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Horse Nutrition Horses should have access to clean, fresh water at all times. A mature horse drinks on average 5-10 gallons a day. This will vary with the activity and temperature of the environment. For example: Summer-more Winter-less Important note: Hot, exhausted horses should wait 30 minutes before drinking water after heavy exercise. They are however, allowed to consume hay during this cooling down period. Nutrient requirements vary for your horse? •Stage of Production •Maintenance •Work •Lactation •Pregnancy •Early growth •Age •Mature Size •Activity Level Equine Digestive System stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon esophagus foregut hindgut •Mouth to anus = 100ft rectum Equine Digestive System stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon esophagus foregut hindgut •Mouth, esophagus, stomach = 3-4 feet •Stomach Capacity = 8-15 quarts rectum Equine Digestive System stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon esophagus foregut hindgut •Small intestine = 70 feet long •Small intestine capacity = 48 quarts rectum Equine Digestive System stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon esophagus foregut hindgut •Large intestine = 20 feet long •Large intestine capacity = 130 quarts rectum Equine Digestive System stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon esophagus foregut hindgut •Mouth breaks down food •Wets feed with saliva--3 gallons per day rectum Equine Digestive System stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon esophagus foregut hindgut rectum •Stomach has 10% of the digestive system capacity •Therefore horses are constant grazers Equine Digestive System stomach small intestine cecum large colon descending colon esophagus foregut hindgut rectum •In the small intestine we: break down carbohydrates to glucose, proteins to amino acids, fats to free fatty acids, and add bicarbonate. DIGESTION •Total process = 65 hours •15 minutes in the stomach •1 hour in small intestine •63 hours in large intestine • Adjusted feeding based on an activity level. Maintenance feed levels can be based per 100 lb of weight (1%). Supplemental feeding over maintenance should be based on the level and duration of work. CTVT p.367 • Page 366 CTVT COMMON FEEDSTUFF % DM Mcal/# % Protein Alfalfa 90 .94 18 Brome 89 .80 11 Orchard 88 .85 11 Straw 91 .70 4 Oats 89 1.3 12 Corn 88 1.5 9 VITAMINS •Vitamin A--from green grass and green hay •Vitamin D--from forage •Vitamin E--from forage •Vitamin K--from forage SALT should be fed free choice MINERALS •Calcium--major source from roughage •Phosphorus--major source from grains •We want the calcium to phosphorus ratio at 1.5 •May consider for the area supplementing with Selenium Salt Blocks contain trace-mineralized salts (microminerals) needed as supplements, when they are not available in the horses diet. Chopped hay Pulp Flaked corn Pellets Bran Crimped oats/Sugar beets/Micronized flaked barley/Sweet feed Round bale of hay Avg. wt: tons Square Bale of Hay Avg. weight: 60 lbs This is called a flake of hay. A flake can weigh from 1.5 – 5 lbs. Dry Matter Intake • Most maintenance horses (this means pasture raised horses, not working horses) can be fed with hay: 1.5 to 1.8 lbs hay/100lbs (BW/Day) • Work increases the need for water, electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium) and energy. Oats Corn (cracked or crushed) Wheat Sweet Feed Pelleted Feed The Hays Make sure you check the quality Quality • Forage quality varies greatly by soil quality, species of grass, season of the year, rainfall, overgrazing, pasture rotation, weed control and the presence of toxic weeds • Laboratory analysis of forage for moisture, energy, protein, fiber and microminerals and micronutrients is fundamental in assessing roughage nutrient control • Hay analysis is performed at little or not cost by regional agriculture extension services Coastal Bermuda Hay Bales Sudan Grass Hay Johnson Grass Hay Prairie Hay CTVT p.367 The End!