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.
Jones DM.A short account of the natural history of the wild Equidae is given as a background to their management in captivity. In general the approach to their husbandry and veterinary care is similar to that for the domestic horse. A mixture of etorphine and acepromazine has been found to be the most effective for handling and conventional methods of anaesthesia can be safely superimposed on these if required. The data collected at Whipsnade on the haematology and biochemistry of these species is summarised in tabular form and an analysis is included of the post-mortem examinations of 105 equine carca...
Brown RF, Houpt KA, Schryver HF.In two adult horses doses of 0.02-0.03 mg/kg diazepam, intravenously, increased 1 hr intake 54-75% above control levels. Intake was stimulated when the diet was a high grain, calorically dense one and also when the diet was a high fiber, calorically dilute one. Two young rapidly growing weanling horses showed an even more pronounced stimulation of intake. Following diazepam 1 hr intake was increased 105-240% above control lelvels. Promazine at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg also stimulated intake in adult horses, but not as markedly as did diazepam. A transquilizer and a neuroleptic appear to have a stim...
Reitnour CM, Salsbury RL.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...
Wilson TM, Morrison HA, Palmer NC, Finley GG, van Dreumel AA.The clinical, macroscopic, and microscopic features of 10 isolated cases of myodegeneration in foals were compared. Low values for selenium and vitamin E content were found in the hay and oats from one breeding stable. Serum selenium concentrations in mares at this stable were also low. Creatinine phosphokinase and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activities were increased in 2 young foals at this stable; in 1 of these foals, both enzymatic activities were markedly reduced after treatment with vitamin E and selenium. Nutritional myodegeneration was suggested as a diagnosis in this stabl...
Faur YC, Weisburd MH, Wilson ME.NYC medium supplemented with cow blood (NYC-C) and sheep blood (NYC-S) were tested for the growth of N. gonorrhoeae and urogenital mycoplasma in comparison with standard NYC medium which contains horse blood. In situations where horse blood is not available, cow blood could be substituted in NYC standard medium, whereas the use of sheep blood was found unsuitable.
Glinsky MJ, Smith RM, Spires HR, Davis CL.Three experiments, each utilizing three ponies, were conducted using a mixed VFA solution of [1−14C] acetate, [1−14C] propionate and [2–33H] butyrate to determine VFA production rates in the cecum of the pony. Diet A used in experiment 1, contained a forage to grain ratio of 1:2, while diet B, used in experiments 2 and 3, contained a forage to grain ratio of 3:1. Experiment 1, in which a constant infusion technique was used, resulted in net VFA production rates (mmoles/min) of 3.667 to 3.977 (x̄=3.836) for acetate, .410 to 1.664 (x̄=1.213) for propionate and .342 to 1.124 (x̄=.629) fo...
Sidhu GS, Brown MA, Johnson AR.Factors contributing to the initiation of lipid oxidation in cow's and mare's milk containing high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids were studied. Addition of H2O2 just after milking, in slight excess of the stoichiometric amounts required to destroy ascorbic acid, delayed the development of oxidized flavours in cow's milk high in linoleic acid. Hydrogen peroxide treatment followed by the addition of alpha-or gamma-tocopherols prevented lipid oxidation in cow's milk even when 0.1 mg Cu/l milk was added. When used separately in the presence of Cu these treatments were ineffective as was but...
Walthall JC, McKenzie RA.Horses grazing manily Cenchrus ciliaris and/or Panicum maximum var. trichoglume pastures on over 30 properties in southern central Queensland developed lesions of osteodystrophia fibrosa. Horses on individual properties in coastal Queensland grazing Setaria anceps, Brachiaria mutica or Pennisetum clandestinum also developed the disease. Ill-thrift, lameness, and fibrous swellings of nasal bones, maxillae and mandibles were observed. Calcium and phosphorus levels of pasture were normal but all the above pasture species contained oxalates which were suspected of causing the disease.
Anwer MS, Chapman TE, Gronwall R.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...
Roberts MC.Lactase and cellobiase were detectable in the fetal intestine by the 3rd month of gestation, and although there was little change by the 9th month, maximal levels were reached at birth and steadily declined after 4 months. Conversely maltase, sucrase and trehalase were barely discernible in the fetus, maltase being present at low levels at birth, but all increased during the suckling period to attain adult levels by 7 months of age. Alkaline phosphatase activity matured earlier than did disaccharidase activity. Mucosal enzymes other than alkaline phosphatase were virtually absent from meconium...
van der Holst W.Season was shown to markedly influence semen characteristics of stallions in Holland, including ejaculate volume, sperm motility, total number of spermatozoa/ejaculate and the percentage of spermatozoa showing morphological abnormalities. Maintenance of normal stallions in continuous light during the winter months and administration of a vitamin and mineral supplement to sub-fertile stallions before the start of the breeding season appeared to improve spermatogenesis significantly.
Belonje PC, van Niekerk CH.Attention is drawn to the beneficial effect of improved nutrition during winter and early spring on the ovarian activity of mares. Furthermore, the necessity of an adequate plane of nutrition during early pregnancy to prevent embryonic resorption is stressed.
Mitchell D, Allen WR.Reproductive performance was studied in 137 yearling mares run with stallions in small groups for 3 months between June and August in 1968 to 1971 (four breeding seasons). Pregnancy diagnosis by repeated rectal palpation and qualitative tests for PMSG, showed that ninety-five mares conceived of which forty-four aborted spontaneously between Days 30 and 160 of gestation. Laboratory examination of twenty-one aborted fetuses failed to show any infectious agents. Serial quantitative and qualitative tests for PMSG in aborting animals gave results similar to those observed in mares with normal pregn...
Wootton JF, Argenzio RA.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...
Drew B, Barber WP, Williams DG.On a thoroughbred stud four foals were born with greatly enlarged thyroids and leg weakness. Two foals died within 18 hours of birth, the others subsequently recovered. An enlarged thyroid was also evident in one of the resident mares. The thyroids from the dead foals were hyperplastic. Feed analyses showed that the mares had an iodine intake of about 83 mg daily, 8-8 ppm of the dietary dry matter, due almost entirely to the high iodine content of a proprietary compound horse nut which had been fed at the daily rate of 12 lb per head. It was concluded from the histology of the thyroids, the hi...
Harrington DD.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...
Frape DL.The majority of recent experiments in equine nutrition relates to the metabolism of protein, non-protein nitrogen, carbohydrate, calcium and phosphorus. An understanding of the significance of the nitrogen cycle is emerging in which there is a two-way movement of compounds across the wall of the G.I. tract. Some quantitative estimates of the role of microflora in this process have been made for comparison with similar processes in ruminants. However, the pathway by which the microflora contributes to the nitrogen economy and the extent to which this occurs is not established in the horse. It i...
Jauregui-Adell J.Mare milk and aqueous solution of mare milk lysozyme were incubated for variable times between 30 C and 100 C at pH 3, 6, or 9. Lysozyme activity was stable at acid and neutral pH and labile at alkaline pH. Some of the results show the existence of a reactivation process in mare's milk and in aqueous solution. reaching 30 to 40% after incubation of the aqueous solution at 4 C for 20 days at pH 3 or 6.
Furness JB, Poole DP.The functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is under the control of the most extensive system of peripheral neurons in the body, the enteric nervous system, and the largest endocrine system of the body, the GEP endocrine system. The enteric nervous system in large mammals contains 500 million neurons, and the GEP endocrine system produces more than 30 hormones. Numerous enteric neuropathies affecting both humans and animals have been described and digestive disorders affect commercially important species, such as horses and cattle. The most severe enteric neuropathies (e.g., lethal white syn...
Ott EA, Asquith RL.Three experiments using 63 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse yearlings were conducted to evaluate the influence of level of feeding, and protein and calculated energy content of pelleted concentrates on growth and bone development. Animals were housed in drylot paddocks and individually fed concentrates twice daily. Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dyctylon) hay was group-fed. Yearlings offered a corn-based concentrate (3.56 Mcal digestible energy [DE]/kg) consumed levels of dry matter similar to yearlings fed a mixed-grain concentrate (3.32 Mcal DE/kg but consumed slightly more digestible energy. N...
Sandin A, Girma K, Sjöholm B, Lindholm A, Nilsson G.Plasma gastrin concentrations were determined in 6 Standardbreds (4 geldings and 2 mares) after 3 different meals consisting of unlimited amounts of hay (8-9 kg per horse), a restricted amount of hay (0.6 kg/100 kg body-weight) and grain (0.2 kg/100 kg body-weight) in combination or of grain alone (0.2 kg/100 kg body-weight). In another series of experiments the possible role of gastrin as a stress hormone was investigated. Plasma gastrin and cortisol concentrations were determined during fasting and compared with concentrations during hay feeding. In addition, gastrin and cortisol concentrati...
van Niekerk HP, Couvaras S.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.
Doreau M, Dussap G.Female milk production was related to offspring water turnover, estimated by a tracer method (fig. 1). After deuterium oxide was injected into the blood of the offspring, we measured the decrease of its concentration in time. Milk intake was calculated by equations taking into account the weight gain of the offspring. The reliability of this method was checked in 28 bottle-fed lambs with known milk intake; the correlation between the actual intakes and our estimates was 0.98 with an error means of 5.6 p. 100. The error on the mean of 28 lambs was 0.5 p. 100 (table 1). The milk production of 6 ...
Jansen WL, van Alphen M, Berghout M, Everts H, Beynen AC.The ratio of calculated net energy intake (NEi) to calculate net energy requirement (NEr) might serve as an indicator of the efficiency of dietary energy utilization. The ratio was determined for 93 horses and ponies from 10 riding schools. For each animal with an assumed constant body weight, energy intake and energy requirements were assessed. On average, the estimated NEi was 14% greater than NEr. There was a significant, negative association between crude fibre intake and the NEi: NEr ratio. Earlier work indicated that extra fat intake may lead to over estimation of the calculated energy v...
Koterba AM, Drummond WH.Provision of adequate nutritional support to the sick neonatal foal is a vital part of intensive care; frequently, however, it is very difficult to accomplish. In this article, current recommendations concerning both enteral and parenteral nutrition are discussed.
Bampidis V, Azimonti G, Bastos ML, Christensen H, Fašmon Durjava M, Kouba M, López-Alonso M, López Puente S, Marcon F, Mayo B, Pechová A....Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a tincture from the fruit of L. (dill tincture) when used as a sensory additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The product is a ■■■■■ solution, with a dry matter content of approximately 0.9%. The product contained 0.0247% polyphenols (of which 0.0137% were flavonoids) and 0.003% carvone. Estragole was present at concentrations between the limit of detection and the limit of quantification in the five batches examined. The Panel on A...
Earing JE, Lawrence LM, Hayes SH, Brummer M, Vanzant E.The ability of young and mature horses to digest DM, OM, and NDF was compared using 6 weanling colts and 6 mature (13.2 ± 3.0 yr) geldings. Each colt was paired with a gelding, and the pair was adapted to a diet containing 67% alfalfa cubes and 33% concentrate for 21 d. During the adaptation period, horses were accustomed to housing and all handling procedures. The adaptation period was also used to adjust the amount of feed offered to minimize orts and to maintain similar rates of intake within a pair. After the adaptation period, a 5-d fecal collection period using fecal collection harnesse...
Langner K, Hörügel U, Donat K, Vervuert I.Screening of commercial mineral feeds and mineral licks on the German market containing selenium (Se) in relation to the Se status in equines in Thuringia with different forms of Se supplementation. Methods: Commercially available Se-containing minerals for horses identified by an online research were evaluated for their Se concentration, Se source, flavour carrier and recommended dosage according to the manufacturer's labelling. Furthermore, serum Se status in 8 equine farms was regularly monitored over the period of one year. The sampled horses either received no Se supplement or Se was supp...
Ross MW, Stephens PR, Reimer JM.A 9-year-old pregnant Standardbred broodmare was evaluated for signs of mild abdominal pain, failure to defecate, and mild abdominal distention. Rectal examination revealed the leading edge of a small colon intussusception, and peritoneal fluid analysis indicated suppurative peritonitis. Surgical management, including reduction of the intussusception and small colon resection with end-to-end anastomosis, resulted in successful outcome (1-year follow-up evaluation). Postoperative complications including dehiscence of the ventral midline surgical incision and simple obstruction at the anastomosi...
Fenton JI, Orth MW, Chlebek-Brown KA, Nielsen BD, Corn CD, Waite KS, Caron JP.The effect of longeing and glucosamine supplementation on known biological markers of joint disease was studied in yearling quarter horses. Twenty-one yearling quarter horses were randomly assigned to one of 4 treatments: 1) longeing (longeing 20 min daily) supplement control (LN); 2) longeing/glucosamine (LG); 3) walking (mechanical walker for 120 min daily (WN)); and 4) walking/glucosamine (WG). Oral glucosamine was administered at 5.5 g b.i.d. weeks 1-4, 3.5 g b.i.d. during weeks 5-6, and 2.0 g b.i.d. during weeks 7-8. Serum was obtained weekly for 8 wk and analyzed for keratan sulfate and ...
Martens RJ, Malone PS, Brust DM.Oral lactose tolerance tests were evaluated in 25 healthy foals (principals) assigned to 4 groups of approximately 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks of age. Lactose monohydrate (1 g/kg of body weight [in a 20% water solution]) was administered via nasogastric tube after a 4-hour fast. Plasma glucose concentrations were monitored before dosing (0 minutes) and sequentially for 300 minutes. Six control foals were given a volume of water equivalent to the volume of lactose monohydrate administered to principal foals. After oral lactose loading, mean plasma glucose concentrations of all princi...
Zeyner A, Hoffmeister C, Einspanier A, Gottschalk J, Lengwenat O, Illies M.Quarter Horses are particularly susceptible to polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM). Nutritional therapy and possibly prophylaxis includes fat-supplemented diets whilst starch supply should be kept to a minimum. Objective: To investigate the glycaemic and insulinaemic response of clinically normal Quarter Horses to concentrates high in fat and low in starch. Methods: Twelve Quarter Horses were studied. The precondition for inclusion in the study population was that the horses had not shown clinical signs of myopathy. The Quarter Horses were fed according to a 4 x 4 Latin square design haylag...
Barlet JP, Davicco MJ, Coxam V.Intestinal absorption of inorganic phosphorus. In most mammalian species inorganic phosphorus (P) is absorbed at the duodenal and jejunal level. However in horses some P is absorbed from the large intestine, whereas in ruminant animals some absorption also takes place in the forestomachs. The structure of the putative phosphate-sodium carrier of the brush border from enterocytes still awaits identification. P absorption is modulated both by endocrine (calcitriol, triiodothyronine) and nutritional factors (minerals of the diet, chemical form of phosphorus). Regulation of salivary P secretion, i...
Iida A, Saito H, Amao A, Fujita T, Kato A, Ueda F.A nutritional supplement containing salacinol (NSS) was administered to Thoroughbred foals daily beginning 21 days after birth, and clinical signs and intestinal microbiota were analyzed. The average number of days for which foals exhibited a fever between 21 and 110 days after birth was determined. The number of days was significantly reduced, by approximately 1/3, in the NSS group compared with the control group. Furthermore, improved weight gain was observed in the NSS group compared with the control group. By analyzing the intestinal microbiota, it was determined that the ratio of Clostrid...
Frape DL.There is no clear evidence that the chronic requirement for any non-energy yielding nutrient rises in proportion as the energy requirement increases with hard work. The need for protein, and probably that for calcium, remain a function of bodyweight daily. Some proportionality with energy may exist for certain nutrients, although the evidence has not been adduced. For example, because of an increase in both the proportion and amount of propionic acid in the volatile fatty acids of caecal contents, the tissue requirement for vitamin B12 may rise with an increase in the rate of energy metabolism...
Turcott-White SK, Nielsen BD, Robison CI, Skelly CD, Rosenstein DS, Pritchard A, Herdt T.The objective of this study was to compare the feed intake and the apparent digestibilities of three different diets varying in concentrate-to-roughage ratios in weanling horses (n = 24) at 5 and 8 months of age. Horses were stratified by breed, gender, birth date and body weight and assigned to one of three dietary treatments containing the following concentrate-to-roughage ratios on an as-fed basis: 70:30 (High Con), 50:50 (Equal) and 30:70 (Low Con). All horses were fed their respective diets for a 10-day adaptation period and a 4-day collection period at 5 and 8 months. There were no d...
Ralston SL, Freeman DE, Baile CA.The roles of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and of the large intestine in the control of feeding in ponies were investigated. Ponies with cecal fistulas were adapted to ad libitum access to pelleted feed. Treatment solutions were given as a bolus 15 min before the animals were allowed free access to feed after a 4-h fast. Each dose of VFA solution was tested in a crossover design with a water control. When the ponies were permitted to eat after the treatments, the latency to eat, first meal size, and duration and first intermeal interval were recorded. Feed intakes were measured at 3 and 18 h afte...
Maxfield M, Celaya R, Andrade E, Rodrigues MAM, Santos AS, Ferreira LMM.The assessment of feed intake in stabled horses is a difficult task to accomplish. Faecal markers, namely n-alkanes, have been used successfully for the estimation of this important nutritional parameter. This usually involves the dosing of synthetic n-alkanes via different matrices, a laborious task that may also influence the animal normal foraging behaviour. An experiment was conducted to evaluate a relative simple methodology to quantify feed intake in horses, based on the provision of measured amounts of a concentrate supplement labelled with beeswax and the utilisation of n-alkanes as fa...
Mobarak MS, Ryan MF.Light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy were employed to provide further data on the putative origins of the immunogenic secretory-excretory product (ESP) of Strongylus vulgaris (Looss 1900). The sharply delineated but superficial attachment to the equine caecum by the mouth leaves behind an oval area devoid of epithelial cells. Attachment does not extend deeply enough to reach the muscularis mucosa layer of the equine intestine. The progressive digestion of the ingested plug of tissue (epithelial cells, blood cells and mucous) was visualized. The coelomocytes, floating cells and...
Lyons ET, Drudge JH, Tolliver SC.Antiparasitic activity of a micronized formulation of the benzothiazole compound, tioxidazole, at the dose rate of 11 mg/kg, was evaluated by the critical test method. Drug was given by stomach to 3 horses and on feed to 3 horses. Excellent removal activity was found for Strongylus vulgaris (100%) in 5 naturally infected horses, S edentatus (91% to 100%) in 5 horses, small strongyles (88% to 99%) in 6 horses, immature Oxyuris equi (100%) in 5 horses, and Parascaris equorum (100%) in 5 horses (a 6th horse had 10 small specimens present at necropsy). There was no measurable activity against bots...
Asin J, Murphy BG, Samol MA, Polanco J, Moore JD, Uzal FA.Rickets is a metabolic bone disease associated with failure of endochondral ossification and impaired osteoid mineralization in growing animals. As a consequence, affected individuals can develop gross and microscopic bone malformations. The most common causes of rickets in domestic species include vitamin D and phosphorus deficiency. Rickets has been described in multiple species; however, comprehensive postmortem characterizations with confirmatory histopathology in equids have not been published. A 6-mo-old, Thoroughbred-cross foal was diagnosed with rickets based on gross autopsy findings ...
Kramer KJ, Kagan IA, Lawrence LM, Goff BM, Smith SR.An excess of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) can present a risk for horses prone to pasture-associated laminitis or some other metabolic conditions. Determining WSC concentrations in commonly grazed cool-season grasses, at different times of day and under different fertilization treatments, can help optimize grazing times and management strategies. The goals of this study were to develop a near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration curve for WSC and to apply it to four cool-season grass species. Tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass, and perennial ryegrass (10 cultiva...
Gee EK, Grace ND, Firth EC, Fennessy PF.To monitor the change in liver copper concentration of Thoroughbred foals from birth to 160 days of age and to determine the effects of supplementation by two injections of copper edetate given to dams in late gestation on the liver copper concentration of their foals at birth. Methods: Ten mares pregnant to the same stallion were randomised into two groups on the basis of age, liver copper concentration and expected foaling date. The treatment group mares were given 100 mg and 250 mg copper edetate intramuscularly during the ninth and tenth months of gestation respectively. Foals had liver bi...
Pilarczyk B, Tomza-Marciniak A, Stankiewicz T, Błaszczyk B, Gaczarzewicz D, Smugała M, Udała J, Tylkowska A, Kuba J, Cieśla A.The aim of this study was to determine serum selenium concentrations in Polish Konik horses residing in the Odra Delta Nature Park (Poland) and to evaluate the activity of glutathione peroxidase and Se content in testes of this horse breed. In over 95% of cases, serum Se concentration was below the optimal range, and none of the horses examined was deficient in this trace element. The lack of Se deficiency in the animals examined suggests however, that the Polish Konik horses have a natural ability to the optimal use of nutrients available in their life area. Testicular content of Se and GSHPx...
Ralston SL, Baile CA.The hypothesis that changes in blood glucose concentrations and(or) utilization rate affect feeding behavior in ponies was tested. Ponies (n = 4) were fasted for 4 h, then given iv injections of 50% glucose [.2 g glucose/BW.75 kg (low dose, LD) or 1.0 g glucose/BW.75 kg (high dose, HD)] or an equal volume of normal saline (HDS; LDS) 5 min before being allowed access to pelleted feed. Blood samples were drawn at regular intervals pre- and post-treatment and analyzed for plasma glucose (PG), immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and glucagon concentrations. All glucose-treated animals immediately ate mea...
Ott EA, Brown MP, Roberts GD, Kivipelto J.Forty-four weanling horses were used in two experiments to evaluate the effect of starch intake on growth and skeletal development. In Exp. 1, the weanlings were fed either a grain-based, high-starch (31.1%, DM basis) concentrate or a by-product-based, low-starch (0.0%) concentrate with coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay. Corn oil was used to equalize the energy concentration of the concentrates. The concentrate:hay ratio was 64:36 (as-fed basis), and intake was the same for both diets. Body weight gains were greater by the weanlings consuming the high-starch concentrate (0.81 vs. 0.6...
van Niekerk FE, van Niekerk CH.Pregnant Anglo-Arab and Thoroughbred mares (n = 24) were divided randomly according to age and breed into 4 groups of 6 mares each from approximately 6 weeks before their expected foaling date. Diets received by the 4 groups varied in essential amino-acid and total protein contents. Serum progestagen, FSH and LH concentrations were determined from the day of parturition until foal heat and during the 1st oestrous cycle following foal heat. Serum progestagen, FSH and LH concentrations did not differ between the treatment groups. Progestagen concentrations were high (mean = 7.0: 5.2-16.4 ng/ml) ...
Huricha , Kawai M, Ninomiya S.In this study, we investigated suckling behavior and the distance between a foal and its mare as indicators of foal growth in Hokkaido native horses (HKD) during the first 40 days of life. Direct observations were made of 22 mare and foal pairs from two consecutive days 1 and 2, 5 and 6, 10 and 11, 20 and 21, 30 and 31, and 40 and 41 after birth by focal animal sampling for 3 h per day. Suckling behavior was continuously recorded, along with the terminator. The distance between the foal and its mare was determined using the instantaneous sampling method (1 min), and the percentage was calc...
