Lecture 9 - Equine Nutrition 1 Flashcards
(46 cards)
Why is it easy for the digestive capacity of the stomach and small intestine to get overwhelmed?
These areas of the GI tract are very small, and feed passes through these areas rapidly as the horse eats
Food source which provides fiber to keep the horse full and encourage good GI motility
Hay or haylage
Natural food source that is good for the digestive system
Grass
Food sources which add moisture to the feed
Fruit or vegetables
Concentrated energy sources added to the diet
Concentrates
Can be offered to horses to help replenish electrolytes
Salt lick blocks or loose salt
True or false: Forage is the basis of a healthy horse diet and should constitute the majority of the ration
True
True or False: Most horses only need good forage, water, and a mineral block to maintain their body weight
True
True or False: When exercise decreases for a horse, the amount of grain in their diet should increase
False; amount of grain in the diet should DECREASE with a decrease in exercise
True or False: Daily water requirements (ml) = kcal requirements
True
What is considered normal drinking behavior for horses?
Small volumes at a time, about 2 to 3 drinks per visit to water source (may increase in frequency when hot/active, but still small volumes at a time)
Colic, poor performance, and Impaction are all consequences of…
Dehydration
Why is stagnant water dangerous for horses?
It can grow blue-green algae (can cause liver necrosis, tremors, diarrhea, and death if ingested by the horse)
What are the three ways the body makes energy during energy malnutrition/starvation?
(Hint: Second option occurs after first is depleted, and the third option occurs after the second option is depleted)
- Carbohydrate store depletion (glycogen)
- Fat catabolism (spares protein)
- Protein catabolism
Type of catabolism associated with illness, lactation, and obesity; may lead to hyperlipidemia
Fat catabolism
Type of catabolism that targets liver protein and leads to edema, poor immunity/skin/respiratory/cardiac function; skeletal muscle spared as long as possible, but can be a target
Protein catabolism
True or False: Protein requirement refers to the requirement for essential AAs and for nitrogen used as a building block for non-essential AA synthesis
True
How does a mature horse (at maintenance) primarily synthesize essential AA?
Colonic conversion of nitrogen (if there is enough dietary nitrogen)
When protein digestibility decreases due to hay being heated or getting wet
Maillard reaction (“non-enzymatic browning”)
Why is non-protein nitrogen (NPN) not a good source of nitrogen in horses?
It will be absorbed in the small intestines and excreted as urea in the urine
(Extra note: foregut fermenters, in contrast, have bacteria that can utilize the nitrogen before it is absorbed in the SI)
True or False: NPN is more toxic in horses than foregut fermenters
False; NPN is LESS toxic in horses than foregut fermenters
Weight loss, poor skin/hair quality, poor growth, decreased lactation, poor performance, edema, low BUN, and low albumin/TP are all clinical signs of…
Protein deficiency
Why does excess protein cause increased heat production?
Protein is thermogenic
How would you calculate protein requirements for a mature idle horse?
(BW in kg) x 1.26 g CP/kg BW/d
