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.
Daniels S, Hepworth J, Moore-Colyer M.Respirable dust in conserved forages can pose problems with equid respiratory health, thus soaking (W) and high temperature steaming (HTS) are employed to reduce the levels in hay. The aim of this study was to characterize the viable bacterial community profile of four hays from two different locations in UK following pre-feeding wetting regimens. Hypothesis: (1) Viable microbial community profile of hays will not differ between different pre-feeding regimens. (2) Hay type and location will not influence microbial community profile. Replicates of each of the four hays were subjected to dry (D)...
Thorringer NW, Weisberg MR, Jensen RB.The competition for customers increases the search for new grain processing methods for equine feed, but the effect on starch digestibility and metabolic responses varies. Therefore, to evaluate the effect of the processing methods, toasting and micronizing, on starch digestion and the effect on metabolic responses, the mobile bag technique (MBT) and plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in the blood were used to estimate nutrient disappearance and metabolic responses pre-cecally. Further, cecal pH, ammonium nitrogen (N), and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations were used to estima...
Furtado T, Perkins E, Pinchbeck G, McGowan C, Watkins F, Christley R.Equine obesity is considered one of the most serious welfare concerns in UK leisure horses, yet little is known about how horse owners conceptualise their horse's weight as part of its health, or how they plan and carry out weight management. Objective: This study aimed to further our understanding of leisure horse owners' perceptions of equine health and awareness of excess fat in order to clarify our understanding of successful strategies for managing equine weight. Methods: This study used a qualitative research methodology. Methods: Data comprised 16 threads from online UK equine discussio...
Gomez A, Sharma AK, Grev A, Sheaffer C, Martinson K.Although contributions of the equine gut microbiome to forage utilization are well recognized, the impact of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) lignification on the equine gut microbiome remains unknown; thus, we characterized microbial communities in the equine gut when feeding reduced lignin (RL) and conventional (CON) alfalfa hays to adult stock-type horses. Dietary treatments were fed to six horses in a crossover study. Experimental periods consisted of a 9-day dietary adaptation phase followed by a 5-day total fecal collection phase, during which horses were housed in individual box stalls and ...
Górniak W, Wieliczko M, Soroko M, Korczyński M.Methods of estimating horse body weight using mathematical formulae have better accuracy than methods of reading body weight from measuring tape. The aim of the study was to evaluate established formulae for estimating horse body weight from data gathered using measurement tape. The research was conducted in a group of 299 adult horses and ponies of selected breeds: ponies ( = 58), Polish Noble Half Breed ( = 150), Silesian Breed ( = 23), Wielkopolski Breed ( = 52), and Thoroughbred ( = 16). Body measurements were performed on each horse using a measuring stick and tape. The actual body weight...
DeBoer M, Konop A, Fisher B, Martinson K.Thermoregulation is an energy-expensive process, which can be mitigated by blanketing horses in cold climates, potentially preventing weight loss or leading to decreased feed intake. The objective of this study was to evaluate feed intake, body weight (BW), and body condition scores (BCSs) in blanketed and nonblanketed horses. In October 2019, 16 mature adult horses were blocked by breed and BCS and randomly assigned to a blanketed (n = 8) or nonblanketed (n = 8) treatment; blankets were placed. Data were collected in December 2019 and January 2020 in River Falls, Wisconsin. During the study...
Garber A, Hastie P, McGuinness D, Malarange P, Murray JA.Abrupt dietary changes, as can be common when managing horses, may lead to compositional changes in gut microbiota, which may result in digestive or metabolic disturbances. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the faecal microbiota of ponies abruptly changed from pasture grazing ad libitum to a restricted hay-only diet and vice versa. The experiment consisted of two, 14-day periods. Faecal samples were collected on day 0 and days 1-3,7,14 after abrupt dietary change from grass to hay and from hay to grass. Microbial populations were characterised by sequencing the V3-V4 region of ...
Hanis F, Chung ELT, Kamalludin MH, Idrus Z.The present study aimed to provide preliminary data on the prevalence of oral stereotypic, locomotory stereotypic, and redirected behaviors as well as their associations with stable management and feeding practices. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 207 working horses used for leisure riding, equestrian sport, polo, endurance, and patrolling were selected from seven equine facilities. Data on the stable management and feeding practices were obtained through the stable records, interviews, and on-site monitoring visits, whereas the prevalence of abnormal behaviors in the studied populat...
Cappai MG, Pudda F, Wolf P, Accioni F, Boatto G, Pinna W.Wildlife protection and management are important priorities for landscape identity and biodiversity preservation. Feeding practices of fauna confined in facilities during temporary captivity are fundamental to support animal health and natural behavior. Appropriate provision of feedstuffs appears to be necessary to support the best practices in respect of animal species-specific natural diet. This investigation explored the variation of the metabolic profile by means of selected metabolite and respective circulating levels in a group feral Giara horses undergoing the change of the diet, moving...
Moore-Colyer M, Tuthill P, Bannister I, Daniels S.Traditions and the economic advantage when producing big athletic Thoroughbred (TB) yearlings for sale encourage owners to feed high levels of cereals. Such diets can predispose gastric ulceration and developmental orthopedic diseases, impacting negatively on future careers. This study aimed to (1) determine if an all-fiber creep feed (total mixed fiber ration [TMFR] would sustain equal growth rates in TB foals versus a cereal-based stud cube (SC) and (2) compare pH and lactate produced by SC and TMFR in in vitro foregut and hindgut conditions. Eight TB foals in matched-pairs were fed SC or T...
Bampidis V, Azimonti G, Bastos ML, Christensen H, Dusemund B, Kos Durjava M, Kouba M, López-Alonso M, López Puente S, Marcon F, Mayo B, Pechová A....Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on vermiculite as a feed additive for pigs, poultry, bovines, sheep, goats, rabbits and horses. Vermiculite, which is a magnesium aluminium iron silicate, is intended for use as a technological additive (functional groups: binders and anticaking agents) in premixtures and feedingstuffs for pigs, poultry, bovines, sheep, goats, rabbits and horses, with no proposed minimum or maximum concentration. The applicant reported a max...
Garber A, Hastie PM, Farci V, Bulmer L, Alzahal O, Murray JMD.Fibre is essential to maintain healthy gut; however, energy demands of performance horses can be too high to be met by forages alone. Yeast may support the function of cellulolytic bacteria to digest fibre. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of an oral supplement (VistaEQ) containing 4% live yeast on the in vitro and in vivo digestibility of high-starch (HS) and high-fibre diets (HF). Eight ponies were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design consisting of 4- × 19-day periods and four diets: HF, HF + yeast (HFY), HS and HS + yeast (HSY). In vivo apparent digestibility (AD) was estim...
Garber A, Hastie PM, Farci V, McGuinness D, Bulmer L, Alzahal O, Murray JMD.There is a need to develop feeding strategies to prevent the adverse effect of concentrate feeding in high-performance horses fed energy-dense diets aiming to maintain their health and welfare. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of a VistaEQ product containing 4% live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae), with activity 5 × 108 colony-forming unit/g and fed 2 g/pony per day, on faecal microbial populations when supplemented with high-starch and high-fibre diets using Illumina next generation sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The four tr...
Górecka-Bruzda A, Jaworski Z, Jaworska J, Siemieniuch M.To prevent abuse and to assure the welfare of domestic horses, attempts to assess welfare in a standardized way have been made. Welfare-assessment tools often refer to the physical and social environments of feral domestic horses as examples of welfare-friendly conditions for horses. However, free-roaming horses are often exposed to conditions or states that may be regarded as welfare threats or abuse. The aim of this review was to present cases of welfare compromises as well as natural ways to restore high standards of welfare to Konik polski horses (Koniks) living in semiferal conditions in ...
Salari F, Licitra R, Altomonte I, Martini M.We evaluated the daily intake in donkeys during maintenance, late pregnancy, and early lactation. The growth curves of the foals in the first eight weeks of life and the milk production in lactating jennies were also investigated. Donkeys were separated into two groups: seven pregnant jennies (group 1: pregnant/lactating) and seven nonpregnant, nonlactating jennies (group 2). The groups were fed two different diets each. The feeding period for group 1 covered eight weeks before parturition and eight weeks postpartum. Group 2 was managed during the same time period (16 weeks). Diet 1 consisted...
d' Fonseca NMM, Gibson CME, van Doorn DA, de Ruijter-Villani M, Stout TAE, Roelfsema E.Overfeeding is associated with obesity and insulin dysregulation (ID), which are both risk factors for equine metabolic syndrome. How chronic overfeeding affects development of these factors is poorly understood. Objective: To examine the influence of long-term high-energy diet provision on body condition and ID. Methods: Eleven Shetland pony mares. Methods: In a 3-phase study, the high-energy group (n = 7) was fed 200% of net energy (NE) requirements (hay; concentrate: 36% sugar and starch, 13% fat) for 24 weeks, followed by 17 weeks hay-only feeding before resuming the high-energy diet (...
Dosi MCM, Kirton R, Hallsworth S, Keen JA, Morgan RA.Obesity is a growing problem in UK equine population. Achieving weight loss in obese horses and ponies at risk of laminitis is an important but often challenging objective. Methods: We hypothesised that supplementing poor winter pasture with a mix of barley straw and hay (50:50) rather than hay alone (group B) would lead to weight loss in grazing equids over winter. For this purpose, a group of 40 horses were fed either the straw mix (group A) or hay alone (group B) over winter. Results: Over the study period, all animals in group A (n=25) lost weight with a mean weight change of -27±17 kg,...
Wambacq WA, van Doorn DA, Rovers-Paap PM, Ducatelle R, Vlaminck L, Lourenço M, Hesta M.As colic and intestinal disorders are a major concern in horses, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of butyrate, known to have a diverse array of beneficial effects on intestinal health. The effect of micro-encapsulated sodium butyrate supplementation on gut histology and immunohistochemistry parameters was studied in 14 healthy warmblood horses destined for slaughter in two separate periods. Horses were fed a low fiber - high starch diet, designed to induce subsequent starch overflow in the large intestine, aiming to create a mild challenge f...
Lopez-Rodriguez MF, Cymbaluk N, Epp T, Laarveld B, Serrano Recalde EC, Simko E, Card C.Exposure to plants containing glucosinolates (GSLs) affects thyroid function in many species, in horses is implicated in the birth of foals with congenital hypothyroidism. The present study was performed to determine the effect of feeding a GSL (sinigrin) in combination with a low-iodine diet for 12 weeks on thyroid hormones and serum iodine concentrations in nonpregnant mares. Nineteen mares aged 2-14 years were divided into control (n = 6), low (20 mmol/day) (n = 7) and high GSL (35 mmol/day) (n = 6) groups. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation tests and serum iodine measur...
Francis JM, Neander CR, Roeder MJ, Perry EB.Palatants may be added to equine feed and medication either during or after manufacturing to enhance product acceptance. Prior studies have examined a variety of palatants but results have been limited and inconsistent. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate topically applied oil-based palatants on feeding preferences in horses. Stock-type horses (n = 10) were used in this paired preference test across a two-phase study. Phase one compared six palatants (banana, anise, peppermint, apple, spearmint, and orange) to a control (corn oil), whereas phase two compared preference a...
Spears JW, Lloyd KE, Siciliano P, Pratt-Phillips S, Goertzen EW, McLeod SJ, Moore J, Krafka K, Hyda J, Rounds W.Forty-eight Quarter Horse geldings (3 to 8 yr of age) were used to determine the effects of dietary chromium (Cr), in the form of Cr propionate (Cr Prop) on insulin sensitivity. Horses were blocked by age, body condition score, and glucose response to concentrate feeding on day 0 and randomly assigned to treatments. Treatments consisted of 0, 2, 4, or 8 mg Cr/d from Cr Prop. Horses were fed daily a concentrate mix at a rate of 0.2 kg/100 kg body weight (BW) and grass hay at 1.75 to 2.0 kg/100 kg BW. All horses were fed the control diet for 7 d prior to the initiation of the study. After an ove...
Kaiser-Thom S, Hilty M, Gerber V. Recent evidence suggests that an altered intestinal microbiota, specifically a reduction of bacterial diversity or a shift in microbial composition, is associated with the development of hypersensitivity disorders in humans, but this is unknown for horses. In this study we hypothesized that horses affected by either Culicoides hypersensitivity or severe equine asthma or both show a decreased diversity of their intestinal microbiota. We also investigated environmental effects. Rectal swab samples of a total of 140 horses were collected and the owners completed a detailed questionnaire about th...
Mok CH, Urschel KL.Evaluating amino acid requirements, specifically threonine requirements, in horses will enable better feed formulation and result in economic production, improved animal health, and reduced environmental pollution. However, the current knowledge of protein and amino acid requirements in horses is still limited. Because horses have a unique digestive system and consume a variety of feed ingredients, their protein digestibility may be affected than other species by different feed composition, and thus amino acid requirements are susceptible to vary between situations. Therefore, a careful evalua...
Baumgartner M, Boisson T, Erhard MH, Zeitler-Feicht MH.During the evolution of the horse, an extended period of feed intake, spread over the entire 24-h period, determined the horses' behaviour and physiology. Horses will not interrupt their feed intake for more than 4 hours, if they have a choice. The aim of the present study was to investigate in what way restrictive feeding practices (non ad libitum) affect the horses' natural feed intake behaviour. We observed the feed intake behaviour of 104 horses on edible (n = 30) and non-edible bedding (n = 74) on ten different farms. We assessed the duration of the forced nocturnal feed intake interrupti...
Weinert JR, Werner J, Williams CA.Field studies characterizing equine grazing activity primarily rely on observational protocols, limiting the quantity and accuracy of collected data. The objectives of this study were to validate an automated chew sensor technology, the EquiWatch System (EWS), for detecting grazing behaviors and to demonstrate potential applications of the EWS in equine grazing research. Eight mature standardbred mares were used in this study. EquiWatch System validation was completed in two phases: grazing time was evaluated in experiment 1 and chew counts in experiment 2. The correlation between visual obser...
Votion DM, François AC, Kruse C, Renaud B, Farinelle A, Bouquieaux MC, Marcillaud-Pitel C, Gustin P.In 2014, atypical myopathy (AM) was linked to Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore maple) in Europe. The emergence of this seasonal intoxication caused by a native tree has raised many questions. This manuscript aims at answering the five most frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding (1) identification of toxic trees; reduction of risk at the level of (2) pastures and (3) equids; (4) the risk associated with pastures with sycamores that have always been used without horses being poisoned and (5) the length of the risk periods. Answers were found in a literature review and data gathered by AM surve...
Miraglia N, Salimei E, Fantuz F.The equine dairy chain is renewing the interest toward horse and donkey breeding for the production of milk with potential health promoting properties. The dairy equine chain for human consumption could contribute to the rural eco-sustainable development for the micro-economies of those areas threatened by marginalization. As a part of the whole equine industry, and its possible impact in the modern and future society, the main traits of the equine dairy enterprise are reviewed with a special focus on management of animals and milk. Equine milk compositional and nutritional peculiarities are d...
Jochmans-Lemoine A, Picotte K, Beauchamp G, Vargas A, Lavoie JP.Hay feeding is considered the main triggering factor for airway obstruction and inflammation in severe equine asthma (SEA). Finding alternate strategies allowing hay feeding while controlling clinical signs of SEA is of importance. The Nutri-Foin Système is believed to decrease inhaled dust by incorporating soybean oil to mechanically processed hay. Objective: We compared airflow obstruction and airway inflammation in horses with SEA fed oiled hay or alfalfa pellet regimen. Methods: Controlled trial in asthmatic research horses. Methods: Twelve horses in exacerbation of SEA from a research he...
Hansen TL, Rankins EM, Bobel JM, McKinney M, Hackmann TJ, Warren LK.In humans, the consumption of soluble fibers reduces glycemic response after a meal. We hypothesized high soluble fiber diets would reduce and delay postprandial glucose and insulin responses in horses. In a 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment, four Quarter Horse geldings were adapted to diets containing orchardgrass hay (ORCH) or ORCH with 1 of 3 treatment ingredients: molassed sugar beet pulp (BEET), almond hulls (HULL), or steam-crimped oats (OATS). Blood was serially sampled for 6 hours after feeding 0.15% body weight (BW) of the treatment ingredient (meal test) or 1.1 g starch/kg BW ...
Potter SJ, Bamford NJ, Harris PA, Bailey SR.The aims of this study were to (1) report the incidence of laminitis among a population of horses and ponies attending Pony Clubs in Victoria, Australia, and (2) describe the dietary and management practices of the sample population. Methods: Researchers visited 10 Pony Clubs over a 10-month period. Horse and pony owners completed a questionnaire to provide information on management relating to diet and exercise. Owners were also asked to report their animal's history of laminitis, if any. Results: From a survey population of 233 horses and ponies, 15.0% of animals (35 individuals) were report...
Acosta JAD, Elghandour MMMY, Mariezcurrena-Berasain MD, Adegbeye MJ, Fajemisin AN, Pliego AB, Salem AZM.This study aimed to evaluate the dietary administration of the Caesalpinia coriaria (CC) extract for 30 days on in vitro fecal greenhouse gases production. Fecal samples, as inoculums, were collected from horses given daily 0- (Fecal 0), 60- (Fecal 60) and 120- (Fecal 60) mL CC aqueous extract per animal. The extract dose was mixed with the morning feeding diet at 6:00 h for each horse. During incubation, 0-, 0.6-, 1.2- and 1.8-mL CC extracts were added to the basal diet which was fed to horses (as subtract) and evaluated with each fecal type. Feces from the horses given no CC extract produc...
Earing JE, Hathaway MR, Sheaffer CC, Hetchler BP, Jacobson LD, Paulson JC, Martinson KL.Management strategies for horses with respiratory disease include soaking hay before feeding. Hay steaming is an alternative to this practice; however, little is known about its impact on forage nutritive values or intake. The objective was to determine the effect of steaming on forage nutritive value and intake by horses. Two alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)-orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) mixed hays were evaluated: a low moldy (NM) and moderately moldy (MM) hay. Six mature horses were used in a 10 d crossover design. Three horses were assigned to each hay type and treatments were switched o...
Kinde H, Bettey RL, Ardans A, Galey FD, Daft BM, Walker RL, Eklund MW, Byrd JW.An episode of nervous system dysfunction was observed in horses on 17 premises in 4 counties of southern California. Thirty-eight horses were affected, and 31 of those died. The common clinical signs of disease in the affected horses were: increased appetite; anxious attitude; rythmic, intermittent muscle tremors in the area of the tricep muscles; decreased palpebral tone; mydriasis; small hard fecal balls; and tendency to become sternally recumbent with the neck extended. The temporal distribution of cases on all 17 premises suggested a relationship between exposure to a common batch of alfal...
Glatter M, Bochnia M, Wensch-Dorendorf M, Greef JM, Zeyner A.Horses suffering from equine asthma must consume low-dust forage, with soaking and steaming being suitable methods of hay treatment. The impacts of this treated hay's subsequent storage and effects on the horses' chewing activity are largely unknown. Meadow hay was soaked (10-15 °C, 15 min) or steamed (100 °C, 60 min). Microbial counts (colony forming units (CFU)) were determined by culture before and after soaking or steaming, and subsequent storage at 10 and 25 °C for 6, 12 and 24 h (three replicates each). Six horses were fed native, soaked and steamed hay, according to a cross-over desi...
Jensen RB, Austbø D, Bach Knudsen KE, Tauson AH.A total of four diets with different carbohydrate composition were investigated in a 4×4 Latin square design experiment with four Norwegian Coldblooded trotter horses. The objective of the present study was to increase the fermentable fibre content and reduce the starch intake of the total ration obtained by partly substituting mature hay and barley with sugar beet pulp (SBP), a soluble fibre source. The diets investigated were hay only (HAY), hay (85% of dry matter intake (DMI)) and molassed SBP (15% of DMI) (SBP), hay (68% of DMI) and barley (32% of DMI) (BAR), and hay (68% of DMI), barley ...
Scantlebury CE, Archer DC, Proudman CJ, Pinchbeck GL.Recurrent colic occurs frequently in the general horse population but little evidence exists about what factors place horses at greater risk of recurrent colic. Objective: To quantify time-varying and non time-varying risk factors for recurrent colic among horses attended by first-opinion veterinary surgeons in northwest England. Methods: Nested case-control study. Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted on data from a prospective longitudinal cohort study of 127 horses recruited subsequent to an episode of medical colic. Data were collected on management and recurrent colic episode...
Maitho TE, Lees P, Taylor JB.The disposition of phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg), administered intravenously to six Welsh Mountain ponies, was described by a two-compartment open model. Pharmacokinetic parameters were not significantly different after morning dosing in comparison with afternoon dosing. When phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg) was administered orally to the same ponies, marked variations in time to peak concentrations were produced with different feeding schedules. When access to hay was permitted before and after dosing, the mean time to peak concentration was 13.2 +/- 1.2 h and double peaks in the plasma concentration-...
Redgate SE, Cooper JJ, Hall S, Eady P, Harris PA.Choice feeding is often used to investigate an animal's nutritional requirements and dietary preferences. A problem with this approach is that animals with long gut transit times, such as the horse, may find it difficult to associate a chosen food with its nutritional consequence when alternative foods are presented simultaneously. One solution is to present foods singly for a period of time before a simultaneous choice session to allow the development of learned associations. This method was used to determine if horse's voluntary intake and feeding behavior was influenced by the macronutrient...
Moore-Colyer MJ, Hyslop JJ, Longland AC, Cí·¯ord D.An in sacco mobile bag technique was used to determine the rate and extent of disappearance of unmolassed sugar-beet pulp, soyabean hulls, hay cubes and an oat hull-naked oats mixture (67:33, w/w) in the foregut and total digestive tract of ponies. Ponies were administered naso-gastrically polyester mesh bags containing 350 mg feed, in a Latin square design. Bags were collected at the ileo-caecal junction (small intestine bag, SIB) and in the faeces (faecal bag, FB) and their residues analysed for proximate constituents and NSP composition and content. DM disappearances from individual bags we...
Hassel DM, Aldridge BM, Drake CM, Snyder JR.Enteroliths are intestinal calculi that result in intestinal obstruction and colic in horses. Equine enterolithiasis occurs worldwide, but the disease is particularly prevalent in some geographic locations, including California. The objectives of this study were to evaluate dietary and environmental risk factors for the disease. This was accomplished through a case-control study by comparing horses with colic from enterolithiasis presenting to the University of California, Davis VMTH, to horses with colic of other causes. Data were collected on 61 horses with enterolithiasis and 75 controls vi...
Williams S, Horner J, Orton E, Green M, McMullen S, Mobasheri A, Freeman SL.A change in management from pasture to stabling is a risk factor for equine colic. Objective: To investigate the effect of a management change from pasture with no controlled exercise to stabling with light exercise on aspects of gastrointestinal function related to large colon impaction. The hypothesis was that drinking water intake, faecal output, faecal water content and large intestinal motility would be altered by a transition from a pastured to a stabled regime. Methods: Within-subject management intervention trial involving changes in feeding and exercise using noninvasive techniques. M...
Witham CL, Stull CL.To examine metabolic responses of chronically starved horses to refeeding with 3 isoenergetic diets. Methods: Uncontrolled clinical trial. Methods: 22 mature mixed-breed horses that were emaciated but otherwise clinically normal. Methods: Horses were fed 1 of 3 diets: alfalfa hay, oat hay, or a combination diet of half oat hay and half commercially prepared ration. Digestible energy of diets was gradually increased throughout the refeeding period. One pre- and 4 postprandial blood samples were obtained daily, and analyses included RBC count, Hct, and determination of hemoglobin, glucose, insul...
Robles M, Peugnet P, Dubois C, Piumi F, Jouneau L, Bouchez O, Aubrière MC, Dahirel M, Aioun J, Wimel L, Couturier-Tarrade A, Chavatte-Palmer P.Feeding pregnant broodmares with cereal concentrates has been shown to increase maternal insulin resistance and affect foal metabolism in the short and long-term. These effects are likely to be mediated by the placenta. Here, we investigated feto-placental biometry and placental structure and function at term in mares fed with or without cereals concentrates. From 7 months of gestation, 22 multiparous mares were fed forage only (group F (n = 12)) or received forage and cracked barley (group B (n = 10)) until foaling. Foals and placentas were weighed and placental samples were collected...
Ramaswamy NS.In fifty developing countries, which contain half of the total human population of the world, there is a heavy dependence on draught animals as an energy source. These animals are used for agriculture operations in 52% of cultivated areas of the world, as well as for hauling 25 million carts. This situation is likely to continue for at least another fifty years. The work performed annually by these draught animals would require 20 million tons of petroleum, valued at US$6 billion, if it were performed by motorized vehicles. The poor working conditions of these animals often adversely affect th...
Ralston SL.Members of the genus Equus are large, nonruminant herbivores. These animals utilize the products of both enzymatic digestion in the small intestine and bacterial fermentation (volatile fatty acids) in the cecum and large colon as sources of metabolizable energy. Equine animals rely primarily upon oropharyngeal and external stimuli to control the size and duration of an isolated meal. Meal frequency, however, is regulated by stimuli generated by the presence and (or) absorption of nutrients (sugars, fatty acids, protein) in both the large and small intestine plus metabolic cues reflecting body ...
Górniak W, Wieliczko M, Soroko M, Korczyński M.Methods of estimating horse body weight using mathematical formulae have better accuracy than methods of reading body weight from measuring tape. The aim of the study was to evaluate established formulae for estimating horse body weight from data gathered using measurement tape. The research was conducted in a group of 299 adult horses and ponies of selected breeds: ponies ( = 58), Polish Noble Half Breed ( = 150), Silesian Breed ( = 23), Wielkopolski Breed ( = 52), and Thoroughbred ( = 16). Body measurements were performed on each horse using a measuring stick and tape. The actual body weight...
McKenzie HC, Geor RJ.Nutritional support of the foal can be challenging because of the constant changes in nutritional requirements and dietary composition during the transition from neonate to weanling. Additional complexity arises because of dilemmas regarding the means and route of delivery of nutrition to the foal, and the possibility that metabolic dysfunction may impair the ability of the foal to use nutrients appropriately. This article provides practical information on enteral and parenteral nutritional support of sick neonatal foals. The potential benefits of a conservative, hypocaloric feeding strategy, ...
Reese RE, Andrews FM.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is common in horses. Diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs, gastroscopic examination, and response to treatment. Effective pharmacologic agents are available to treat EGUS, but more comprehensive measures of environmental and dietary management are needed to decrease ulcer severity and recurrence. This article provides an understanding of dietary components and how feeds interact with stomach mucosal barrier function to cause EGUS. In addition, a secondary goal is to provide information on how diet and environmental management can reduce ulcer sever...
Boshuizen B, Moreno de Vega CV, De Maré L, de Meeûs C, de Oliveira JE, Hosotani G, Gansemans Y, Deforce D, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Delesalle C.Aleurone, a layer of the bran fraction, is deemed to be responsible for the positive health effects associated with the consumption of whole-grain products. Studies on rodents, pigs, and humans report beneficial effects of aleurone in five main areas: the reduction of oxidative stress, immunomodulatory effects, modulation of energy management, digestive health, and the storage of vitamins and minerals. Our study is the first aleurone supplementation study performed in horses. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an increase in the dose levels of aleurone on the postprandial g...
Burns TA, Watts MR, Weber PS, McCutcheon LJ, Geor RJ, Belknap JK.Acute, massive enteral carbohydrate overload is associated with laminar inflammation in equids; it is unclear if the same is true for a more prolonged period of moderate dietary carbohydrate intake. Objective: To characterise laminar inflammation in ponies exposed to a dietary carbohydrate challenge meant to mimic acute pasture exposure. Methods: In vivo experiment. Methods: Mixed-breed ponies (n = 22) received a diet of hay chop (nonstructural carbohydrate [NSC] ∼7% on a dry matter [DM] basis) for 4 weeks prior to initiation of the experimental feeding protocol. Following dietary acclimatio...
Lepeule J, Bareille N, Robert C, Valette JP, Jacquet S, Blanchard G, Denoix JM, Seegers H.The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for the severity of Juvenile OsteoChondral Conditions (JOCC) in limbs of French foals. Twenty-one farms in Normandy, France, were sampled and enrolled in a cohort study including 378 foals from three breeds, followed from the 8th month of pregnancy of the mares until the foals were approximately 6months old. Data on growth, feeding practices and exercise conditions were regularly collected. The carpus, the front and hind digits, the hock and the stifle of the foals were radiographed at the end of follow-up. JOCC severity in each foal was d...
Tóth B, Auth A, Rompos L, Bakos Z.Gastrointestinal and other systemic diseases of Equidae are often characterised by partial or complete inappetence. The catabolic processes may lead to lipid mobilisation and other metabolic disturbances. Evidence from earlier studies has revealed that during feed deprivation/inappetence, the conjugation of bilirubin is reduced causing a substantial rise of the total bilirubin and its unconjugated fraction. Objective: We hypothesised that during feed deprivation, the serum concentration of free fatty acids (FFA), triglycerides (TG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total bilirubin (tBIL), total bile...
Essén-Gustavsson B, Connysson M, Jansson A.There is little information about the influence of crude protein (CP) intake on glycogen and free pool amino acid concentrations in the muscle of horses in training. High energy forage-only diets may be an alternative to concentrate rich diets and may provide high levels of CP. Objective: To study the effect of feeding 2 forage-only diets, containing either high or moderate CP concentrations on glycogen and free pool amino acid concentrations in the muscle. Methods: Two high energy forage-only diets based on high-energy grass forage were fed for 23 days in a crossover design to 6 Standardbred ...
Dalla Costa E, Tranquillo V, Dai F, Minero M, Battini M, Mattiello S, Barbieri S, Ferrante V, Ferrari L, Zanella A, Canali E.Welfare of animals significantly depends on how stakeholders perceive their needs and behave in a way to favor production systems that promote better welfare outcomes. This study aimed at investigating stakeholders' perception of the welfare of equines, small ruminants, and turkeys using text mining analysis. A survey composed by open-ended questions referring to different aspects of animal welfare was carried out. Text mining analysis was performed. A total of 270 surveys were filled out (horses = 122, sheep = 81, goats = 36, turkeys = 18, donkeys = 13). The respondents (41% veterinarians) ca...
de la Rúa-Domènech R, Mohammed HO, Cummings JF, Divers TJ, de Lahunta A, Summers BA.To identify intrinsic, management, nutritional, and environmental risk factors associated with equine motor neuron disease (EMND) and to determine whether epidemiologic evidence supports oxidative stress as a risk factor for developing EMND. Methods: Case-control study. Methods: 87 horses with EMND and 259 control horses. Methods: Information concerning each horse's history of exposure to multiple environmental factors prior to developing EMND was obtained by means of a questionnaire or personal interview. Exposure histories of horses with EMND and control horses were compared, and the associa...
Coverdale JA, Moore JA, Tyler HD, Miller-Auwerda PA.Soybean hulls have been successfully fed to ruminant animals as an economical substitute for hay. This feedstuff is a source of highly digestible fiber that does not contain starch. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate soybean hulls as a replacement fiber in horse diets. Four cecally cannulated Quarter Horse geldings, aged 6 to 10 yr and averaging 502 kg, were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Diets consisted of alfalfa/bromegrass hay (14.4% CP, 58.1% NDF, 39.1% ADF; DM basis) with the replacement of either 0, 25, 50, or 75% (as-fed basis) unpelleted soybean hulls (13...
Hackl S, van den Hoven R, Zickl M, Spona J, Zentek J.Few data are available on post-prandial changes of plasma amino acids (AAs) in horses and on the repeatability and the individual variance on different sampling days. The objective of the present study was to measure pre- and post-prandial concentrations of plasma AA in 10 yearling horses. Blood samples were taken on days 1 and 40 of the study before feeding of hay, oats and soya meal and over an 8 h post-prandial period in 2-h intervals. The plasma AAs were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography after ortho-phthalaldehyde derivatization. Mean fasting concentrations of the AAs were no...
Lawson AL, Sherlock CE, Ireland JL, Mair TS.Evidence is lacking concerning re-introduction of feed and water following colic surgery. Objective: To describe current approaches of European and American specialists to re-introduction of feed and water in adult horses following surgical treatment of common intestinal lesions, assuming an uncomplicated recovery. Methods: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: Electronic invitations, with a link to the online survey, were sent to 1,430 large animal specialists, including Diplomates of the ECVS, ACVS, ECEIM and ACVIM colleges. Results: The response rate was 12.6% including partial respondent data. ...
Hanis F, Chung ELT, Kamalludin MH, Idrus Z.The present study aimed to provide preliminary data on the prevalence of oral stereotypic, locomotory stereotypic, and redirected behaviors as well as their associations with stable management and feeding practices. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 207 working horses used for leisure riding, equestrian sport, polo, endurance, and patrolling were selected from seven equine facilities. Data on the stable management and feeding practices were obtained through the stable records, interviews, and on-site monitoring visits, whereas the prevalence of abnormal behaviors in the studied populat...
