Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Topic:Nutrition
Nutrition in horses encompasses the study of dietary requirements and feeding practices that support equine health, growth, and performance. It involves the analysis of nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals, and their roles in equine physiology. Proper nutrition is essential for maintaining optimal body condition, supporting metabolic processes, and preventing dietary-related disorders. Research in this field examines the nutritional needs of horses at different life stages and activity levels, as well as the effects of various feed types and supplements. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the composition, digestion, and impact of different dietary components on equine health and performance.
[The digestibility of crude nutrients in horses. 2. Comparative studies on the digestive capacity of a thoroughbred horse, pony and wether]. The digestibility of the crude nutrients of 6 rations on the basis of oat, hay and wheat straw (in one case a straw-concentrate mixture as sole feed) was compared at a nutrition level of 1.0 and 1.3 resp. with adult geldings of the species "Noble Crossbreed", adult pony geldings and wethers The energy concentration of the rations varied between 424 and 585 EFUcattle/kg DM, the crude fibre content between 17 and 25% of the DM. In the studied field, a good agreement between horse and pony could be ascertained as to the digestibility of the organic matter and NFE. There are partly considerable di...
Salt consumption and the effect of salt on mineral metabolism in horses. The voluntary salt consumption of mature unexercised horses was measured weekly for up to 45 weeks. Voluntary intake among horses was quite variable ranging from 19 to 143 g of salt per day and was inversely related to total salt intake (salt in feeds plus voluntary intake). Mean daily voluntary salt consumption was 53 g. Season of the year did not influence voluntary intake. In preference tests which evaluated every two choice combination of 0.2% and 4% NaCl in test diets fed daily for four days, ponies generally preferred diets containing the lower amount of salt. In similar preference studi...
Identification and the primary structure of equine alpha-lactalbumin B and C (Equus caballus, Perissodactyla). The presence of two new alpha-lactalbumins has been demonstrated in the colostrum of a single mare (Equus caballus, Persian Arab). They have been designated equine alpha-lactalbumin B and C, and that isolated previously from the milk of Australian horses (English Thoroughbred) as alpha-lactalbumin A. The primary structures of B/C have been determined by automatic Edman degradation of enzymatic cleavage of the oxidized protein. Cyanogen bromide cleavage of S-carbamoyl-methylated protein provided necessary overlapping peptides. Comparison of the sequences of B and C with that of A indicates 3 an...
[The digestibility of crude nutrients in horses. 1. Methods of determining digestibility]. The ascertainment of the digestibility of crude nutrients in rations for horses requires the inclusion of movement-based performance as influencing factor. Under the consideration of this requirement, indicator methods gain significance in comparison with the standard method of collecting faeces completely. In two experiments the digestion of the crude nutrients in rations for horses was tested according to the standard method (complete collection of faeces) and the indicator method 4 N HCl-insoluble ash). According to the indicator method the digestibility of crude nutrients was slightly high...
Fatty acid composition of the plasma lipids of the maternal and newborn horse. The fatty acid composition of the plasma free fatty acid, triacylglycerol and phospholipid fractions was measured in blood and milk samples taken daily from 3 mares and their foals on Days 1-9 post partum inclusive, and from a total of 12 mares and foals on Days 22, 30 and 51. A rise in the plasma concentrations of triacylglycerol and phospholipid similar to that well documented in other species occurred in the neonatal period. Alterations in the composition of the foal plasma phospholipid after birth lend support to the view that the placenta rather than the fetus could be responsible for the...
Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy: a vitamin E deficiency that may be familial. Two horse farms, on which there was a high incidence of proven and suspected equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM), were studied. Symmetric ataxia and paresis, along with laryngeal adductor, cervicofacial, local cervical, and cutaneous trunci hyporeflexia, characterized the syndrome. Serum vitamin E concentration reflected a deficient state in affected and unaffected horses on both farms when compared with selected reference groups and with published values. A high incidence of the disease was evident in offspring of two particular sires on one farm. Vitamin E supplementation resulted ...
Carnitine concentrations in the milk of different species and infant formulas. Carnitine concentrations were measured in the milk of sheep, cows, goats, and horses, in human milk of term and preterm infants and in European infant formulas. There were significant species' differences in carnitine milk content. Acylcarnitine concentrations ranged from 13 to 47% of total carnitine. This may be related to differences in maternal and/or mammary gland metabolism. The concentration of long-chain acylcarnitine in milk was under 1% in all investigated species. In cow's milk, there was a decrease in acylcarnitine concentration during the first 2 months of lactation. In human milk,...
The postnatal development of serum zinc, copper and ceruloplasmin in the horse. 1. Serum samples were collected from ten foals at predetermined times during the first 12 months following birth and zinc and copper concentrations and ceruloplasmin activity were evaluated. 2. Serum zinc concentrations were found to be quite variable with respect to age (range = 67-95 micrograms/dl). 3. Serum copper concentrations increased in a linear fashion from day 0 to day 28 before levelling off at 190-247 micrograms/dl. 4. Ceruloplasmin activity was found to correlate with the concentration of serum copper (r = 0.92) and reached a plateau at an activity of 30-38 IU by day 28.
Consequence of excess iodine supply in a Thoroughbred stud in southern Brazil. Excessive iodine supply of at least 700 mg inorganic iodine in foals and of more than 350 mg iodine in pregnant and lactating mares cause a high incidence of goitres in the newborn and disorders in the long leg bones of foals. Elevated phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase content in the blood may indicate a severe disturbance in the bone metabolism. Of 39 pregnant mares 17 aborted and some of the mares also showed goitres. After withdrawal of the iodine supply normalization took place. Foals born more than 6 weeks later showed normal conditions. The goitres in the mares and the high blood level...
The effects of four levels of endophyte-infected fescue seed in the diet of pregnant pony mares. Mean weight of 20 Quarter Horse placentas on a wet basis was 3.27 +/- 0.17 kg. These placentas contained mean dry fat-free tissue, DNA, RNA and collagen weights of 411 +/- 24 g, 11.2 +/- 0.6 g, 12.4 +/- 0.7 g and 210 +/- 15 g, respectively. In Ponies and Quarter Horses, there was a trend towards a decrease in these 4 values as gestation length increased. Analysis of placentas of Ponies fed different amounts of endophyte fungus-infected fescue seed showed that weight of dry fat-free tissue increased with increasing percentages of fescue seed in the diet. Diets containing fescue seed resulted in...
Dietary molybdenum as a putative copper antagonist in the horse. Four horses were stabled and fed a diet of hay ad libitum, and 2 kg oats per animal per day, for a month. The basic diet was then supplemented with molybdenum, at a rate of 20 mg/kg dry matter for 4.5 months. For one month of this period the diet was supplemented also with sulphur at a rate of 1.2 g/kg dry matter. Analyses of jugular blood samples, obtained at intervals varying between two and 20 days, showed no evidence of a decline in total plasma copper or of an increased proportion of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) insoluble copper in plasma over this period. In separate studies, two other hor...
Extensive large colon resection in the pony. II. Digestibility studies and postmortem findings. The nutritional implications and adaptive processes resulting from resection of 75% of the length of the large colon in ponies were investigated. Ten ponies in good physical condition were divided into two groups: six in the experimental group and four in the control group. During the sixth postoperative month, two digestibility studies were conducted, and phosphate fractional renal excretion and serum biochemical profiles were determined in both groups. The ponies (N = 10) were euthanized six months postoperatively, and gross and histopathological examinations were performed. Results of the s...
Feeding behavior. Problems related to feeding behavior in horses fall into three main categories: underconsumption, overconsumption, and abnormal consumption. Anorexia may be caused by a variety of diseases and overcome by removing the underlying causes (pain, fever), and physical or chemical stimulation of appetite. "Hypophagia" may be caused by poor dentition, disease, or stress. Again, removal of the cause or stimulation by physical or chemical means may improve intakes. Acute and chronic overconsumption of feeds are reflections of the normal controls (or lack thereof) of feeding in the horse. The only relia...
Body fluid concentrations and pharmacokinetics of chloramphenicol given to mares intravenously or by repeated gavage. Serum concentrations and the pharmacokinetics of chloramphenicol were determined in 6 healthy mares after a single IV administration (50 mg/kg of body weight) or after the 1st and 5th sequential intragastric (IG) administration (50 mg/kg/6 hours) of chloramphenicol. Synovial fluid, peritoneal fluid, CSF, and urinary concentrations of chloramphenicol after the IG administrations also were determined. Mean (+/- SEM) overall elimination rate constant (K) values for the IV, 1st IG, and 5th IG dosages were 0.42 +/- 0.064/hr, 0.42 +/- 0.049/hr, and 0.29 +/- 0.074/hr, respectively, and were not signi...
Studies on the nutritional physiology of zoophilic dermatophytes isolated from horses in Ibadan, Nigeria. The effects of the various growth factors with regard to the nutritional physiology of zoophilic dermatophytes isolated from horses are reported. The optimum temperature, pH and growth period for the fungal isolates were found to be 30 degrees-35 degrees C, 5-6 and 7-12 days respectively while the carbon and nitrogen sources utilised by the organisms were sucrose, fructose, maltose, L-arginine and calcium nitrate. The use of these factors in preparation of efficacious fungicides used in the treatment of ringworm infections in man and animals is discussed.
Endurance exercise in the horse–a review. Part I. Over the last 10 years, there has been a great increase in information on the physiological effects of endurance exercise in horses reflecting the increase in popularity of endurance riding throughout the world. This review, which is in two parts, examines energy considerations, fluid and electrolyte balance, acid-base balance, hormonal and metabolic changes, muscle function, renal and hepatic function, haematological changes and clinical problems encountered in endurance rides. Additionally, relevant information from studies in man is included.
Acute myopathy in horses at grass in east and south east Scotland. A myopathy of horses at grass in east and south east Scotland was recognised in the autumn and winter of 1984 and the spring of 1985. The clinical signs resembled those of paralytic myoglobinuria. Grossly increased creatine kinase activities and the passage of dark brown urine were consistent features. However, the horses were not in training, most of them died and the muscles affected were those of posture and respiration rather than movement. The condition may be unrelated to nutritional myopathy because all the cases had adequate levels of alpha-tocopherol although their selenium status var...
Lactation in the horse: the mineral composition of mare milk. Changes in the mineral composition of mare milk during lactation were studied. Milk samples were obtained from five Thoroughbred mares one to three times weekly from the first to the eighth week of lactation and from two of the mares for an additional 8 wk. Samples averaging 500 mL were obtained after oxytocin was administered to the mares. Each sample was analyzed for total solids, ash, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper and zinc. The concentration of all constituents except sodium and potassium decreased throughout lactation. The rates of decline of ash, calcium, phosp...
Influence of vitamin E and selenium supplement on antibody production in horses. Fifteen horses used for serum production were maintained on low vitamin E and selenium diets. They were divided into four groups receiving: Group 1 no supplements, Group 2 vitamin E, Group 3 selenium and Group 4 both vitamin E and selenium. The humoral immune response to novel antigens, such as tetanus toxoid and equine influenza virus, was increased in groups receiving either vitamin E or selenium/vitamin E. No effects were recorded on the titres against Escherichia coli or the levels of immunoglobulin G.
Effect of meal schedules and fasting on selected plasma free amino acids in horses. The effects of meal frequency and fasting on selected plasma free amino acids (PFAA) was studied in horses. Six 22-mo-old Quarter Horses were used in a replicated 3 X 3 Latin-square design in which each horse received one meal per day (1M), two meals per day (2M) or six meals per day (6M) for 2 wk. A complete pelleted ration was fed at a rate of 1.75% of body weight daily. The consumption of a meal by the horses fed 1M and 2M daily was followed by an increase (P less than .05) in plasma methionine. The highest levels were observed at 5 h and 3 h in the 1M and 2M treatments, respectively. The h...
Effects of age and diet on the development of mechanical strength by the third metacarpal and metatarsal bones of young horses. The application of transmission ultrasonics to the equine cannon holds promise as a method of monitoring metacarpal and metatarsal development, quality and integrity under a variety of experimental and field conditions. The validity of relating the velocities of sound pulses transmitted through the cannon to the mechanical breaking strengths of these bones was tested in two studies. Breaking strengths calculated from the sound velocities through sections of the metacarpal bones from 14 yearling ponies and 12 yearling horses were highly correlated with the mechanical breaking strengths of those...
Kidney function in rats with corticomedullary nephrocalcinosis: effects of alterations in dietary calcium and magnesium. Single-nephron and whole-kidney function were studied in female rats with corticomedullary nephrocalcinosis, and in animals where the lesion had been prevented either by a dietary magnesium supplement or by using a diet with a calcium:phosphorus ratio in excess of 1. At the single-nephron level, rats with nephrocalcinosis had prolonged tubular fluid transit times. Proximal transit time was 19.42 +/- 1.98 (mean +/- S.E. of mean) vs. 11.58 +/- 0.19 s for controls; distal transit time was 62.64 +/- 9.16 vs. 31.50 +/- 1.03 s for controls. Although single-nephron function is altered in nephrocalcin...
Metabolism of some essential minerals in ponies fed high levels of aluminum. The effect of dietary aluminum on the absorption, retention and pathways of excretion of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron and copper was studied in balance trials in mature ponies in a three by three latin square experiment. A basal diet consisting of one third each of oats, beet pulp and a commercial pelleted, complete horse ration and containing 336 ppm aluminum was supplemented with AlC1(3) . 6H2O. The middle and high level aluminum diets contained 1370 and 4500 ppm aluminum respectively. There was little difference in effect between the middle level aluminum and basal diets. The ...
Equine energetics. I. Relationship between body weight and energy requirements in horses. Energy balance studies using indirect calorimetry were conducted with four mature equids ranging in weight from 125 to 856 kg. Each animal was fed three different levels of intake of the same diet. The amounts of digestible and metabolizable energy required for zero energy balance were determined by calculating regression equations for energy balance against energy intake. It was concluded that the maintenance requirements of equids vary linearly with body weight. No advantage was found for the use of weight for the comparison of equids within the range studied. The digestible energy (DE) requ...
Ascarids. Recent advances. P. equorum is a common and ubiquitous parasite that persists for many years in stables and on pasture in spite of good hygiene and anthelmintic control programs. Foals are usually infected early in life. During the migratory phase of the infection, clinical signs include coughing and a nasal discharge followed by depression and unthriftiness as the worms mature in the gut. Some foals die as a result of intestinal impaction or rupture. Patency is established around 3 months of age, and fecal egg counts may rise to very high levels. From 6 months of age onwards, the ascarid burden diminishes as ...
Generalized steatitis associated with selenium deficiency and normal vitamin E status in a foal. A 7-month-old male Quarter Horse was examined because of severe cachexia, which had begun 2 months earlier. The foal was emaciated and weak despite an excellent appetite. Percutaneous biopsy revealed multiple areas of subcutaneous steatitis with mineralization. Radiography demonstrated calcification of the nuchal ligament. The foal died 9 days after admission. Necropsy revealed mineralized lesions throughout the fascial planes and adipose tissues of the thorax, abdomen, and skeletal muscles, with little to no involvement of muscular tissue. Serum magnesium, copper, and thyroxine concentrations...
