Horse feeding
April 18, 2019
Blog
Pferdefütterung
If you want to learn about the basics of horse feeding, as in the textbook, this is the right place.
For the well-being and performance of the horse, a balanced diet is the basis. A horse's rations should be divided into several small portions throughout the day, since a horse's stomach is very small in relation to its body size. For example, to prevent colic, it is recommended to divide the concentrate into 3-4 portions and offer the horse the meals in its usual natural eating position with its head down. Since not every horse gets the same portions of feed, rationing should be decided individually according to the horse's physical condition. Guide numbers in horse feeding can be helpful for orientation, however, other factors such as character and temperament, breed, exercise or work performance, age, body constitution, weight and housing type should also be considered.
- For health, willingness to perform and satisfaction of the horse, a balanced ratio of energy, proteins, raw fibers, quantity and trace elements as well as vitamins must be present
- The daily water requirement of a horse is 5-12 liters of water per 100 kg live weight
- In order to ensure the smooth functioning of the entire metabolism and the regeneration of the heat balance via sweat secretion, a sufficient, qualitatively impeccable water supply is necessary
Energy is required in the horse's body primarily to maintain body temperature, to ensure the functions of all organs, to form new tissue and to enable muscle activity. The energy carriers in the feed ration are fats and carbohydrates, with fat having the highest energy content. A correct feed ration with energy input is important to meet the actual energy requirement without falling below the minimum roughage requirement. In some cases, it would be useful to supplement the ration with up to 3% vegetable oil.
Protein plays a major role in the formation of skeletal muscle, connective tissue and many other bodily substances. The basic building blocks of protein are amino acids, with a distinction being made between essential and non-essential amino acids. The non-essential amino acids can be formed by the organism itself. The essential amino acids, on the other hand, must be supplied through the diet. Protein supply requirement figures are calculated using digestible crude protein (vRP) in grams (g). Many rations commonly used in practice, where common feedstuffs are used, show a protein supply significantly above the requirement. Short-term protein oversupply of up to 200 percent is unlikely to cause health problems. Excess protein is mainly used as a source of energy, but this is accompanied by an increased load on the liver, kidneys and oxygen balance. As a result, the metabolism is unnecessarily strained.
- Growing horses (young horses), horses in muscle development (basic training) and highly pregnant as well as lactating mares have an increased protein requirement
- Amino acids are particularly essential for maintaining the health of the musculoskeletal system
Structured, raw fiber-rich, chew-stimulating plant materials (roughage) are referred to as structural and dietary fiber. Crude fiber is particularly essential for essential digestive physiological processes. In addition, sufficient chewing activity is achieved through the structure. If the raw fiber content in the feed ration is too low, tooth wear and salivation are also negatively affected. In addition, feed rations with too little structure also carry the risk that horses will tend to develop vices due to lack of activity. For a feed ration to contain sufficient structured crude fiber, it should contain at least 1.0 kg of hay (and straw) per 100 kg of body weight.
- Roughage is essential because...
... too long pauses in eating can lead to gastric ulcers, because then not enough saliva is produced to buffer the gastric acid.
... hay and straw, for example, require and promote sufficient chewing activity.
... dental problems can occur if the roughage is too low.
... without the forage activity horses are more prone to vices due to boredom.
- For health, willingness to perform and satisfaction of the horse, a balanced ratio of energy, proteins, raw fibers, quantity and trace elements as well as vitamins must be present
- The daily water requirement of a horse is 5-12 liters of water per 100 kg live weight
- In order to ensure the smooth functioning of the entire metabolism and the regeneration of the heat balance via sweat secretion, a sufficient, qualitatively impeccable water supply is necessary
Energy is required in the horse's body primarily to maintain body temperature, to ensure the functions of all organs, to form new tissue and to enable muscle activity. The energy carriers in the feed ration are fats and carbohydrates, with fat having the highest energy content. A correct feed ration with energy input is important to meet the actual energy requirement without falling below the minimum roughage requirement. In some cases, it would be useful to supplement the ration with up to 3% vegetable oil.
Protein plays a major role in the formation of skeletal muscle, connective tissue and many other bodily substances. The basic building blocks of protein are amino acids, with a distinction being made between essential and non-essential amino acids. The non-essential amino acids can be formed by the organism itself. The essential amino acids, on the other hand, must be supplied through the diet. Protein supply requirement figures are calculated using digestible crude protein (vRP) in grams (g). Many rations commonly used in practice, where common feedstuffs are used, show a protein supply significantly above the requirement. Short-term protein oversupply of up to 200 percent is unlikely to cause health problems. Excess protein is mainly used as a source of energy, but this is accompanied by an increased load on the liver, kidneys and oxygen balance. As a result, the metabolism is unnecessarily strained.
- Growing horses (young horses), horses in muscle development (basic training) and highly pregnant as well as lactating mares have an increased protein requirement
- Amino acids are particularly essential for maintaining the health of the musculoskeletal system
Structured, raw fiber-rich, chew-stimulating plant materials (roughage) are referred to as structural and dietary fiber. Crude fiber is particularly essential for essential digestive physiological processes. In addition, sufficient chewing activity is achieved through the structure. If the raw fiber content in the feed ration is too low, tooth wear and salivation are also negatively affected. In addition, feed rations with too little structure also carry the risk that horses will tend to develop vices due to lack of activity. For a feed ration to contain sufficient structured crude fiber, it should contain at least 1.0 kg of hay (and straw) per 100 kg of body weight.
- Roughage is essential because...
... too long pauses in eating can lead to gastric ulcers, because then not enough saliva is produced to buffer the gastric acid.
... hay and straw, for example, require and promote sufficient chewing activity.
... dental problems can occur if the roughage is too low.
... without the forage activity horses are more prone to vices due to boredom.
The bulk and trace elements are very essential for a balanced mineral balance.
- Quantitative elements: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, chlorine and potassium.
- Trace elements: iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, selenium and iodine.
The different types of feed for horses are divided into concentrate, roughage, juice feed and various reward and supplementary feeds.
- Concentrated feed: oats, barley, corn, rice bran, wheat bran, linseed, brewer's yeast, soy extraction meal, sunflower meal, dried pulp, molasses (shredded), vegetable oils, herbs, muesli, mineral feed and pellets.
- Roughage: hay, alfalfa, haylage, green meal, forage straw, and in parts grass silage and corn silage.
- Juice feed: grass, grass silage, corn silage, sugar and fodder beets, beet, carrots, apples, other fruits/vegetables such as garlic or banana.
In principle, care should be taken in horse feeding to ensure that the horse's needs are met. A ration calculation is particularly helpful in this respect. In order to determine the necessary feed values of basic feed, such as hay and straw or silage, it is necessary to analyze feed samples. This analysis can be carried out relatively easily and inexpensively by the respective LUFA (Landwirtschaftliche Untersuchungs- und Forschungsanstalt).
Do a regular blood count and at least once a year a deacidifying and detoxifying metabolic cure.
- Quantitative elements: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, chlorine and potassium.
- Trace elements: iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, selenium and iodine.
The different types of feed for horses are divided into concentrate, roughage, juice feed and various reward and supplementary feeds.
- Concentrated feed: oats, barley, corn, rice bran, wheat bran, linseed, brewer's yeast, soy extraction meal, sunflower meal, dried pulp, molasses (shredded), vegetable oils, herbs, muesli, mineral feed and pellets.
- Roughage: hay, alfalfa, haylage, green meal, forage straw, and in parts grass silage and corn silage.
- Juice feed: grass, grass silage, corn silage, sugar and fodder beets, beet, carrots, apples, other fruits/vegetables such as garlic or banana.
In principle, care should be taken in horse feeding to ensure that the horse's needs are met. A ration calculation is particularly helpful in this respect. In order to determine the necessary feed values of basic feed, such as hay and straw or silage, it is necessary to analyze feed samples. This analysis can be carried out relatively easily and inexpensively by the respective LUFA (Landwirtschaftliche Untersuchungs- und Forschungsanstalt).
Our tip in short:
Provide your horse with sufficient roughage without or only with small feeding breaks and feed a very good mineral feed! Feed concentrate as needed!Do a regular blood count and at least once a year a deacidifying and detoxifying metabolic cure.
