Monogastric Nutrition-Horse

Horse digestion

Nutritional requirement

Foregut-enzymatic digestion, small glandular stomach, small intestine for absorption of starch, protein, fat + fat soluble vitamins

Hindgut-fermentation digestion using microbes to break down carbohydrates/fibre (caecum + colon)/cellulose to produce VFAs, colon absorbs water

Body condition scoring=1-5(obese)

forge/roughage (grass/hay) main bulk of diet

Grains/pre-mixed feeds should be used when the horses energy requirements cannot be met by forage alone

Supplements may be needed e.g. sodium in just forage based diets

DM requirement=(body weight/100)*1.5

Energy requirement=(body weight/100)*3.34

Specific requirements

Increased protein, energy, protein, vitamin + minerals required for pregnancy + lactation

Low fibre diet in early growth in foals as they have undeveloped caecal + colonic digestion as well as little microbial digestion >3 months

Increased protein for growth

Increased work + decreased roughage the more work a horse does

High performance horses might need electrolytes too (lost through sweat)

Sub optimal nutrition can lead to colic, gastric ulcers, stable vices and behavioural issues in low BCS

Restricted feeding in high BCS horses can lead to colic, hyperlipidemia and laminitis

Increased energy requirements in the cold

1 unit change=20kg