ANR-849 DECREASING THE COSTS OF FEEDING HORSES
ANR-849, Reprinted Feb 1997.
Cynthia A. McCall, Extension Animal
Scientist, Associate Professor, Animal
and Dairy Sciences, Auburn University
Decreasing the Costs of Feeding
Horses |
Equine Nutrient Requirements
Horses need the same basic nutrients for life as any other
animal--energy, protein, water, vitamins, and minerals. Specific
amounts of these nutrients needed by the horse vary according
to the horse's size and physiological state. Horses that are breeding,
pregnant, lactating, growing, or working will have different needs
from a mature, inactive horse.
Protein and energy are usually the most expensive nutrients
in the horse's diet. Grains and forages contain carbohydrates,
which are the main energy source in the horse's diet. Dietary
fat also is a concentrated energy source (fats furnish 2-1/4 times as much energy
per pound as carbohydrates) that can be used by the horse. But,
most common feeds for horses contain relatively low levels of
fat.
The digestible energy requirements for horses during different
physiological states are listed in Table 1. It is not important
that you know exact digestible energy amounts needed by the horse,
but you should understand the general trends presented in the
table. For example, weanling foals have a high energy requirement
for growth. Because their small size prevents consumption of large
amounts of feed relative to their high requirement, their diet
should contain a concentrated energy source. As foals mature,
their growth rate decreases, their consumption increases, and,
consequently, the energy concentration needed in their diet decreases.
Lactating mares also need a fairly high dietary energy concentration
for milk production. Horses doing moderate or intense work have
higher energy requirements than inactive horses, to compensate
for the energy used during exercise.
Table 1.
Nutrient Concentrations In Total Diets For Horses And Ponies (90
Percent Dry Matter Basis).
|
Digestible Energy(a) (Mcal/lb.) |
Crude Protein (%) |
Calcium (%) |
Phosphorus (%) |
Vitamin A (IU/lb.) |
Mature
horses |
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance |
0.80 |
7.2 |
0.21 |
0.15 |
750 |
Stallions |
1.00 |
8.6 |
0.26 |
0.19 |
1080 |
Pregnant
Mares |
|
|
|
|
|
9
months |
0.90 |
8.9 |
0.39 |
0.29 |
1510 |
10
months |
0.90 |
9.0 |
0.39 |
0.30 |
1490 |
11
months |
1.00 |
9.5 |
0.41 |
0.31 |
1490 |
Lactating
mares |
|
|
|
|
|
Foaling
to 3 months |
1.10 |
12.0 |
0.47 |
0.30 |
1130 |
3
months to weaning |
1.05 |
10.0 |
0.33 |
0.20 |
1240 |
Working
horses |
|
|
|
|
|
Light
work(b) |
1.05 |
8.8 |
0.27 |
0.19 |
1100 |
Moderate
work(c) |
1.10 |
9.4 |
0.28 |
0.22 |
970 |
Intense
work(d) |
1.20 |
10.3 |
0.31 |
0.23 |
800 |
Growing
horses |
|
|
|
|
|
Weaning,
4 months |
1.25 |
13.1 |
0.62 |
0.34 |
650 |
Weaning 6
months |
|
|
|
|
|
Moderate
growth |
1.25 |
13.0 |
0.50 |
0.28 |
760 |
Rapid
growth |
1.25 |
13.1 |
0.55 |
0.30 |
670 |
Yearling,
12 moths |
|
|
|
|
|
Moderate
growth |
1.15 |
11.3 |
0.39 |
0.21 |
890 |
Rapid
growth |
1.15 |
11.3 |
0.40 |
0.22 |
790 |
Long yearling,
18 months |
|
|
|
|
|
Not
in training |
1.05 |
10.1 |
0.31 |
0.17 |
930 |
In
training |
1.10 |
10.8 |
0.32 |
0.18 |
740 |
2-year old,
24 months |
|
|
|
|
|
Not
in training |
1.00 |
9.4 |
0.28 |
0.15 |
1080 |
In
training |
1.10 |
10.1 |
0.31 |
0.17 |
840 |
(a)Values
assume a concentrate feed containing 3.3 Mcal/kg and hay containing
2.00 Mcal/kg of dry matter.
(b)Examples are horses used in Western and English pleasure,
bridle path hack, equitation, etc.
(c)Examples are horses used in ranch work, roping, cutting, barrel
racing, jumping, etc.
(d)Examples are race training, polo, etc.
Source: National Research Council. 1989. Nutritional Requirements
Of Horses, 5th edition. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. |
Protein, like energy, is found in grains and forages. But,
protein is used mainly for increasing muscle mass or growth. Protein
can be converted to energy, although the conversion is very inefficient
and costly. So, protein should be used mainly for growth, not
to provide energy to the horse. Table 1 shows the percent crude
protein needed by the horse in different stages of growth or production.
Again, look at the trends in the table, rather than the exact
figures. Weanlings need the highest protein concentration in their
diet, owing to their rapid growth and small consumption rates.
For these same reasons, protein quality (reflected by the amounts
of essential amino acids that make up the protein) of the diet
of the growing horse should be high. As the horse matures, the
percent protein required in the diet rapidly decreases. Lactating
(nursing) mares, especially during the first 3 months of lactation,
have high protein requirements because they have high levels of
milk production. Note that crude protein requirements for a mature
horse at maintenance is low (7.2 percent), and mature working
horses do not need high protein concentrations in their diet.
Very little protein is used by the horse during work, and any
extra protein needs are met with the increase in feed needed to
meet the horse's increased energy demands.
Horseowners often spend more for feed because they don't understand
the protein and energy needs of horses. A mature horse that is
too thin needs to have more energy in its diet to gain weight.
Increasing the crude protein level of its diet will not make the
horse gain weight more quickly. Similarly, a mature working horse
needs an increased level of energy in the diet but not more protein.
Because feeds are identified and sold on the basis of the amount
of crude protein they contain, many horseowners will purchase
an expensive high protein feed for their thin or working horses.
Unless this high protein feed also contains a high carbohydrate
or fat concentration (some of the more expensive feeds do increase
protein and fat together), you end up feeding as much of the expensive
high protein diet as you would need of a cheaper, lower protein
feed that still meets the horse's requirements. Also, most excess
protein in the horse's diet is metabolized to urea, which is excreted
in the urine. The more excess protein in the horse's diet, the
more urine is produced in an effort to rid the body of excess
urea. So, horses on diets that are too high in protein not only
cost more to feed, but they also have increased bedding costs
and stall cleaning chores.
Small amounts of vitamins are necessary for the health of the
horse, and most vitamins are found in adequate amounts in the
normal feedstuffs or are synthesized in the horse's gut. Vitamins
E, K, and C usually are found in sufficient amounts in average
quality grains and forages to meet the horse's needs. Vitamin
D is provided by sunshine, so only horses kept indoors for long
periods of time would need additional vitamin D. B-complex vitamins
are made in the horse's intestinal tract, and many feeds also
contain fairly large amounts of these vitamins. Severely weakened
or stressed horses may benefit from additional B-complex vitamins,
but healthy horses show no response to extra B-complex vitamins
in the diet. Because the B-complex vitamins are water soluble,
excess amounts are excreted in the horse's urine. Supplementation
of B-complex vitamins usually results in a waste of feed money.
Vitamin A is the only vitamin that may be deficient in the
horse's diet. Vitamin A is formed in the body from a substance
called beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is found in all green forages
at levels above the horse's needs, and the horse will store vitamin
A in the liver. So, if the horse has access to green forages for
4 to 6 weeks, it will store enough vitamin A to last 3 to 6 months.
But, if the horse is on a continuous diet of forages deficient
in beta-carotene, it may need supplemental vitamin A in the diet.
All commercial, balanced horse feeds will contain supplemental
vitamin A. Excessive amounts of vitamin A can be toxic, leading
to skin and bone problems.
Horses obtain most of the minerals that they need from pastures,
forages, and grains, and excessive amounts of minerals can be
toxic or fatal. Usually phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and salt
(NaCl) are the minerals that are most important when feeding horses.
Improper ratios of Ca and P in the diet cause more nutritional
problems than any other minerals. The minimum Ca:P ratio should
be 1.1 Ca to 1 P. The maximum recommended ratio is 2.5 to 1. The
important point to remember is that the Ca intake should always
be higher than the P intake. Adequate amounts of NaCl are found
in the balanced commercial horse feeds, but usually you should
provide supplemental salt to the horse on a free-choice basis.
A trace mineralized salt block generally provides any supplemental
minerals needed by the horse.
Water is probably the most important nutrient to provide the
horse. Approximately 70 percent of the horse's body weight is
made up of water, and this amount cannot change greatly without
causing illness or death of the horse. At a temperature of about
50°F with normal feedstuffs, the horse will drink about 12
gallons of water daily. The water needs of the horse increase
if the horse is fed very dry feeds, if the ambient temperature
increases, if the horse is working, or if it is a lactating mare.
At 100°F, a working horse or a lactating mare will consume
more than 25 gallons of water daily. Without an adequate water
intake, the horse will go off feed and may get colic or die. Clean,
fresh water should be available free choice to the horse except
when the horse is hot after exercise or extremely thirsty. In
these situations the horse's water intake should be restricted,
and the horse should be allowed to drink water gradually.
Horses can obtain the nutrients they need through a wide variety
of grains, forages, and grain by-products. Circular ANR-424, "Pasturing
And Feeding Horses," discusses common feed ingredients found
in the South and the nutritional value of these feedstuffs.
Reducing Feed Costs
A number of feeding management practices can reduce your feed
costs and still meet your horse's basic nutrient requirements.
- Make good quality forage the basis of your feeding program.
Horses evolved as grazing animals, and their digestive system
is designed to use forage. All horses should get at least 1 percent
of their body weight in long roughage (hay or pasture) each day.
Using forages in your feeding program can save money in a number
of ways. Generally, pasture and hay are less expensive than grains.
Increasing forages in the diet usually decreases chances of colic
and laminitis (founder), because the roughage adds bulk to the
diet and dilutes high energy feeds, preventing rapid fermentation
of grains in the gut. And, horses with adequate forage usually
do not chew fences and stalls, decreasing repair costs. Finally,
most mature horses can meet their maintenance requirements on
good quality forage alone, without additional grain.
- Purchase hays by weight and quality and in bulk, if possible.
Compare the cost of hay per ton to the cost by the bale. A forage
test is the only way to accurately determine the nutritive value
of hay. But, no matter what species of grass or legume makes
up the hay, good quality hay usually is green, has a soft texture,
and is free of dust, mold, and weeds. Maturity of the hay is
the main factor that affects nutrient content. More mature hays
are less digestible, so look for a high proportion of leaf (immature)
compared to stem (mature).
- Read the guaranteed analysis on your feed label. The
guaranteed analysis on the label should meet the nutritional
needs of your horse. If the guaranteed analysis greatly exceeds
the nutrient requirements of your horse, you are buying nutrients
that the horse wastes. The label should list the percentages
of crude protein and crude fat and the maximum percent crude
fiber. To estimate percent carbohydrates in the diet, sum the
percentages of crude protein, crude fat, and crude fiber, add
10 percent for moisture content of the grain, and subtract this
number from 100 percent. The more crude fiber a feed contains,
the less carbohydrates it will provide. Feeds with a high crude
fat content usually are more expensive. But, because fats provide
more energy than carbohydrates, you may feed less of the feed,
offsetting the cost. If the label indicates that the feed is
"balanced," the feed contains the proper amount and
proportion of all nutrients required for the stated purpose (growth,
lactation, etc.). All you add is hay or pasture and water. If
the feed is labeled "complete," the feed is nutritionally
balanced and formulated to be fed as the horse's only nutrient
source, except for water. However, even though complete feeds
contain fiber, the horse should still get 1 percent of its body
weight in long roughage each day to keep its digestive tract
functioning properly.
- Check the feed ingredient list on the feed label.
If the feed is for weanlings or lactating mares, which require
high quality protein, check for a high quality protein source
in the feed, for example alfalfa meal, soybean meal, animal protein,
or milk protein.
- Do not waste money on additional supplements, tonics,
conditioners, etc. If your feed is labeled balanced or complete,
the horse does not need, and cannot use, all the extra nutrients.
Although the horse can excrete most excess nutrients from its
body, some vitamins and minerals can be harmful in large amounts.
- Feed to meet the requirements of your horse. Once
your horse has obtained the correct body weight, feed the horse
to keep it at this weight. It takes more feed and costs more
money to put weight on a thin horse than to maintain a horse
at the proper body condition. On the other hand, overfeeding
a fat horse easily can lead to colic and founder.
- Maintain a regular deworming schedule. You want to
feed the horse, not the worms. Unless you do fecal egg counts
to determine deworming intervals, an 8-week deworming interval
is recommended to break up the life cycle of parasites and minimize
parasite infestation in the horse. Choose a deworming product
that effectively kills a broad variety of parasites and life
stages of those parasites. When you rotate dewormers, switch
to a different drug class that kills parasites through a different
method of action. Do not just switch brand names that use similar
deworming compounds.
- Maintain a regular schedule of dental care. The horse's
teeth should be examined yearly for sharp points on the molars
or other problems. A horse with dental problems does not chew
its feed properly and wastes feed. The cost of the dental care
will be more than recovered by savings from increased feed digestibility
and decreased waste.
- Feed frequently and at regular time intervals. Food
rapidly passes through the horse's digestive tract, and large
grain meals can easily overwhelm the tract. If the grain required
in any one meal is more than 8 pounds, split the meal into two
feedings. It is important to let some time lapse between feedings
to prevent overloading the digestive tract.
- Feed horses as individuals. This is especially important
for horses that have a high grain requirement. If you must feed
horses in groups, use individual feeders and provide one additional
feeder for every four horses to allow timid horses an extra feeder
if they are pushed away from their meal. When feeding horses
in groups, scatter the feeders in the pasture. Placing feeders
in a tight circle or straight line increases the chances that
a boss horse can control several feeders. Feed rapidly so that
all horses can begin eating at the same time. Extremely timid
horses or extremely aggressive horses should be removed from
the group and fed individually.
- Measure horse feeds by weight rather than by volume.
This reduces feed waste and ensures that horses are getting a
consistent amount of feed. The same volume of different grains
can be 2 to 3 times different in weight and nutritive value.
For example, a bushel of oats weighs approximately 32 pounds,
and a bushel of corn weighs 56 pounds. Weighing feeds and gradually
making any changes in feed types can greatly reduce digestive
problems in horses.
For more information, contact your county Extension
office. Look in your telephone directory under your county's name
to find the number.
For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and
home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related
acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama
Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn
University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal
opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color,
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