Katy HoagCal Poly AgEd410

Nutrition is the science that deals with the use of food and the processes that change food into body tissues and energy.

Horses need to use feed stuffs to convert into products such as milk, offspring, and work.

Digestible Nutrient Portion of a nutrient

which may be broken down (digested) and absorbed for use in the body.

Protein

Carbohydrates

Fats

Minerals

Vitamins

Water

Air

Needed throughout life for growth and repair.

Help to form muscles, internal organs, skin, hair, and hoofs.

Contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.

Examples of Protein: Meat and Bone Meal Fish Meal Soybean Meal High quality alfalfa Dried skim milk Amino Acids

Carbohydrates: furnish energy. are the largest part of food supply, usually

the fibrous part of the diet. include sugars, starch, and cellulose.

Furnish a concentrated source of energy, up to 2.25 times as much as carbohydrates.

Form cholesterol, steroids, and other body compounds.

Affect the condition of the skin and hair. Are made of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. Also provide energy reserves, protection of vital

organs, and insulation of the body

Primarily in bones and teeth Important in blood for carrying of oxygen Regulates heartbeat with Calcium, Sodium, and

Potassium.

Vitamins Only needed in small amounts Provide defense against disease Promote growth and reproduction Contribute to overall health

Water Water accounts for

70% or more of the composition of most plants and animals.

Water70%

Other30%

Slice 30%

Slice 40%

Feed Classification

Roughages

Concentrates

Supplements

High in fiber, relatively low in digestible nutrients.

Alfalfa Clover Soybeans Oat Hay Corn Silage

Feeds that are low in fiber and relatively high in digestible nutrients.

Corn Barley Oats Sorghum

These are the “extras” that supply some necessary nutrient.

Minerals: salt, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, selenium, and zinc are examples.

Vitamins: A and D are most important to ruminant animals.

•What is nutrition?

•The utilization of food to be converted into meat, milk, eggs, fiber and work

•What are the 6 nutrients needed?

•Protein, Carbohydrates, Fats, Minerals, Vitamins and Water.

•What are the 3 classifications of feed?

•Roughages, Concentrates and Supplements.

Review…

Digestive Physiology of the Horse

The Digestive Tract Horses are non-ruminant herbivores Horses are able to utilize large amounts of

roughage due to their relatively large cecum Cecum is a section of the colon where

digestive bacteria break down roughage

Digestive Tract The Mouth- first part

of digestive system. Mouth has 2 main

functions- masticate food and wet food with saliva.

Digestive tract cont. Teeth should be

examined by professional periodically to check for sharp edges that must be floated or filed down

Digestive tract cont. The esophagus- 50- 60 inches long in an

adult horse. Esophagus will not allow vomiting. Stomach may actually rupture before

animal will vomit.

Digestive tract cont. The Stomach- relatively small. Therefore

horses should be fed several small meals per day.

The Small Intestine- contains 30% of the capacity of the entire tract. Food in the small intestine is 93-95% liquid. Nutrients are absorbed here.

Digestive tract cont. The large intestine- 25 feet long, divided

into cecum, colon and rectum

Rate of passage 95% of all food eaten will be excreted in the

form of feces within 65-75 hours of ingestion

Site of Digestion Protein, Carbohydrates,fat, minerals and

vitamins are all digested in the small intestine

Water is absorbed in the large intestine

Factors Affecting Digestion Processing of feeds-

pellets require less digestion than whole grains.

Feed processing Grinding feed speeds

digestion

Feed Processing Crimping oats will

increase rate of digestion.

Factors affecting Digestion cont. Level of intake- the more grain eaten, the

less digested Frequency of feeding- frequent feeding can

increase level of digestion.

Factors cont. Work- light work

increases digestion, heavy work inhibits it.