Exam #3: Equine Nutrition Flashcards by Corie Borchert

Five tips for feeding lactating mares (or other performance animals)

1) Add grain - forage alone can’t meet needs
2) Split up feediings = 10-15 lbs of grain, split BID or TID/day for the first 3 months
3) Adequate protein = building blocks
4) Account for foal’s consuming grain, either separate feed or feed mare more
5) Monitor BCS

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What is the first limiting amino acid in growth and development?

Lysine

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What BCS should broodmares be when they enter the breeding season?

Chubby, BCS = 7-8, until pregnancy is documented

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What BCS do we maintain broodmares at?

BCS = 5-7

Below BCS of 5 = may jeopardize reproductive performance

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Six areas we use to determine BCS

1) Crest of neck, along mane
2) Along the withers
3) Crease of the back
4) At the tailhead, rump
5) Over the ribs (mid thorax)
6) Behind the shoulder

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Cause of prominent or muscle wastage withers

Prominent withers = conformation

- Muscle wastage = poor fitting saddle

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What is a healthy horse BCS?

> BCS = 4-6, determined by workload and management

BCS = 4 = moderately thin
BCS = 5 = moderate
BCS = 6 = moderate fleshy

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BCS for flat back (no crease or ridge), ribs aren’t visual but can be felt, tailhead is starting to be fleshy, rounded withers, shoulder/neck blend smoothly

BCS = 5, moderately thin

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BCS of starting to see the ribs

BCS = 4, thin

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BCS for slight back crease, some fat over the ribs, sides or withers, behind shoulders, along neck, fat around tailhead is soft

BCS = 6 = moderately fleshy

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BCS for crease down back, fat filling in between ribs, soft fatty tailhead, fat deposits along withers, behind shoulders, along neck

BCS = 7 = fleshy

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What is the best form of recording weight changes?

BCS, weigh/record your horse every 2 weeks

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How do we estimate the weight of a horse?

> Wt (lbs) = (heart girth^2 x body length/ 330)

Body length = point of shoulder to gluteals
Heart girth = circumference just behind elbow

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When do we start supplemented foal with feed? How much?

> 4 months - start on concentrate type they will be fed as a weanling
6-8 lbs of grain/day at weaning
1 lb of hay/100 lbs at weaning

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How much do we feed yearlings and two year olds?

0.5-1 lb grain/100 lbs

1-1.5 lb hay/100 lbs

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What is the ideal BCS for foals?

BCS = 5-7

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What do we use to BCS foals?

Same system as mares - neck, withers, shoulder, ribs, back, rump

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How much weight and height (%) do foals have at 6 months?

80% of mature height

50% of mature weight

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How much hay do we feed a mature horse?

5-2 lbs hay/100 lbs
5-0.75 lbs protein supplement/100 lbs

High workload = 0.5-1.75 lbs grain/100 lbs

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Grain and hay amounts across pregnancy and lactation

> 1st half pregnancy = 1.5-2 lbs hay/100 lbs
2nd half pregnancy = 0.5-1 lb grain/100 lbs, 1-1.5 lbs of hay/100 lbs
Lactating = 1-1.5 lbs grain/100 lbs, 1-1.5 lbs hay/100 lbs (just as much grain as hay)

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How often should we be feeding horses?

Twice a day, feed at the same time each day

Allow access to hay throughout the day

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When do we introduce creep feed?

Slowly after 1 month = 0.75-1 lb feed/100 lbs

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Most important nutrient?

Water

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How much protein is usually in the diet? Who needs the most?

7-20% of horse’s diet, adults usually require 8-12%

Required in greater amounts for young and growing animals

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Where do we get most of our vitamins and minerals?

In high quality hays or grains

What is the only B-vitamin that may require supplementation?

Thiamin

Where do we get Ca/P?

``` Ca = in hays/forages P = can be found in grains ```

Ca/P ratio requirements

> Ideal = 1.43:1 - Never less than 1:1 - Never over 3:1 in young or 6:1 in mature horses

Which minerals do we usually have to supplement?

Na, Cl

Pros of omega -3 fatty acids

- Reduce inflamation - Improve coat quality = shine, softness - Improve digestion - Boost immune function - Reduce chance of laminitis - Help regulate thyroid function

How much flax seed do we feed?

4-6 oz/day, don't exceed 8 oz/day 40% fat 30% highly digestible fiber 20% protein

What should we do if we want to adjust the diet?

Do it slowly = over 7-10 days

How long do we fast horses for?

36 hours (digestion takes 36-72 hrs)

How much do horses drink daily?

1 gallon/100 lbs/day Increases with climate, activity level, feed type, lactation, diarrhea, etc.

Where should the primary source of energy come from?

Fiber (forages)

Which is the most difficult E source to use - fiber, grain, fat, protein?

Protein

Risks with deficient energy

- Weight loss - Depressed immunity - Intolerance of cold and stress - Impaired repro

Risks with excess energy

- Obesity, equine metabolic syndrome - Exercise intolerance - Heat intolerance - Risk of laminitis and colic

What two amino acids are required?

Lysine, threonine

What do these signs suggest? Poor hair coat/quality, retarded growth rate, weight loss, poor wound healing, impaired immune system

Protein deficiency

How much fat do we need to absorb fat soluble vitamins?

2-3%

What clinical signs do we see with low Ca and excess P?

- Adults = "big head" = nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism - Young = leg deformities, growth defects

What should we be feeding horses that have Cushing's, metabolic syndromes, chronic laminitis, or ulcers and recurrent colics?

Low starch horse feeds

How much grain do we usually want to feed?

0.5 lbs feed/100 lb per feeding

What is high in legume hays?

High protein, high Ca, P

What do we increase in younger and older animals?

Grain to hay ratio

Things to consider with hot weather

- Small frequent feedings - Low roughage - Avoid excess protein (add fat if needed) - Increase water intake - Shade +/- Electrolyte supplement

Things to consider with cold weather

- Increase digestible energy content - Free choice roughage - Energy dense feeds for young/old - Clean and heated water - Supplement vitamins A and D

Special dietary considerations with geriatric horses

- 10-20% increase in feed/day - Small/frequent feedings - Reduced protein, fiber - Higher quality protein - More digestible energy (fats) - Supplement vit C and B - Increased roughage quality - Avoid high Ca = cause renal calculi

What do you want to avoid with horses with poor dentition?

Pelleted feeds - use cracked, crimped, steamed, flaked grains

What do we need to ensure to provide with horses with critical illness? Why?

Adequate nutrition = calories and nutrients for maintenance and any ongoing losses - Avoids muscle wasting and catabolic states - Maintains glucose regulation - Foster tissue healing - Maintains immune function - Maintain gut function and integrity

What can happen when a horse goes off feed?

- Hyperbilirubinemia - Hypertriglyceridemia - Hyperlipemia - Hypercholesterolemia - Weight loss - Loss of muscle mass - Electrolyte and mineral imbalances - Acid-base alterations

Most animals can withstand 2-3 days without feed, but who cant? (3)

1) Late pregnant mares 2) Lactating mares 3) +/- Mini horses

Which types of animals do we want to treat aggressively with nutrition?

- BCS > 7 - fatty liver - Systemic dz = Cushing's, equine metabolic syndrome, compromised or sick neonates - BCS < 3 or quick weight loss

Main advantage of enteral feeding

Maintains GI integrity and nutrient utilization Less expensive, easier, can feed normal rations

Where is the majority of nutrients absorbed?

Small intestine

Complications of enteral feeding

- GI = diarrhea, colic, alter GI motility - Laminitis - Metabolic derangements - Mechanical - Aspiration pneumonia - Draining tract or stricture with esophagotomy tube

What should you be doing daily with horses on nutritional support?

Weigh the horse daily

Indications for partial or total parenteral nutrition (3)

1) Inability to eat 2) Malfunctioning GI tract (ileus, non-mechanical intestinal obstruction) 3) Dysphagia - pharyngeal or esophageal

Components of parenteral feeding

- Dextrose - Amino acids - Lipids - Vitamins - Trace minerals - Electrolytes - Bicarbonate

Things to remember with parenteral nutrition

- Put in peripheral vein (jugular) - Gradual into and withdrawal so the liver can handle it - Monitor closely - Use a double IV lumen cathether

Rates of parenteral nutrition

Start at 0.3 ml/kg/hr | Work up to 1.1 ml/kg/hr

Complications of parenteral nutrition

- Glucose, lipid, protein intolerance, Ex: azotemia, osmotic diuresis, hyperlipemia - Dehydration (can't keep up with fluid needs) - Fluid overload - Electrolyte and metabolic imbalances - Thrombosis from phlebitis - Hepatic dysufnction - Fatty liver - Increase in metabolic states if the animal is going into a catabolic state - Respiratory compromise (gluconeogenesis = increase CO2)

Healthy foal nutrition

> 2-3 L of colostrum in 6-8 hours after birth > Nursing frequently = 6-8 times/hr > Increasing 10-15%, 21-30%, then 25-35% of BW per week

Indications for foal nutriitonal support

- Aglactic or hypogalactic mare - Orphan or rejected foal - Restricted oral intake = poor suckler, dysphagia, immature gut, diarrhea, botulism, sepsis

Exam #3: Equine Nutrition Flashcards

(65 cards)