Nutrition of the horse.
Abstract: The horse was domesticated around 2500 BC and has been used for work, pleasure, and companionship since that time. However, the percentage of time devoted to these endeavors has changed greatly. The number of horses in the US peaked at more than 26 million in 1918. Thereafter, the increasing use of the internal combustion engine caused a steady decline in the number of horses. By 1960, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated that there were only about 3 million horses in the US. In the 1960s, however, the number of...
Publication Date: 1994-01-01 PubMed ID: 7946520DOI: 10.1146/annurev.nu.14.070194.001331Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article explores the history and changes in feeding and nutritional needs of horses since their domestication in 2500 BC up to present day.
Domestication and Usage of Horses Over the Centuries
- In this study, it is noted that horses were domesticated around 2500 BC and since then, they have been utilized for various purposes such as work, pleasure, and companionship.
- The intensity of these activities has substantially shifted over time. For instance, the number of horses in the US reached its highest number, over 26 million, in 1918 amid the high demand for horsepower in agriculture and other industries.
- However, the advent and rising popularity of the internal combustion engine led to a steady decrease in the horse population as their role in work and transport diminished. This is supported by data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) which estimated a drop to about 3 million horses in the US by 1960.
- Despite this, the article notes a resurgence in the horse population in the 1960s and onward, although it does not provide the specifics in this abstract.
Horse Nutrition Throughout History
- Adjunct to the discussion of horse usage, the article also delves into the examination of the evolution in nutritional requirements for horses over time.
- Given the changes in how horses have been used throughout history, their dietary needs would also have changed to complement their energy expenditure and health.
- The article, however, does not detail this evolution in horse feeding and nutritional needs in the abstract, but it is implied that thorough discussion and analysis on this subject is included in the full paper.
Overall Objective and Relevance of the study
- The research has the overall objective to understand how domestication and lifestyle changes have influenced the nutrition needs of horses.
- The findings could contribute to current knowledge and practices concerning horse feeding and nutrition, potentially leading to enhanced care and health management strategies for horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Hintz HF, Cymbaluk NF.
(1994).
Nutrition of the horse.
Annu Rev Nutr, 14, 243-267.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.nu.14.070194.001331 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-4801.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Dietary Proteins
- Digestive System / anatomy & histology
- Digestive System / metabolism
- Digestive System / microbiology
- Energy Metabolism
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / physiology
- Minerals
- Vitamins
References
This article includes 155 references
Citations
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