NUTRITIONAL

MANAGEMENT OF HORSES
Dr.K.S.Murthy
Research Scientist
Cattle Breeding Farm,JAU,Junagadh
 Non-ruminant herbivore-cecum,colon
I3/3,C1/1,P3 or 4/3,M3/3

MaleHorse -40 or 42 teeth (adult)

Female Horse-I3/3,C0/0,P3or4/0,M3/3(36-
38teeth)
No Dental cavities as in humans, Check
teeth for worn out /sharp edges that damage
tongue, cheek.Use tooth rasp to file down
projections of teeth. Feed barley or crushed
grain in such horses.Do not fed whole grains
• Soften hay by soaking.Use complete feeds
• Parotid(Max),SubMaxillary,Sub lingual.No
saliva at the site of food.12 lit in ponies.Na
and Cl loss in blooddue to excessive
salivation. Traces of amylase
• Esophagus-50-60’,High tone in lower
parts. No Vomiting in horse. Stomach
distends to rupture
• Stomach : 8% GI. Limited bact. Digestion-
Lactate main(1.7:1(TVFA)).low cap.starts
emptying immediately after feeding.FPR
very fast in stomach –little contact GIjuices
• Feed 2 or 3 meals a day.Gastric Ulcer in
foals- Sy -depression, colic, and grinding of
teeth. HWC. Stress, Excess anti
inflammatory drugs etiology not feed.
• SI:30% of GI.all usual secretions.
Pancreatic juice more than parotid
secretion. No Gall bladder. Bile-direct in SI-
300ml/hr. DM 5-8%
• LI:25’.Cecum,right ventral –left ventral-left
dorsal-right dirsal-transverse colon
Microflora of cecum and rumen similar.
• FPR-95%feed-feces-65-70hrs of feeding on
hay and grain ration .Faster-grains/pell.
• Digestion : S.I-Protein-trypsin,
chymotrpsin, carboxypeptidases. Colostral
antibodies-36 hrs.
• CH2O-Soluble-SI.At birth-no
maltase/sucrase. Adult-no lactase –
feeding –Diarrhoea.LI-VFA-A:P:B-as a
source of energy.High grain- H-P,L-A-
indicates-all grains need not be digested in
SI.
• Fat: Fa+Glycerol – Direct incorporation.
No gall bladder-High tolerance 15-20%
tallow .
• Vit ADEK-SI absorb.Some carotene not
converted to VitA-deposited in fatty
tissues. Yellow colour fat &blood plasma.
Donkey no carotene abosorption-W.fat
• DietaryB-SI,Bacterial –B-LI.
• Minerals-Ca,P,Mg,Zn –SI,P-LI –to
maintain pH for bacterial activity
• Water : cecum and colon.Feces-66-
76%H2o.Oats diet-50% H20.Wet wheat
bran does not produce wet feces. Feed
after watering ,but vice versa results in
lowered digestibility. No Scientific basis
• Nutrients
• Energy:TDN,DE,ME-VFA-do not stimulate
insulin.Requirement:-
DE(kcal/day)=1.4+0.03W;>600kgb.w=1.82+
0.0383W-0.000015W2 for maintenance
• Pregnancy /last quarter-10-12%+M
• NRC(1989)1.11(9P),1.13(10P),1.2(11P
)XM
• Lactation-50-70%+M,772kcalDE/kg
milk production.
• Race –BW standard(+16lb).Loss in a
race=4kg
• Protein : AVHILLMPTT-SI,LI-bacterial N
debatable.But Non-essential a.a synthesis.
Significant urea recycled but no efficient
use.Lysine-0.65 to 0.7%in weanlings-FM,
Soybean, skim milk. Foals-16% CP, 14%
CP at 4& 6 mo and 12% at 1 yr. Pregnant
and lactating -10-13% CP .
• Calcium-Parath and Calcitonin.Absorption-
VitD,Protein,C: P ratio.Tropical grasses-
Oxalate-(Ca:Oxalate =0.5).Weanlings-150-
180mg/kgb.wor0.6% of ration.Yearlings-
0.4%and adults-0.25%calcium diets.
Lactation-800-1000mg/kg milk or 0.47%.
enlarged facial bones- roman nose,Big
• Head or millers disease-Wheat bran
(0.14:1.43=Ca:P)
• Phosphorus-80%skeleton,ATP,Phytin-less
available .Low Ca dangerous than low P.
Weanilings-0.4%,Yealings-0.25%,mature-
0.17%,Preg& lact.-0.35%
Magnesium1-5mg/kgb.w.in adults.def. in
foals-calcification of blood vessels
Potassium-Early weaned -1% and adults-
0.4to 0.6%
Trace Minerals :
Iodine: 0.1ppm . Thyroxine-75%I.BMR
• Iron-Anemia rare-Strongyles-loss of blood.
• 40ppm Fe/day,50ppm/day in adult and
foals. M.B.theory. Hemochromatosis.
• Zinc:<50ppm/day-def.skin –parakeratosis
• Fed and fodder deficiency
• Selenium :0.1ppm-white muscle
disease(def)- supllement in deficiency
areas1 mg/day to preg. Glutathione
peroxidase-Alopacia,Blind staggers,
Degnala in cattle
• NaCl:50-60 mg/day. Def-Depraved
appetite.Excess no problem-if H2O
available.Brine-Colic,diarrahoea,Urination
• Copper-10ppm-def-Osteochrondosis
• Mn-40ppm
• Flourine-High tolerance than bovine-thickening
of nasal and maxillary bones
• Vitamins-A-30-60IU of retinol.1mg
carotene=400IU vitA;D-6.6IU/kg b.w. suncured
hay takes of D req.;E-27microg in foals;K-
dietary not essential
• B-complex-good quality hay ,LI bacteria can
take care.Stress &racing –additional
req.Thiamene-3-5-mg/kg feed,Riboflavin-
2mg/kg feed.Poor quality hoof-Biotin 15mg/dfor
15 days and then 2mg/day after improves
• Condition of peripole, hoof walls,Sole,Frog
&white line junctions
• VitC-not required
• Water: Factors-Temp-55-70F-15-20% more
Moderate and heavy worl 60-80% &120% of
resting animal requirement.Hard work and hot
climate –synegistic.Last 3rd of gestation 8-
10%,lactating mares 50-70% more than non-
P,1-2L/1kg DM consumed;Non-working-4-
8,Gestation-7-9,Peak lactation-9-11,Medium
work-9-15, heavy work-12-15 gallons of
water /day
• Feeds and feeding
• Grains-Oats-overeating controlled-3.34Mcal/kg
• Maize-3.87Mca/kgBarley-3.66Mca/kg,Wheat-
3.83Mcal/kg.Dried Brewer’s grain-rich in CP &
Bbut low in energy.Molasses-energy and
Prich,added to reduce dust and palatability.
Carrots and turnips(veg)a treat but not good in
Energy.Beet pulp-Energy,Ca and fibre-more
• Legumes vs.non-legume hays. Alfalfa best
• Protein-Alfalfa,Soybean meal, Fish meal,GNC
• Good a.a makeup
• Estimated feed intake(lbs/100lbs b.w)
• Hay Grain
• Maintenance 1.5-2 -
• Late gestation 1.0-1.5 0.25-0.75
Lactation, Heavy work
Weanlings 0.75-1.25 1.75-2.0
Young foals-wks after birth-creep ration-16-
18%CP,0.8%Ca,0.6%P.Horses attain mature
height late but not weight.
Yearlings-12-14%Ca,0.6%Ca,0.35% P
Commercial horse feeds are not available in our
country
• General Nutrition management
• Exercise regularly
• Parasite control adequate
• Regular examination of teeth
• Feed at regular intervals
• Avoid moldy feeds
• Keep manger clean
• Give small frequent feedings
• Feed by weight not by volume of feed
• Make changes in types of feeds gradually
• Do not over feed
• Provide clean,fresh water available frequently
• Problems associate with feeding
• Fat horses(over feeding )Thin horses(under
feding).Feed according to b.w=Heart
Girth2XBody length/241.3
• Founder: Inflammation of sensitive laminae of
feet(600x2/600x2) usually front feet are affected.
Fat ponies are affected.Go lame and glued to
floor
• Heaves-Chronic obstructive pulmomnary
disease-do not feed dusty /finely ground feeds
• Greedy eaters – put some pebbles in manger
• Foals eat continuously or do not eat at all for
some time. Blood fat level increases.
• For such foals they should be made to eat
regularly.
• Mares interfere with foals feeding. Creep
rations –partition – creep boxes

• Thank you