Clinical Equine Nutrition

Question 1

Describe the equine demographics.

Answer 1

-most pleasure horses, least is racing
-aging: geriatric horse >20y
>live longer due to decreased breeding, better nutrition, & medicine

Question 2

Describe feeding info of equine.

Answer 2

-pasture & hay
-supplements
-most use commercial feeds (grain mixes)

Question 3

Describe equine dentition.

Answer 3

-graze 14-18h per day
-chew food once into small pieces -> max digestion
-effective use high fiber feeds (grass/hay)
-efficiently use high qual feeds (grains & seed meals)

Question 4

Describe equine dentition.

Answer 4

-3 phases of chewing: open, close, power stroke phase
-lateral excursion = side to side
-Rostro cd movement
-grasp using lips, tongue, teeth
-mix w salvia in mouth = moist bolus
>parotid, submaxillary, sublingual salivary gland
>35-40L per day
>bi carb = buffer & protect AA degradation

Question 5

Describe aging by teeth.

Answer 5

-triadan system
-k9 in males (more teeth)

Question 6

Describe the equine GIT - esophagus.

Answer 6

-little reflux capacity
-risk of obstruction

Question 7

Describe equine GIT - stomach.

Answer 7

-small grazer/nibbler
-10% of the GIT
-9-15L content
>50% of sm meals emptied by 90min
>amount of digestion is minimal
—pepsin (protein digesting enzyme) *
—hydrochloric acid *
>secreted by oxyntic cells in squamous area
>breaks down solid particles
>dec bact ferm
-pH = 2.6-5.4 (not as acidic as dog)
>prone to gastric ulcers

Question 8

Describe equine GIT - SI.

Answer 8

-28% horse GIT
-protein digestion *
>absorbed as AA
>varies w protein source
—high qual more digested pre cecal
-commercial feeds 55% protein digested in SI
-SI secretes enzymes (pancreas releases greatest amount)
-enzymatic digestion *
>protein, fat, starch, sugar
—proteases - protein - AA
—lipase - fat - TAG & glycerol
—amylase - sugars & starches - glu
-liver = bile flow continuous (dont have gall bladder)
-carbohydrate digestion & absorption in SI
-Vit A, D, E, K = fat soluble
-Ca, Mg, P
-oils inc time in SI & enzymatic digestion inc absorption & inc cal & inc absorption

Question 9

Describe equine GIT - cecum.

Answer 9

-blind sack
-microbial inoculation
-microbial digestion *
-break down feed not digested in SI
-fibrous feed (hay/pasture)
-bacteria make: vit K, B complex vit, FA, proteins (not absorbed) *

Question 10

Describe equine GIT - lg colon.

Answer 10

-dorsal, R & L ventral
-85L
-site of water absorption *
-microbial digestion *
-make VFA (acetate, butyrate, propionate)

Question 11

Describe equine GIT - sm colon.

Answer 11

-majority nutrients digested
-what’s left cant be digested or used
-function:
>reclaim excess moisture
>fecal ball formation
>expelled - rectum - anus

Question 12

Describe equine nutrition general ideas.

Answer 12

-BCS not weight for feeding program
>1-9 (ideal is 5)
>henneke BCS system
>neck, withers, back, tail head, ribs, behind shoulder
-eat 2-2.5% of BW/day *
-high qual pasture or hay (fulfills daily nutrient requirement)