Winterizing Your Horse s Feeding Program. Dr. Marty Adams, PAS Equine Nutritionist Southern States Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Transcription

1 Winterizing Your Horse s Feeding Program Dr. Marty Adams, PAS Equine Nutritionist Southern States Wednesday, November 11, 2009

2 Welcome and thanks for joining us!

3 Things to Do for Winter Provide acceptable water (clean and warm) Provide shelter (loafing shed, stall, etc.) Consider use of turnout blanket

4 Things to Do for Winter Feed to provide good body condition in preparation of cold weather ( ) Increase feed intake to accommodate greater calorie loss from cold only more calories needed, no other nutrients

5 Water Requirement depends on size, metabolic status, activity, environment, diet Best water intake occurs at F insulated or heated water source Salt, electrolyte and excessive protein consumption increases water intake

6 Water Restriction of water leads to dehydration and impaction colic Normal maintenance needs are 1 gallon/100 lbs. BW/day, so 10 to 12 gallons per day for horse at maintenance

7 Effect of Temperature on Energy Needs Effective Ambient Temp. ( 0 F) Wind Speed (mph) Increased Energy Need (%)

8 Digestible Energy Requirements (Mcal/day) CLASS OF HORSE Late Pregnancy (11 months) Light Work Moderate Work Heavy Work Intense Work 400 kg (880 lb) kg (1100 lb) kg (1320 lb) Maintenance (no work, average) Early Lactation (1 month) Weanling (6 months)

9 Weekly Work Examples for Light, Moderate, Heavy and Intense Exercise Categories Exercise Category Mean Heart Rate Description Types of Events Light 80 bpm 1-3 hours/wk Recreational and show riding Moderate 90 bpm 3-5 hours/wk School and show riding, polo, ranch work, training, breaking Heavy 110 bpm 4-5 hours/wk Ranch work, polo, show, race training Intense bpm 1 hour/wk speed work or 6-12 hours/wk slow work Racing (all types) 3-day eventing

10 Digestible Energy Content of Feed Ingredients (kcal/lb) Peanut Hulls Grass Hay Alfalfa Hay Beet Pulp Soybean Hulls Oats Barley Corn Rice Bran Vegetable Oil

11 Quality Estimates for Types of Hay for Horses 1 High Quality Average Quality Low Quality Legume Crude Protein (%) 18-23% 16-17% Below 15% Total Digestible Nutrients (%) 60-65% 56-66% Below 55% Digestible Energy (Kcal/lb) Below 900 Mixed Crude Protein (%) 15-18% 11-14% Below 10% Total Digestible Nutrients (%) 57-62% 55-57% Below 55% Digestible Energy (Kcal/lb) Below 850 Grass Crude Protein (%) 12-14% 9-11% Below 7% Total Digestible Nutrients (%) 57-60% 54-57% Below 50% Digestible Energy (Kcal/lb) or less Estimated Daily Intake (% of body weight) 1 Values are expressed on 100% dry matter basis.

12 Importance of Body Condition Fat provides insulation against heat loss Thin horses will have greater calorie loss during cold weather Growing, worked or aged horses are more likely to lose more weight during cold weather

13 Recommended Daily Grain and Forage Levels for Horses (% BW) Class Grain Forage Maintenance Light Work Moderate Work Intense Work

14 Recommended Daily Grain and Forage Levels for Horses (% BW) Class Grain Forage Pregnant Mare Lactation-Early Lactation-Late Nursing Foal Free-Choice Weanling Yearling

15 Heat Increment (HI) The amount of heat released in the body due to the chemical breakdown of feed Fats and oils have the lowest HI Carbohydrates are intermediate Fiber and protein have the highest HI Thus feed more hay in the winter

16 Estimating Energy Loss Average 40 0 F temperature with no significant wind, 10% increase in energy requirements Average 30 0 F temperature with no significant wind, 20% increase in energy requirements

17 Increased Hay Feeding Recommendations for an 1100-lb Horse At Maintenance and Four Activity Levels During Cold Weather* Category DE Req. 10% Increase (lbs/day) 20% Increase (lbs/day) Maintenance Light Moderate Heavy Intense *Based on digestible energy content of 0.85 Mcal/lb

18 Increased Grain Feeding Recommendations for an 1100-lb Horse At Maintenance and Four Activity Levels During Cold Weather* Category DE Req. 10% Increase (lbs/day) 20% Increase (lbs/day) Maintenance Light Moderate Heavy Intense * Based on digestible energy content of Legends and Triple Crown horse feeds at 1.5 Mcal/lb.

19 Meeting Daily Digestible Energy Requirements of 1100-lb Horse at Maintenance no work, min. (15.2 Mcal/day) Low Quality Hay 0.8 Mcal/lb Hay fed at 1.5% of body weight 1100 x.015 = 16.5 lb 2 lb of Triple Crown Lite Horse Feed (1.15 mcal/lb) DE requirement met Feeding rate is 1.7% of body weight High Quality Hay 1.0 Mcal/lb Hay fed at 1.2% of body weight 1100 x.01 = 13.2 lb 2 lb of Triple Crown Lite Horse Feed (1.15 mcal/lb) DE requirement met Feeding rate is 1.4% of body weight

20 Meeting Daily Digestible Energy Requirements of 1100-lb Horse in Intense Work (34.5 Mcal/day) Low Quality Hay 0.8 Mcal/lb Hay fed at 1.5% of body weight 1100 x.015 = 16.5 lb 14 lb of Triple Crown Complete or Legends Performance Horse Feed (1.55 Mcal/lb) to meet DE reg. Feeding rate is 2.8% of body weight (limit is 2.5%) High Quality Hay 1.0 Mcal/lb Hay fed at 1.5% of body weight 1100 x.015 = 16.5 lb 12 lb of Triple Crown Complete or Legends Performance Horse Feed (1.55 Mcal/lb) to meet DE req. Feeding rate is 2.5% of body weight

21 Maintenance Diet for Mature Mare 1 Type of Forage Concent rate (lb/day) Forage (lb/day) Additional Forage for Cold Weather 4 Legume or High Quality Grass Hay Average Quality Grass Hay First 8 months of pregnancy and 1100-b body weight.. 2 EquiMin Horse Mineral Block. 3 Triple Crown 12% (hay >8% protein) or 30% Supplement (hay <8% protein). 4 Based on 20% greater digestible energy requirements.

22 Daily Grain Amounts Needed for Broodmares Fed Hay Free-Choice 1100 lb BW 1100 lb BW 1300 lb BW 1300 lb BW Avg. Quality Hay High Quality Hay Avg. Quality Hay High Quality Hay Pregnant (first 8 mos.) Pregnant (last 3 mos.) Lactation (first 3 mos.) Lactation (last 3 mos.) If feeding 3 lbs or less daily use Triple Crown 12% or 30% Supplement. 2 EquiMin Horse Mineral Block. 3 Legends Grow & Perform or Triple Crown Growth. 4 Legends Mare & Foal or Triple Crown Growth.

23 Winter Health Care Tips Keep buckets and troughs free of ice. Keep an eye on water consumption winter is the PRIME TIME for colicing. You can t measure water consumption with automatic waterers. Spread Vaseline liberally on the bulbs of your horse s heels and on the soles of their hooves to prevent snow and ice from packing.

24 Winter Health Care Tips Keep rock salt on hand in the barn for unexpected icy mornings. Put hoses in your feed room, tack room or basement on frigid nights to prevent cracking. Unplug water heaters IMMEDIATELY after use.

25 Winter Health Care Tips Check all barn pipes in late fall to make sure they are in good shape. Tis better to under-blanket than over blanket. Keep a spare blanket on hand in case one gets torn or damaged and has to go in for repairs.

26 Winter Health Care Tips Adding warm soaked beet-pulp to your horse s ration can greatly aid in digestion during cold weather months. Not to mention, your horse will appreciate eating something warm! When you bring your horses in for the night, have some warm water in their buckets to encourage them to drink.

27 Water Heaters, Insulated Buckets and DeIcers Available at Southern States

28 Let s s Work Together! Thanks for joining us and please contact us if you have questions about horse feeds and feeding recommendations. and

29