Some nutritional aspects of colic in horses.

The research article discusses the importance of maintaining a consistent diet and exercise routine in preventing colic in horses, and offers recommendations for feeding practices and diet composition.

Research Subject and Purpose

• The study focuses on understanding the nutritional causes and preventive methods related to colic in horses.
• Colic in horses refers to abdominal discomfort which is a common but potentially serious health issue. The goal is to identify best practices in nutrition and feeding schedules that can help prevent this condition.

Findings and Recommendations

• The research suggests that providing water to horses before and after feeding can help reduce the risk of colic.
• Sudden changes in diet, such as overconsumption of grain at weaning in foals, or when stallions are taken off pasture in warm weather, can exacerbate the risk of colic. To counteract this, the authors recommend “creep feeding” for foals, which is slowly introducing them to grain, and offering hay before grain to stallions removed from pasture.
• In foals, overconsumption of grain can potentially lead to a serious infection called enterotoxemia caused by Type-D Clostridium perfringens. Thus, careful management of grain intake is warranted.
• The research suggests that corn should be fed in moderation, and high levels of magnesium (High-Mg diets), ingestion of sand and pelleted feed may increase the risk of colic. Therefore, these dietary factors need to be carefully controlled.
• Endoparasitism is identified as the most significant cause of colic in horses. Though not a nutritional aspect, this insight underlines the importance of good general health and veterinary care for prevention of colic.

Conclusion

• The research underscores the importance of maintaining a consistent exercise routine and diet in preventing colic in horses. It makes several specific recommendations for feeding practices and diet compositions that could help in effectively preventing this condition.