional causes
Liver Disease – older horses
Kidney Disease
Cancer
Cushing’s Syndrome
Nutritional causes
Change in hay/pasture quality
Underfeeding recommended amount of a product
Feeding errors – who’s feeding?
TRIBUTE PRODUCTS NEVER CHANGE (unless improved!)
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LOW TO HIGH QUALITY DIFFERENCE in FORAGE (Mcal)
% of CALORIE REQUIREMENT (16 Mcal) @ 15#/day
41.2
45.0
36.1
40.0
35.0
30.0
25.0
% of
Requirement
24.6
18.5
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
Forage Type/Quality
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It’s Not Always the Feed!
SUMMARY
1. Many common health issues associated with feeding horses are
quickly (and most times incorrectly!) blamed on the feed.
2. Most of these issues have multiple potential, interacting causes not
related to a particular product.
3. No primary nutrient in any product is directly linked to any of the
above issues (except over consumption of NSC – management issue)
2016 Kalmbach Feeds Agribusiness Conference
It’s Not Always the Feed!
SUMMARY (cont.)
4. It is important that YOU understand there is more to these issues
than the product.
5. Contact your KFI sales person or call the office for assistance.
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Questions?
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