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Topic:Feeding Practices
Feeding practices in horses encompass the methods and strategies involved in providing nutrition to equine animals. These practices are designed to meet the dietary requirements necessary for maintaining health, supporting growth, and optimizing performance. Key components of equine feeding practices include the selection of forage and concentrates, balancing nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals, and considering factors such as age, workload, and health status. Feeding practices also address the timing and frequency of meals to align with the horse's digestive physiology. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of feeding practices, including nutritional requirements, feeding behavior, and the impact of diet on equine health and performance.
[Preliminary study of the effect of supplementation of iron, copper, cobalt and zinc on cellulolytic activity in the cecum of the pony]. We studied a caecum-cannulated pony fed hay libitum in order to determine the mineral elements likely to cause deficiencies which decrease microbial activity in the caecum. During four successive 1-month periods, we observed the effects of adding 50 mg of iron, 1 mg of cobalt, 40 mg of copper and 200 mg of zinc, respectively. Except for the introduction of zinc, which greatly diminishes cellulolytic activity measured with the nylon bag technique, there was no significant modification in that activity as shown by pH, NH3-nitrogen, total nitrogen and volatile fatty acid production (table 1). It ...
[Effect of the distribution of hay and cereals on the cellulolytic activity in the large intestine of the pony]. The cellulolytic activity in the large intestine of the pony varies according to the form and the composition of the feed. This activity was measured on two caecal and ventral colon-cannulated ponies receiving the following 4 diets during four successive 6-week periods: --6 kg of hay, --4 kg of hay + 1 kg of oats, --6 kg of ground, pelleted hay. --5 kg of a ground, pelleted blend of 80 p. 100 hay and 20 p. 100 oats. Adding oats to a hay feed increased the cellulolytical activity in the caecum and the colon, whereas grinding and pelleting hay alone or hay enriched with oats diminished that acti...
[The effect of sodium hydroxide-treated roughages in horses: I. Treated lucerne hay as a constituent of a complete ration for foals (author’s transl)]. The possibility of including sodium hydroxide-treated lucerne hay as a constituent in rations for horses was investigated by measuring its effect on the performance and certain bloodcomponents of growing foals. As no adverse effects were found it is concluded that further investigation is necessary to see whether the inclusion of low grade-treated roughages in the ration of horses would be of economic significance.
Cube colic. "Cube colic" is described and vain attempts to cause the problem on an experimental basis are recorded. It is concluded that not all horses are susceptible to cube colic and if colic occurs in horses being fed on cubes, it is not necessarily due to feeding of cubes. Nomenclature of bowel disorders is considered.
Comparative physiology of the hindgut and its nutritional significance. The research article explores the comparative physiology of the hindgut in different animals, its key processes, and its implications on nutrition. It underscores the significance of gut microorganisms in breakdown [...]
Cervical esophagostomy to permit extraoral feeding of the horse. An indwelling stomach tube was placed through a cervical esophagostomy in 5 clinically normal horses and in 3 horses requiring artificial alimentation. In all but one case, surgery was performed on conscious horses following tranquilization and infiltration of the surgical sites with a local anesthetic. Six horses were fed liquid rations through the indwelling tubes, which were left in place from 3 to 26 days. After the tubes were removed, the stomas healed rapidly and with minimal complications. Cervical esophagostomy proved to be a safe, easy, and effective method for the provision of extrao...
Effect of diet on cecal pH and feeding behavior of horses. Three cecal-fistulated horses were used in a 3 × 3 latin square experiment to determine the influence of diet and of cecal infusions of Na2C03 on cecal fermentation and feeding behavior. The three treatments were hay, concentrate and concentrate plus hourly infusions of Na2CO3. Cecal fluid samples and cecal pH readings were taken at zero through 11 hr following feeding at the end of each experimental period, and animal activity was measured by the use of a movie camera set to take 5 sec of film every 5 minutes. Cecal pH was significantly lower at 4, 5 and 6 hr following feeding for the horses...
Coprophagia as seen in thoroughbred foals. Four Thoroughbred foals were seen to quickly eat part of the faeces deposited by their own dams on some 40 per cent of the mare-defaecating occasions observed between the second and fifth week after birth. They did not do it before or after this period. This behaviour was thought to be a feeding pattern which formed a normal part of the foal's development.
Utilization of proteins by the equine species. Protein digestion, nitrogen retention, plasma protein, plasma urea, and plasma-free amino acids were determined for ponies fed 3 different protein supplements. Substitution of casein, corn gluten meal, or corn gluten meal plus lysine for a portion of the cornstarch in a low-protein basal ration increased apparent digestion of protein. Substitution with either casein or corn gluten meal plus lysine produced a significant increase (P less than 0.05) in nitrogen retention, whereas the corn gluten meal substitution did not. Nitrogen retention, expressed as percentage of nitrogen absorbed, was incr...
Glucose utilization and recycling in ponies. Variables of glucose metabolism determined by the use of [U-14C]glucose were compared in fed and fasted ponies. Relative recycling of glucose carbon with respect to tritium in fed animals was negligible for 6-T and 3-T and 16% for 2-T studies; in fasted animals relative recycling was 12 and 14% for 6-T and 3-T studies, respectively. Minimal mass of total-body glucose decreased significantly in the fasted ponies. Based on relative recycling of carbon to tritium, a negligible fraction of plasma glucose was produced via the Cori cycle or from glycerol in fed ponies; recycled tricarbon units contr...
Nitrogen utilization within equine large intestine. The distribution of nitrogen in ligated segments of the stomach and intestine of two groups of ponies has been examined at sacrifice 2, 4, 8, and 12 h following the final 12-h scheduled feeding of diets designed to provide either 1) ample protein, or 2) limited protein plus supplemental urea as the major nitrogen source. Concentrations and total quantities of total N, NH3, urea plus NH3, and alpha-amino N were determined, and protein N was calculated by difference. Liquid marker (PEG) distribution rate constants and N concentrations were used to calculate rates of entry and exit by digesta flo...
Influence of magnesium deficiency on horse foal tissue concentraion of Mg, calcium and phosphorus. 1. The effects of feeding with a purified magnesium-deficient diet (--Mg, 7-8 mg Mg/kg) on horse foal blood serum and tissue concentrations of Mg, calcium and phosphorus were studied, and the results compared with histopathological findings. 2. Serum concentrations of Ca and P were unaffected by feeding with the --Mg diet, whereas serum Mg concentrations decreased from a mean initial (day o) concentration of 0.78 mmol/l to 0.53 mmol/l 7 d after foals were placed on the -Mg diet, and then continued to decrease at a slower rate. 3. Aorta concentrations of Ca and P, but not Mg, were positively co...
