Forage-Based Feeding Programs for Horses

1
Forage-Based Feeding Programs for Horses

• Morgan County
• April 5, 2004 Educational Workshop
• Mark Russell (mrussell_at_purdue.edu)
• Extension Animal Scientist, Horses
• Purdue University

2
Horse Industry Feeding Problems

• Age of horses is increasing
• Diversity of horses increasing
• Economy increases demand/value?
• Willingness to experiment
• Increase use of supplements
• Minerals/Vitamins/Lubricants
• Fats

3
How Do Horse Owners Evaluate a Feeding Program?

• increased performance, animal appearance?
• physiological parameters, measurable criteria?
• very little real research related to performance
• Costs/Benefits?
• Will it Hurt them?

4
Metabolic Diseases of Nutritional Nature

• Rickets/osteomalacia
• Exertional Myopathy
• tying up
• paralytic myoglobinuria
• rhabdomyolysis
• Acidosis, ketosis, alkali disease

• Laminitis/Founder
• Colic
• Physitis/Epiphysitis
• Chronic weight loss
• Osteochondrosis
• Toxicities
• micotoxins
• endophytes
• minerals, etc

5
Digestive Tract
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Digestive Tract - 100 feet long

• Stomach - small, frequent, meals initiates
  digestion, like non-ruminant
• Small Intestine - site of most amino acid from
  dietary protein, most soluble CHO energy on grain
  diet, fat digested
• Cecum - site of bacteria needed to digest
  cellulose to VFAs in forages like ruminants
• Colon - absorb water, urea, no bacteria

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Common Feeding Problems

• Amount of forage in the diet
• Particle size of diet
• Feeding schedule
• Timing of exercise
• Availability of water
• and minerals
• General health
• Management Stress

8
Digestive Categories of Horses

• Maintenance - basic requirements of life
• Growth - youngest has highest requirements
• Gestation - last three months
• Lactation - first three months
• Work - depends on activity
• light, moderate, intense
• Geriatric

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Which is the right hay for whom?

• Mature/Idle Horse _____________
• Weanling _____________
• Working Horse Weekly _____________
• Pregnant Mare (last 90 days) _____________
• Working Horse Daily _____________
• Mare with Nursing Foal _____________

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Feeding Guidelines

• Eat 2.5 of BW of Dry Matter Feed
• KNOW THE HORSES WEIGHT!
• Always more forage than grains
• Access to water gt1 gal/100 BW/day
• and minerals (salt)
• Need regular exercise - be athletic
• Most horse are overweight

11
Levels of Performance/Work

• Light - western and English pleasure, trail
  riding, equitation, hacking
• Moderate - dressage, ranch work, roping, cutting,
  barrel racing, jumping
• Intense - race training, polo, cutting,

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Energy Protein Required Concentrations in
Total Diet

• Animal Type DE (Mcal/lb) C.P. ()
• Maintenance .80 8.0
• Light work 1.05 9.8
• Moderate work 1.10 10.4
• Intense work 1.20 11.4
• 2 Yr old - in training 1.10 11.3

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Energy Protein Concentrations in Total Diet

• Animal Type DE (Mcal/lb) C.P. ()
• Pregnant
• last 90 days 1.10 11.0
• Lactation
• first 2 months 1.20 14.0
• Weanling 1.40 15.0

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Body Condition Scoring

• 1-3 Poor-Thin
• 4 Can see ribs, vertebra ridge evident
• 5 Back flat, cant see ribs, but can feel
  them
• 6 Crease down back, fat deposits
• 7-9 Fleshy - Extremely fat

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Building a Horse Ration

• Start with determining the horses needs
• Maximize forage - 2.5 BW/day if possible
• Add energy if needed
• Add protein and minerals if needed
• Consider adding vitamins and supplements

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Forages are the Foundation

• Grass
• Bromegrass
• Orchardgrass
• Tall Fescue
• Timothy
• Grain Hay
• Oat hay
• Wheat hay
• Straw

• Legume
• Alfalfa
• Birdsfoot trefoil
• Clovers
• Lespedeza

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Types of Forages for Horses

• Pasture - composition, total forage produced,
  maturity
• Hay - square bales, big round bales
• species, maturity, quality, weeds pests
• Haylage/Silage - very palatable, overeating,
  spoilage
• Hay Cubes - 3/4 chopped
• Pellets - surface area, particle size, rate of
  intake, digestibility, behavior

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Pasture for Horses

• 2 acres of pasture/ horse to meet the nutrient
  needs and proper management of forage
• frequently rotating the horse herd between many
  small paddocks will reduce acreage needed
• pasture rotation helps spot grazing and more
  uniform maturity
• many horses can be maintained, in early
  gestation, and under light work on pasture

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Horse Pastures

• Species D.M. D. E. C.P.
  Mcal/lb.
• Ky. bluegrass
• Vegetative 31 1.44 17.4
• Mature 42 1.12 9.5
• Orchardgrass
• Vegetative 23 1.44 18.4
• Mature 35 1.06 8.4
• Orchardgrass/Alfalfa
• Vegetative 22 1.35 19.2
• Mature 30 1.08 11.2

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Total Dietary Balance

• The horse needs nutrients in the right
  proportions
• usually we are supplementing the basic hay, grain
  diet with
• protein
• minerals and vitamins
• discuss types of supplements - not products

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Hay Quality Factors

• Maturity at harvest
• Species and Variety
• Leafiness
• Harvesting
• Storage conditions
• Presence of Pests or Foreign Matter

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Methods of Forage Testing

• Visual appraisal
• color, leafiness, maturity, and the presence of
  foreign material, feel and smell as well as
  sight.
• Chemical analysis
• analysis of the actual chemical components
  identifies nutritionally strong and weak points
• Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy
• estimates the major chemical constituents in
  forages from the absorption characteristics in
  the near-infrared region of the spectrum.

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Taking a Representative Sample

• time to sample forages?
• use a bale probe or core attach to a drill
• 20 square bales or 10 round bales
• drill from the end of each square bale
• place drillings in a clean plastic bucket
• mix drillings and put one quart in a plastic bag
  and send to a laboratory.
• AY-460, Forage Testing-Why, How, and Where.

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Interpreting the Analysis Report

• DM -
• dry matter contains the nutrients
• as fed includes water
• ADF
• acid detergent fiber
• the lower the ADF value, the more digestible the
  nutrients in the hay.

• NDF
• neutral detergent fiber
• The lower the NDF value, the more palatable. .
• RFV
• relative feeding value
• higher quality, greater intake, higher
  digestibility,
• 100 is good hay

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Feeding Programs Based on Hay1200-pound
lactating mare

• Daily REQUIREMENTS
• D.E. C. P. Ca P Vit. A 30.7 3.4 lb
  61gm 40gm 32,659Mcal. IU

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Feeding Programs Based on Hay1200-pound
lactating mare

Mid-bloom
Mid-bloom 50-50 Mix Nutrient
grass legume _______________________
______________________________Diges. energy, Mcal
25.5 28.2 27.3 met
with hay 83 92 89 Crude
Protein, lbs.. 2.8 5.1
3.5 met with hay 82 150
102 Calcium, grams 34.5
168 101 met with hay 56
275 166 Phosphorus, grams
34 29 35 met with
hay 85 73
89 Vitamin A, IU 219,000 571,000
378,000 met with hay 670
1753 1157 ______________________
___________________________________________
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Typical composition of mid-bloom legume and
grass hays.
Diges. Energy C.P. Ca P
Vit A Forage type Mcal/lb
IU/lb. _______________________________
_____________________
Legume, .94 17 1.24
.22 19,090 mid-bloom Grass,
.80 8.6 .43 .20
8,620 mid-bloom Mixed-50/50 .87
12.8 .83 .21 13,855 __________
____________________________________________
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Quality standards for Hay American Forage and
Grassland Council
______________________________ Quality
CP ADF NDF DDMc DMId
RFVe standard ____ of DM_______
of BW _______________________________________
_________________________ Prime gt19
lt31 lt40 gt65 gt3.0 gt151 1
17-19 31-35 40-46 62-65 3.0-2.6
151-125 2 14-16 36-40 47-53
58-61 2.5-2.3 124-103 3 11-13
41-42 54-60 56-57 2.2-2.0 102-87 4
8-10 43-45 61-65 53-55 1.9-1.8
86-75 5 lt8 gt45 gt65
lt53 lt1.8 lt75
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Endophyte toxemia

• Infected tall fescue (KY 31)
• prolonged gestations, thickened placentas at
  birth, aglactia (lack of milk production), and
  dystocia (difficult birth).
• The endophyte is in the seed, stem, and leaf
  sheath but not leaf. Thus, second and third
  cuttings of hay should be of less concern .
• Low-endophyte varieties of tall fescue are
  available. (no- and friendly-endophyte)
• The Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL
  phone [phone])

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Presence of Pests or Foreign Matter

• Blister beetles
• (Epicauta pennsylvanica, E. malculata, E.
  immaculata, and E. lemniscata)
• contain a toxin called cantharidin
• irritating to the gastrointestinal and urinary
  tracts.
• Use of a mower-conditioner has made the blister
  beetle a greater concern because the crushed
  beetles are retained in the windrow.

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Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome

• 1981 2001- warm weather before Easter - freeze
  - May
• gt 600 full term red bag 2001 foals and 30
  early embryonic (60-90d) loss (3000) 2002 foals
  lost!
• wild cherry tree leaves blossoms - halocyanide
• eastern tent caterpillars - eat and concentrate
  cyanide - cyanide ties up oxygen
• 65 of uterine culture samples contained Alpha
  Streptococcus and 20 Actinobacillus sp.
  organisms.

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Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome The four primary
preventative measures include

• Minimize or eliminate exposure of pregnant mares
  to Eastern tent caterpillars
• Keep pregnant mares away from wild cherry trees
• Frequently clip pastures used by pregnant mares
  and
• Offer hay to horses on pasture

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Which is the right hay for whom?

• Mature/Idle Horse _____________
• Weanling _____________
• Working Horse Weekly _____________
• Pregnant Mare (last 90 days) _____________
• Working Horse Daily _____________
• Mare with Nursing Foal _____________

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Types of Athletic Performance

• Endurance Activities - 2 hours or more of low
  intensity exertion requiring aerobic metabolism
• Middle Distances - .5 to 2 mi. at 75-95 of
  maximum exertion using aerobic and anaerobic
  metabolism
• Sprint Activity - .24 mi. for less than a minute
  at 100 of maximum exertion - primarily anaerobic

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Feed Preparations and Processing

• Commercially blended feeds
• Pellets, extrusions, blended sweet feeds
• More use of alfalfa instead of grasses
• Advanced feed formulations by companies
• Additive supplementation - esp. minerals

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Traditional Starch Energy Sources - Grains

• Oats
• higher protein fiber
• weigh less, variable
• crimped vs. whole
• Corn
• lower in protein,
• higher in DE
• cracked, steam rolled

• Barley
• intermediate energy
• good protein
• Sorghum wheat
• less than 30
• rolled, cracked, flaked,
• Rye
• not recommended
• ergot fungus

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Supplement Energy?

• Increase body condition or work
• Energy supplements corn, soybean, flax, rice
  oils
• Fat - up to 15 increases blood glucose /
  glycogen
• Enzymes can calm and conserve energy
• Omega 3 fatty acids may be of some benefit
• DMG - N, N, - Dimethylglycine - active in
  mitochondria - respiratory part of cells -
  increases oxygen transport to make ATP and use
  glycogen

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Add Fat - Not Protein

• Protein - expensive, added heat, water loss
• Fat
• increases energy density with feed intake,
  decrease in volume of concentrates per day
• decreases amount of energy for heat production,
• increases muscle glycogen over time,
• no increase in blood glucose, glycogen sparing
• Evidence of omega-3 fatty acid benefit on
  reproduction, hair and skin

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Sources of Protein for Horses

• Soybean Oil Meal
• Flax - Linseed Meal
• Sunflower Meal
• Cottonseed Meal
• Peanut Meal
• Corn Gluten Meal

• Casein
• Dried Skim Milk
• Fish Meal
• Meat Meal

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Major Mineral Concentrations in Total Diets

• Type Ca () P () Mg () K ()
• Maintenance .21 .15 0.08 0.27
• Light work .27 .19 .10 .3
• Moderate work .28 .22 .11 .36
• Intense work .31 .23 .12 .39
• 2 Yr old - .31 .17 .09 .29
• in training

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Macro Minerals

• Calcium .3-.8, Phosphorous .2-.5
• Sodium and Chloride, .5-1.0 added
• Potassium, Magnesium, Sulfur
• Supplement as a group - use one
• quantities are additive - toxicities possible
• Keep in the proper ratios
• oxalates i.e..... phytate binds cations ()
• Dietary Cation/Anion Balance (DCAB) the more
  positive balance - more basic the less acidic

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Trace Minerals

• look for sodium, potassium, chloride, iron, zinc,
  copper
• ratios affect absorption of all
• toxicities often seen with iron and selenium

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Adequate Trace Minerals
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What do we call a Supplement?

• something that completes or makes a needed
  addition to...
• supplement a deficiency
• may be pharmacological effect
• relatively small percent of diet

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Vitamin/ Mineral Combinations

• A, D, E, K - Stored in fat varies in storage
  - without pasture can be deficient
• C, B complex - water soluble
• blood builders - mostly iron
• vitamin s easily destroyed by heat, copper and
  iron, dampness, and high oil levels
• Biotin/methionine - sulfur - hoof growth

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Water Soluble Vitamins

• Vitamin B
• Thiamine - 5.0 mg/kg DM fed
• Riboflavin - 4.0 mg/kg DM fed
• Niacin - 22 mg/kg DM fed
• Pantothenic acid - 13 mg/kg DM fed
• B6 - 2.0 mg/kg DM fed
• Biotin - 2.5 mg/kg DM fed
• Folacin - 0.3 mg/kg DM fed
• Vitamin C - Ascorbic Acid - 25 mg/kg DM fed

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Summary

• determine if you have a need/problem
• know the nutrient composition of your forage
• supplement the forages as (if) needed
• use/change one thing at a time
• follow their dosage recommendations
• allow time (four weeks) to evaluate
• train as you expect more from the horse
• http//persephone.agcom.purdue.edu/AgCom/Pubs/

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Purdue CES Publications

• ID-167 Maximizing the Value of Pasture for
  Horses
• ID-317 Forage Field Guide
• AS-429 Nutritional Management for Horses
• ID-167 Maximizing the Value of Pasture for Horses
• ID-189 Moldy Corn Poisoning in Horses (Equine
  Leukoencephalomalacia)
• ID-190 Selecting Quality Hay for Horses
• AS-434 Introduction to Horse Management
• AS-460 Recognizing and Maintaining the Healthy
  Horse