FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J Suppl / Effect of forage intake on bodyweight and performance.
Equine veterinary journal. Supplement2002; (34); 66-70; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05393.x

Effect of forage intake on bodyweight and performance.

Abstract: The horse evolved to survive on rations high in forage. Many performance horses are fed rations containing reduced levels of forage, with a corresponding increase in concentrate supply. Such reductions in forage intake are widely established to be associated with a corresponding number of physiological and psychological adaptations. Therefore, the influence of forage intake on bodyweight (bwt) and performance was investigated. Four Thoroughbred-type geldings in light to moderate work received 4 diets (100% forage [100H]; 80% forage:20% concentrate [80H]; 60% forage:40% concentrate [60H] and 50% forage:50% concentrate [50H]) in a 4 x 4 Latin-square design. A submaximal standardised exercise test (SET) was performed for each diet. Rate of passage, bwt and water intakes were measured throughout the trial and maximum, recovery heart rates and postexercise rectal temperatures recorded for each SET. Mean +/- s.e. bwt was significantly (P<0.001) higher for the 100H compared to the 50H ration (556.89 and 546.28 kg, respectively). Rate of passage of digesta was significantly (P<0.01) slower for the 100H compared to the 50H ration. Water intakes and SET maximum and 1 min recovery heart rates were significantly (P<0.05) higher (mean +/- s.e. 44.72 and 39.07 l/day, 186 and 165 beats/min, and 105 and 96 beats/min, respectively) for 100H compared to the 50H diet. Post-SET rectal temperatures tended to increase with increasing forage intakes, although these effects were not significant (mean 39.85 and 38.65 degrees C for the 100H and 50H diets, respectively). In conclusion, forage intake has significant effects on equine bwt and submaximal performance and a compromise needs to be made between the potential detrimental effects of high forage intake on performance and the potential detrimental effects of low forage intake on equine welfare.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2002-10-31 PubMed ID: 12405661DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05393.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study investigates how varying levels of forage intake affects the body weight and performance of thoroughbred horses. The research finds that high forage intake can affect both the horse’s weight and performance negatively, but also notes that reducing forage to improve performance can have harmful effects on the horse’s wellbeing.

Study Design

  • Four thoroughbred geldings were involved in the study. The horses were in light to moderate work and were given four different diets which varied in forage to concentrate ratios, including 100% forage (100H), 80% forage and 20% concentrate (80H), 60% forage and 40% concentrate (60H) and 50% forage and 50% concentrate (50H).
  • The feeding method was a 4 x 4 Latin-square design which is a method used in experiments to remove the influence of two nuisance variables.
  • A standardized exercise test (SET) was also performed on each diet. Parameters such as rate of passage, water intake, body weight, maximum, recovery heart rates and postexercise rectal temperatures were recorded and analyzed.

Findings

  • Results showed that horses on a 100% forage diet had a significantly higher bodyweight (556.89kg) compared to those who were on the 50H diet (546.28kg).
  • The rate of passage (digestion) was slower for horses receiving the 100H diet as compared to the 50H diet.
  • The research also indicated that water intake along with SET maximum and 1 min recovery heart rates increased significantly for horses on the 100% forage diet as compared to the 50H diet.
  • Post-exercise rectal temperatures exhibited a trend of increasing with an increase in forage intake. However, this was not deemed significant.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that the level of forage intake significantly influences a horse’s body weight and its performance during submaximal activities. There observed an increase in body weight and performance with higher forage intake which implies that a high forage diet can have a detrimental effect on a horse’s performance.
  • However, before reducing forage intake to improve performance, consideration must be given to the adverse impacts it can have on the horse’s physiological and psychological well-being, indicating a need for a balanced approach.

Cite This Article

APA
Ellis JM, Hollands T, Allen DE. (2002). Effect of forage intake on bodyweight and performance. Equine Vet J Suppl(34), 66-70. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05393.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal. Supplement
NlmUniqueID: 9614088
Country: United States
Language: English
Issue: 34
Pages: 66-70

Researcher Affiliations

Ellis, J M
  • Warwickshire College, Moreton Morrell, UK.
Hollands, T
    Allen, D E

      MeSH Terms

      • Adaptation, Physiological
      • Animal Feed
      • Animal Welfare
      • Animals
      • Body Temperature / physiology
      • Body Weight
      • Drinking / physiology
      • Energy Intake / physiology
      • Exercise Test / veterinary
      • Gastrointestinal Transit / physiology
      • Heart Rate
      • Horses / growth & development
      • Horses / physiology
      • Male
      • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
      • Poaceae
      • Random Allocation
      • Weight Gain

      Citations

      This article has been cited 5 times.
      1. Muhonen S, Philippeau C, Julliand V. Effects of Differences in Fibre Composition and Maturity of Forage-Based Diets on the Fluid Balance, Water-Holding Capacity and Viscosity in Equine Caecum and Colon Digesta. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 29;12(23).
        doi: 10.3390/ani12233340pubmed: 36496860google scholar: lookup
      2. Freeman DE. Effect of Feed Intake on Water Consumption in Horses: Relevance to Maintenance Fluid Therapy. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:626081.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.626081pubmed: 33732739google scholar: lookup
      3. Takahashi Y, Takahashi T. Seasonal fluctuations in body weight during growth of Thoroughbred racehorses during their athletic career. BMC Vet Res 2017 Aug 18;13(1):257.
        doi: 10.1186/s12917-017-1184-3pubmed: 28821254google scholar: lookup
      4. Kosmal PAL, Shoveller AK, Gillies G, Armstrong LE. Diet format, protein, amino acids, salt, and osmolytes, as well as water viscosity, affect water consumption in domestic cats: a scoping review of 32 publications (published from 1975 to 2025) on water intake, hydration status, and related health outcomes. J Anim Sci 2026 Jan 8;104.
        doi: 10.1093/jas/skaf434pubmed: 41389339google scholar: lookup
      5. Martin A, Lepers R, Vasseur M, Julliand S. Effect of high-starch or high-fibre diets on the energy metabolism and physical performance of horses during an 8-week training period. Front Physiol 2023;14:1213032.
        doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1213032pubmed: 37745248google scholar: lookup
      Subscribe to our newsletter
      Join 99,359 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.