DM requirements 1-3% of BW (2.5%)
Energy requirements Expression DE
500 kg horse = 70 MJ → → → (0.14MJ x BW)
Ca, and P requirements Ca:P = 1,5-2 : 1 g/kg
Water requirements 5L/100 kg ———> 500kg horse = 25L (40-60ml/kg BW)
• Lactating horse → 12-14L/100 kg —>500kg horse 65L
(NOT A STATIC NUMBER → varies depedning on feed, exercise etc)
BCS Henekke system: 1-9
• Maintenance: 4-6,
• Pleasure: 5-6,
• Racing: 4-5
**Forage : Concentrate ratio (**this is old strategy) Light working horses = 65:35
Moderate work horses = 50:50
Heavy work horses = 35:65 (race horses need almost double of maintenance)
Minimal daily hay requirement 2% of BW, 10 kg
Feed supplementation FA supplementation :
◦ Corn oil → omega 6
◦ Linseed oil → Omega 3
◦ Race horses are often given this due to their high energy needs

Rice bran: High fat content → good energy source → used instead or with corn oil

Hay cubes → High in fiber ◦ Perfect for older horses with dental problems → soak them in water and feed as soup

Haylage → High in moisture… downside is once opened bag must be used or risk of contamination occurs

Sugar beet pulp (unmolassed) → Good digestible soluble fiber souce, good in case of dysbiosis or malnutriton

Balancer → Good for horses in traning with high protein demand (CP 25%)

Stud balancer → has even more protein → CP 32% + omega 3,6 & vitamins |


Maintenance requirements of horses

Maintenance req greatly depends on the horses physiological status:

Lactation > pregnant/growing > maintenance

DM intake

Horses DM should be 1-3% of BW , but varies between season, individual and diet !

Type of feed influences DMI : Fresh grass > alfalfa > grass hay > cereal straw:

Horses also have a weak feedback mechanism for glucose and VFA meaning energy doesnt regulate very well leading to OBESITY

Water requirement of horses

5L/100 kg ———> 500kg horse = 25L (40-60ml/kg BW)

ex. High protein diet needs higher water intake

or

High grass diet (high in moistrure) → less need for water

Nutrional Req of horses:

CP : 16%

DE: 70 MJ , 1-3% of BW (2.5% she said) (ponies 5%)

CF: 18%

Vitamins:

| Vit-A (b-carotene) | ◦ After 6 months storage of HAY you can generally say its low in Vit-A (bleached) ◦ deficiency: decreased ⬇️fertility, growth and less resistant to infections ◦ excessive supply: alopecia, ataxia, lameness | | --- | --- | | Vit-D | ◦ more than 4 hrs/day on sun + sun dried hay ◦ excessive supply: calcinosis | | Vit-E | ◦ Heavy exercise: supplied; deficiency: EMND, EDM (neuromsucular, neural) ◦ grazing 6 months ok but long storgae or fat in diet 5%< | | Vit-C | ◦ No need except for stress: transport, heavy exercise, weaning, resp./neurolog. diseases | | Vit-K & B | ◦ no need, synthetised in hindgut |