Equine Science & Technology. Unit Title: Equine Nutrition and Feeding Management CIP:

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1 Equine Science & Technology Unit Title: Equine Nutrition and Feeding Management CIP: Instructor: Objectives: After completing this unit of instruction, students will be able to: A. List and discuss basic nutrients; B. Identify feeds important to horses; C. Balance an equine ration; and D. List and describe equine nutritional disorders. Click here to access this lesson s PowerPoint presentation Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 1 of 15

2 Interest Approach: Bring into class several different types of hay. Ask the students if they know the difference between the types of hay. Lead a discussion over why we used different types of hay. Explain why a young horse has different nutritional requirements than an old horse. Curriculum & Instruction Curriculum A. List and discuss basic nutrients. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates- are organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. This group includes the sugars, starch, cellulose, gums, and related substances. Account for three-fourths of all dry matter in plants. When consumed by horses carbohydrates are used as a source of heat and energy. Excess is stored in the body as fat and glycogen (animal starch). Carbohydrates consist of nitrogen-free extract (NFE) and crude fiber. The ability of the horse to utilize roughages depends chiefly on bacterial action. Fats Lipids- a fat or fatlike substance. Contain three elements: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Serve as a source of heat and energy and for the formation of fat. A small amount of fat in the ration is desired as fat is the carrier of the fat soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K). A high-fat diet will increase the reproduction and lactation performance of broodmares. Instruction PowerPoint presentation: 06 Equine Nutrition & Feeding.ppt A1- Bring plates or bags of each nutrient: - Corn - Crisco - Cottonseed/soybean mean or seed - Salt - A bottle of vitamins - Bottle of water - Hay (roughage is a nutrient to ag majors) A2. Explain to the class that the bacterial digestion breaks down the cellulose of feeds into usable organic acids. A3. Ask the students if they know what a ration is. Ration- the amount of food given to a horse in a 24- hour period. Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 2 of 15

3 Protein Proteins- complex organic compounds made chiefly of amino acids. Soybean meal is often used as a protein supplement. Amino acids- structural units. Always contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and in addition, usually sulfur and frequently phosphorous. In the animal body proteins are primarily found in structural and protective tissues- such as bones, ligaments, hair, hooves, skin, and the soft tissues that include the organs and muscles. Horses of all ages require protein for maintenance, growth, conditioning, reproduction, lactation, and work. A4. The total protein content of a horse s body ranges from 10% in very fat mature horses to 20% in thin young foals. Minerals Minerals- a naturally occurring, inorganic substance that is an essential nutrient. Minerals furnish structural material for the growth of bones, teeth, and tissues, and regulate many of the life processes. Minerals can be divided into two groups, major or macro minerals and trace or micro minerals. Inadequate supplies of minerals may result in lack of thrift, poor gain, inefficient feed utilization, and decreased performance. A5. Have the students write down all the minerals they know on a piece of paper. Then write down the minerals on the board and have them classify the minerals into groups. Major Minerals Calcium and Phosphorus Horses are more likely to suffer from a lack of calcium and phosphorus than from a lack of any other mineral. These two minerals account for three-fourths of the ash of the skeleton and from one-third to one-half of the minerals of milk. Magnesium A deficiency in magnesium results in hyperirritability, trembling, and convulsions. Potassium Significant amounts of potassium are lost during heavy sweating. Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 3 of 15

4 Salt Necessary in maintaining the osmotic pressure of body cells and the removal of waste materials. Sulfur Not an essential dietary constituent of the horse. Trace Minerals Cobalt Cobalt is required by cecal and colonic bacteria for the synthesis of vitamin B12 in the intestinal tract of the horse. Copper Copper is closely associated with normal bone development in young growing animals. Iodine The thyroid glands, mammary gland, and placenta all use iodine from the blood for hormones, milk, and the fetus. Iron Mainly used in the body for oxygen transport as a component of hemoglobin. Manganese Required by the body for the formation of cartilage. Selenium Closely involved with vitamin E in protecting the body from oxidative damage. Zinc Involved in many enzymes throughout the body. Vitamins Vitamins- organic compounds that are required by the horse in small amounts. Vitamins are involved in a variety of bodily functions. The lack of vitamins in a horse ration may lead to failure in growth or reproduction, poor health, and even deficiency diseases. Can be classified into two groups: fat-soluble, and watersoluble. Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 4 of 15

5 Fat-Soluble Vitamins Vitamin A Must be provided in the feed either as vitamin A or as carotene. Vitamin D Helps regulate plasma calcium concentrations. A6. Carotene- the yellowcolored, fat-soluble substance that gives the characteristic color to carrots and butterfat. Vitamin E Protects the cells of the body from damage, and prevents neurological damage. Vitamin K Important for the activation of many of the clotting factors. Water-Soluble Vitamins Choline A metabolic essential for building and maintaining cell structure and for transmitting of nerve impulses. Folacin (Folic Acid) Involved in protein formation and in red blood cell synthesis. Niacin (Nicotinic Acid) Important for the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids. Riboflavin Important for energy production and oxygen utilization. Thiamin Synthesized in the lower gut of the horse by bacterial action. Vitamin B6 Involved in amino acid metabolism, glycogen utilization, and lipid metabolism. Vitamin C Prevents damage to lipids, proteins, and cell membranes. Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 5 of 15

6 Water One of the most vital of all nutrients. Water makes up to 75% of the body weight of an adult horse. Essential for the production of saliva. Necessary to the life and shape of every cell. Assists with temperature regulations in the body. Necessary for many chemical reactions of digestion and metabolism. A7. Ask the students how much water the average horse consumes per day. Answer: 10 to 12 gallons per day. B. Identify feeds important to horses. Usually 60% of the horses day should be spent grazing. Grasses Grasses are often referred to as either cool-season or warm-season grasses. B1. Ask the students what type of grass is growing in their yard Cool-Season Grasses Grow best at temperatures of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and are normally seen in the spring and fall. Common cool-season grasses include: tall fescue, orchardgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, timothy, tall wheatgrass, and ryegrass. Warm-Season Grasses Grow best at temperatures of 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and are seen in the summer and early fall. Common warm-season grasses include: Bermudagrass, big bluestem, and switchgrass. Legumes Legumes are plants that have nodules on their roots enabling them to make their own nitrogen. The leading legumes are alfalfa, trefoil, sweet clover, and white and red clover. Legumes are more aggressive during establishment than most grasses. Legumes produce more foliage in the summer months than the cool-season grasses. Hays Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 6 of 15

7 Alfalfa An important perennial with trifoliate leaves and bluishpurple flowers. Capable of surviving dry periods because of its extraordinarily long root system. Adapts to widely varying conditions of climate and soil. Yields highest tonnage per acre. Clover Many different types of clover. Red clover can give high yields. Sweet clover and white clover are low yielding. Grass Hays Bermudagrass Produced heavily in the southern United States. May provide three or more cuttings per year. Oat hay Easy to cure. Early cutting increases feeding value. Timothy Preferred grass hay of most horse owners. Easy to harvest and cure. Low in crude protein and minerals. Silage Highly nutritious forage for horses during winter months. Corn silage and grass-legume silage most common. Concentrates Barley Can tolerate a short and dry growing season. Leading horse grain in the Western United States. Corn Palatable, nutritious and rich in energy. Provides twice the energy as oats. Dried Brewers Grains A byproduct of beer production. Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 7 of 15

8 Lower in energy and higher in protein. Molasses A byproduct of sugar factories. Two types: sugar cane and beet molasses. Oats The leading U.S. horse feed. Very palatable. Wheat Used when price is favorable. Should be limited to 20% of the concentrate and fed with bulkier feeds. (May cause colic). C. Balance an equine ration. Calories are used to express the energy value of feed. See Example 1 B2. Ask the students to define colic. Colic - a severe indigestion that causes abdominal discomfort. C1. Example 1 Handout found at the end of this lesson plan. D. List and describe equine nutritional disorders. Nutritional Disorders D1. Lecture with PowerPoint presentation Epiphysitis- an inflammation of the growth plate of the long bones. Primarily found at the lower end of the radius above the knee Caused by mineral deficiencies. Results in a firm and painful swelling. Calcium Deficiency Deficiency in young horses is characterized by poorly formed, soft bones which may bend or bow. Older animals will have porous, fragile bones. Salt Deficiency Decreased appetite may occur over a long period of time. Rough coat, reduced growth. Lowered milk production. Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 8 of 15

9 Vitamin A Deficiency Severe deficiency may cause night blindness (impaired adaptation to darkness). Poor or uneven hoof development. Convulsive seizures. Vitamin D Deficiency Rickets - a bone disease causing crooked legs and enlarged joints. Lameness Increased risk of fractures. Vitamin E Deficiency Lower conception rates Early embryonic death Birth of offspring with muscle degeneration. Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 9 of 15

10 Review & Evaluation Objectives will be reviewed before examinations. Exams will be developed based on objectives as taught in class. Instructional Support A. References Ensminger, M. E. (2004). Equine Science (8 th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall B. Teaching Aids and Equipment - Overhead projector - Board with chalk/marker C. Facilities - Room Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 10 of 15

11 Example 1 The Pearson Square method- this method sets up an equation around a square to determine the amounts of two feed sources needed for a ration. Place the percent protein desired in the ration in the center of the square. Then, place the percent protein of one supplement outside the square at the upper left corner and the percent protein of the other supplement outside the square at the lower left corner. % Protein in grain = 10 % Protein wanted = 18 % Protein in Soybean meal = Subtract diagonally across the square. (In each case, subtract the smaller number from the larger number without regard to their signs.) % Protein in grain = = 32 % Protein wanted = 18 % Protein in Soybean 18-10= 8 meal = Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 11 of 15

12 2. Divide by the total to determine percentages. 32/40 = 0.8 x 100 = 80% oats 8/40 = 0.2 x 100 = 20% soybean meal Thus, in making 100 lbs of an 18% protein ration, 80 lbs would be oats and 20 lbs would be soybean meal. The Pearson square method can be used for any nutrient, not just protein. The Pearson square can be used for only two feed materials. However, either of the materials can be a mixture. Also, the number in the middle of the square must be intermediate to the other two numbers for the equation to be accurate. Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 12 of 15

13 Name Date Equine Science and Technology Equine Nutrition & Feeding Quiz Multiple Choice. Please circle the correct answer. 1. All of the following are equine nutrients EXCEPT A. Carbohydrates B. Fats C. Hormones D. Proteins 2. Which byproduct of sugar factories is used in the horse diet as a concentrate? A. Alfalfa B. Molasses C. Pasture D. Silage 3. What is an important method of balancing a horse ration? A. Anderson triangle method B. Pearson square method C. Peterson circle method D. Smith rectangle method 4. All of the following are major minerals in the equine diet EXCEPT A. Calcium B. Copper C. Magnesium D. Phosphorus 5. What is the preferred grass hay of most horse owners? A. Alfalfa B. Clover C. Grass D. Timothy Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 13 of 15

14 6. What is necessary to the life and shape of every cell? A. Carotene B. Salt C. Vitamin A D. Water Matching. Write the correct letter of the item next to the description. The items may be used once, more than once, or not at all. Descriptions Items 1. A highly nutritious forage for horses during winter months. 2. A nutrient necessary for the life and shape of cells. 3. Can be classified into two groups: fat soluble, and water soluble. 4. Furnish structural material for the growth of bones, teeth, and tissues, and regulate many of the life processes 5. Makes up to 75% of the body weight of an adult horse. 6. Often referred to as cool season or warm season. A. Carbohydrates B. Grass C. Hay D. Minerals E. Silage F. Soil G. Vitamins H. Water 7. Organic compounds that are required by the horse in small amounts. Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 14 of 15

15 Equine Science and Technology Equine Nutrition & Feeding Key Multiple Choice. 1. C 2. B 3. B 4. B 5. D 6. D Matching 1. B 2. H 3. G 4. D 5. H 6. C 7. G Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 15 of 15