Feeding Management Techniques

1. Feeding Management Techniques Feeding Management Factors

2. Selecting Ration – Be Balanced 1. Single feed or mixture of feeds to supply energy, protein, minerals and vitamins for work, growth, lactation, pregnancy and maintenance 2. Meets equine’s nutrient requirement for 1 day 3. Nutrients needed depends on size and production status of equine

3. Selecting Ration – Be Palatable • Must taste good and have good digestion qualities or nutritional value does not matter

4. Selecting Ration – Energy Needs • Must contain minimum energy content per unit weight to fuel body processes • Cost per unit of energy primary concern • Energy first concern during formulation • Grain added to ration to supply needed energy • Energy sources must be digestible and provide fuel in form of carbohydrates and fats • Excess energy above the amount needed for maintenance, growth and production deposited as fat

5. Figuring Feed Consumption • Consumption proportional to equine’s body weight, level of activity and health status • Lactating mares need extra energy and protein • Equine of larger weight need more energy to maintain bodies

6. Figuring Feed Consumption Cheaper to maintain moderate to fleshy condition of pregnant mare THAN To increase body fat content of thin mare during breeding

7. Figuring Feed Consumption • Major concern for growing equine: adequate protein, vitamins, minerals A. Growing foals need higher levels of energy and protein B. Rations typically limited in amino acid lysine for growth and reproduction C. Growing equine need .6 % lysine D. Horse in production need .3 -.4 % lysine

8. Feeding Practices • Individualistic eating habits; Do not group feed concentrate well A. Individual concentrate mix feeders minimum 50 feet apart B. Extra feeders needed for timid equine when displaced from other feeders

9. Feeding Practices 2. Feeding hay: A. From ground – contamination and walked on – Increased dirt consumption with hay may cause colic B. From feeder placed too high – lead to eye irritations C. Accumulating, molding and spoiled hay may cause severe digestive disorders or colic/death.

10. Feeding Practices • Feed at regular intervals to prevent rapid eating behaviors • Same time every day • Twice daily, 12 hours apart

11. Feeding Practices • Change ration gradually over 7 to 10 days • 25% of old ration replaced with new ration every 2 days • Introduce to pasture gradually – 30 minutes initially, increase daily to preferred grazing time w/n 10 days • Feed normal ration before turning out to new pasture

12. Feeding Problems • Obesity common problem caused by overfeeding and lack of exercise • Close confinement creates unnatural feedstuff carvings and tendencies to chew on wood, eat hair or dirt • Sand colic created from grazing pastures on light, sandy soil

13. Feeding Practices Parasite control important a. internal parasites decrease digestive efficiency, cause digestive problems b. External parasites annoy equine, cause to expend extra energy.

14. Feeding Management Techniques Ration Formulation