Introduction to Equine Digestion Horses are non-ruminant herbivores. Cows and sheep are ruminants who chew the cud regurgitated from its rumen. As grazers, horses are able to utilise large amounts of roughage due to their relatively large caecum. The horses digestive system is made up of a foregut and a Read more…
Protein requirements: The horse protein requirement does not increase much with work. Loss of protein in sweat and protein in the major muscles. It is the horse’s energy requirements which increase. The feeding of excess protein may be detrimental to performance in horses. Horses with high energy requirements do not Read more…
Size and type of horse. The size (height) and type (breed of the animal should be considered to work out a food conversion ratio. A more “common” type of animal will hold better condition and convert feed stuffs better than a lightweight TB type. Age A younger and older horse Read more…
Condition scoring Is the first thing a you notice about a horse- is it fat or thin? If too thin will need more feedstuff to put into correct condition for type (remember a show horse will look very fat on race yard and racehorse will look thin on showing yard) Read more…
1 Calculating rations: Rations calculated on the following: Present state of condition and health Size and type of horse Age Weight Amount of work Ability of the rider weather Economy Availability of feedstuff Feed storage and handling facilities Jiggle round the list so? Amount of work expected to do Is Read more…
Feed additives and prohibited substance Under the Rules of Racing and International Equestrian Federation (FEI) rules it is forbidden to give any stimulant, sedative or “substance other than a normal nutrient” to a horse and detection of such a substance in the urine, blood, saliva or sweat of a horse Read more…
1.3c Feed processing Steam flaking Barley and maize often fed steamed and flaked. Grain is passed through heated rollers, which cook and spilt the grain. Micronisation Grain is effectively “microwaved” resulting in rapid internal heating and a rise in water pressure, which causes the starch in the grain to swell Read more…
Compound feeds 1.3a Three main groups of Compound feed 1. Complete cubes that are fed alone and replace hay and concentrates. Cubes high in fibre, low in energy. Can be used in native ponies to supplement grass or horses that suffer dust allergies to complement the semi-wilted bagged forage 2. Read more…
d Fillers and appetisers Wheat bran Wheat feed consisting of wheat germ, bran, coarse middlings. Bran long been fed as source of roughage in concentrate ration. Bran actually lower in fibre than oats and fibre not very digestible having a high level of indigestible lignin. So is expensive for the Read more…
2c Protein feeds Broodmares/foals/young stock have high protein requirements due to growth, so need additional supplementation, such as soybean meal, linseed, peas, beans, yeast and high quality dried forage, particularly alfalfa. Soyabean meal: Very rich source of protein. Superior balance of amino acids than cereals. One of best quality proteins Read more…
