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Feeding Pleasure Horses. Bob Coleman PhD PAS. Meeting nutrient needs Maintenance easy or hard Riding intensity . NRC 2007 Nutrient requirements of Horses. Nutrient needs for a mature horse at Maintenance (1100 lbs/500kg). NRC 2007. Nutrient needs for a mature horse at
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Feeding Pleasure Horses Bob Coleman PhD PAS
Meeting nutrient needs Maintenance easy or hard Riding intensity NRC 2007 Nutrient requirements of Horses
Nutrient needs for a mature horse at Maintenance (1100 lbs/500kg) NRC 2007
Nutrient needs for a mature horse at work (1100 lbs/500kg) NRC 2007
Nutrient sources Concentrates Forages Other Feeds
Horses are grazers Time spent grazing Trickle feeder small intakes
Feed processing chewing mixing with saliva bicarbonate enzymes?
Fore Gut mouth , esophagus stomach and small intestine = 35% of capacity
Hind Gut cecum, large colon small colon and rectum = 65 % of capacity
Forage is major nutrient source. In addition to nutrients: * Normal digestive function * Reduce digestive upsets * Chew time * 1% bwt min daily intake
Evaluating Hay Visual appraisal leaf : stem maturity color mold
Consider the forage and the nutrients it provides.
Other fiber sources Soy hulls Beet pulp Alfalfa products pellets cubes
Concentrate Feeds * Concentrate Feeds - sweet feed - pellets * Supplement Pellets * Grain mixes
Feed Management Forages 1% bwt as forage (min) Forage in the amount needed Use a hay feeder (>20% waste)
Feeding Management Concentrate Based on nutrient needs Limit total concentrate per meal Starch intakes per meal 5 lbs / meal** ** 0.5 % of body weight
General Feed Management Monitor body condition Adaptation to diets Individual needs ?? Free choice water Salt and minerals
Fact sheets for further Reading Choosing Hay for Horses http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AnimalSciences/pubs/id146.pdf Alfalfa Cubes for Horses http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AnimalSciences/pubs/id145.pdf Basic Horse Nutrition http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AnimalSciences/pubs/asc114.pdf Heaves in Horses http://www.uky.edu/Ag/AnimalSciences/pubs/asc172.pdf