Transcript Purina Template - American Horse Council

Horse Nutrition – Seasonal Changes
February 2017
Karen E. Davison, Ph.D.
Director, Equine Technical Solutions
Purina Animal Nutrition
Do changing seasons mean nutritional
changes for horses?
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Forage amount and
quality
Ambient temperature
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Forage quality
Calorie Requirements
Horse activity level
Forage – The Foundation of the Diet
50 – 100% of
the diet
•
Does all forage provide
the same nutrition?
Did you know?
Horses consume 2 - 3% of body weight
per day in dry matter (20 - 30 lbs/1000
lb horse)
Does your pasture
provide nutrition or just
space to roam?
• Voluntary consumption declines when
forage quality declines
• Hay is roughly 87% DM, pasture
around 20 - 30% DM
• 11.5 pounds of hay = 10 lbs DM
• 35 - 50 pounds pasture = 10 lbs DM
• Min of 1% BW hay or pasture equivalent is
necessary for proper gut health and function
• Spot grazing?
• Manure piles?
• Pasture
management
Good Quality Hay
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High leaf:stem ratio
Small diameter stems
Few seed heads/blooms
Fresh smell and appearance
Free of molds, weeds and trash
Color
Does season affect hay quality?
• Plant maturity at time of harvest
• Ambient temperature during
growing period
• Amount of moisture during
growing period
Is Forage All They Need?
Fat & Shiny
= Healthy?
Body Condition Score (Henneke, 1983)
A- Crest of Neck
B- Withers
C- Topline
D- Tailhead
E- Ribs
F- Behind Shoulder
40 – 50 lbs BW to change 1 body score
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2
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9
Ideal Body Condition?
BCS < 4.0
• Reduced energy stores
• Decreased muscle mass
• Reduced stamina and recovery
• Reduced cold tolerance
BCS > 6.0
• Increased dead weight
• Impair thermoregulation
• Excess weight on joints and hooves
• BCS 7.0+ increased risk for insulin
resistance and laminitis
Missing Nutrients?
Good Pasture
• Adequate calories, protein, vitamins
• Lacking minerals, especially trace minerals
Good Hay
• Adequate calories
• Lacking protein, vitamins and minerals
Age/Activity
Level?
Calorie intake is easy to evaluate,
other nutrients are more difficult
• What about protein, vitamins, minerals?
– Protein – specifically amino acid
balance
• hair coat, muscle tone, hoof
growth and quality, antibodies
– Vitamins/minerals
• immune function, bone density,
hoof growth and quality; often not
visible signs until significant
deficiency over time
Horse nutrition needs do change
with seasonal changes
Supplement forage with a product
that will meet protein, vitamin and
minerals needs when fed to
maintain body condition
• Pay attention to body condition
• Pay attention to recommended minimum
feeding rates
• Pay attention to hay consumption
• Feed ration may change with the seasons
• Amount fed
• Possibly different product
Questions?
www.purinamills.com/horse-feed