C2 Stable Management -- Feeding

Front 1

How long does it take for food to pass all the way through the digestive tract?

Back 1

72 hours (3 days) USC 185-187

Front 2

How long does it take a horse to eat one pound of feed?

Back 2

15 to 20 minutes

Front 3

List 3 possible problems resulting from horse eating too fast?

Back 3

1) improper chewing
2) poor digestion
3) may choke on feed

Front 4

List 5 ideas for slowing down a fast feeder.

Back 4

1) feed hay before grain so he will not be so hungry when eating grain
2) feed grain in several small feedings
3) spread grain out in thin layer in large feeder (horse can only pick up a little at a time
4) place large smooth stones in the feeder so the horse takes longer to get each mouthful
5) add chaff to the concentrate portion of ration

Front 5

What happens in the mouth?

Back 5

- pick up feed/bit it off
- chew the feed
- mix feed with saliva

Front 6

What is the function of the pharynx?

Back 6

A flap to direct the chewed feed down the esophagus and prevent it from going down the windpipe (trachea)

Front 7

What is the function of the esophagus?

Back 7

Moves food from the mouth to the stomach.

Front 8

What is peristalsis?

Back 8

Muscular contraction that moves food through the digestive tract. It only moves one way so the horse cannot regurgitate food.

Front 9

What is the function of the stomach?

Back 9

To mix food with digestive juices and start absorbing protein and minerals.

Front 10

What is the function of the small intestine?

Back 10

Nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats and minerals) are broken down and absorbed into the bloodstream.

Front 11

What is the primary function of the large intestine?

Back 11

Remaining food is broken down and absorbed and solid wastes collected. Most of the digestion of fibrous material (hay, grass etc) happens here.

Front 12

What are four parts of the large intestine?

Back 12

Cecum, large colon, small colon and rectum

Front 13

List the six essential nutrients and list at least one source of each.

Back 13

1) Water --> 12 gallons, constant supply
2) Carbohydrates --> grass, hay and grain
3) Proteins --> oilseed meals, grains and alfalfa
4) Fatty acids --> corn oil, wheat germ oil or supplement
5) Vitamins --> hay, grain, sunlight, supplements
6) Minerals --> hay, grain, supplements

Front 14

List at least four functions of water in the body.

Back 14

1) large part of blood
2) necessary for digestion (saliva etc)
3) quenches thirst
4) aids in excretion (allows horse to get rid of toxins/waste)
5) part of thermoregulation (cooling in summer and heating in winter)
6) largest constituent of body (80% in foal, 50% in adult)
7) Lime in water aids in formation of bone and other tissue

Front 15

Which of the essential nutrients provides most of the energy used by the horse?

Back 15

Carbohydrates

Front 16

Where do carbohydrates come from?

Back 16

plant starches

Front 17

What condition is related to excess carbohydrates?

Back 17

Azutoria/tying up/Monday Morning disease

Front 18

List three functions of protein.

Back 18

1) growth
2) maintenance (regular replacement of cells)
3) daily repair of cells

Front 19

Which provides more energy per gram, fats of carbohydrates?

Back 19

Fats proved 2.5 times more energy per gram than carbohydrates.

Front 20

What are the two types of vitamins?

Back 20

Fat soluble and water soluble.

Front 21

List the fat soluble vitamins

Back 21

D,E,A,K

Front 22

What is the difference between fat and water soluble vitamins?

Back 22

Water soluble vitamins dissolve in water and excess is excreted in the urine. Fat soluble vitamins dissolve in fat and excess can build up in fat resulting in toxicity.

Front 23

What is the source and function of vitamin D?

Back 23

Source: sunlight or sun-cured hay
Function: helps body use calcium to developing strong bones.

Front 24

What is the source and function of vitamin E?

Back 24

Source: cereal grains, green plants and hay
Function: related to production of red blood cells, fertility and ability of blood cells to carry oxygen
NB: closely tied to the mineral selenium and it is broken down when feed is heated or stored for a long time

Front 25

What is the source and function of vitamin A?

Back 25

Source: carotene in green pasture grass, good quality hay and carrots
Function: bone formation, vision and health of eyes, skin, hair, nerves and hooves

Front 26

What is the source and function of vitamin K?

Back 26

Source: hay and pasture
Function: blood clotting

Front 27

What percentage of the skeleton is made of minerals?

Back 27

90%

Front 28

List the six major minerals

Back 28

1) salt
2) calcium
3) phophorous
4) magnesium
5) potassium
6) sulfur

Front 29

What is the ratio that calcium and phosphorous should be fed at?

Back 29

calcium:phosphorous ration of 2:1 meaning for every unit of phosphorous fed, 2 units of calcium should be fed

Front 30

What is the other mineral closely related to calcium and phosphorous?

Back 30

Magnesium

Front 31

What vitamin is important to absorption of calcium and phosphorous?

Back 31

Vitamin D

Front 32

Which feed is generally higher in calcium -- hay or grain?

Back 32

hay

Front 33

List at least two sources of calcium.

Back 33

alfalfa, clover, skim milk powder, good pasture, grains

Front 34

List at least two sources of phosphorous

Back 34

bran, linseed, grains, hay

Front 35

What are electrolytes?

Back 35

Tissue salts essential for regulating body fluids

Front 36

Approximately what percent of their body weight does the average horse eat in a day?

Back 36

1.5 to 3 percent --> a 1,000 pound horse would eat between 15 and 30 pounds.

Front 37

What is a ration?

Back 37

Everything the horse eats in a day including roughage, concentrate and supplement portions.

A full description of a ration includes a description of type and quantity.

Front 38

List four types of rations with a brief description

Back 38

1) Maintenance: keep the horse just like he is with no weight change
2) Conditioning: for developing fitness and meeting demands of increased energy expenditure and muscular development
3) Rest day: for the horse's day off. Cut grain to half or less of normal amount and replace with extra hay (3 pounds hay per pound of grain reduced)
4) Roughing off: when horse is on long vacation from wok. Gradual reduction in energy portion of ration with corresponding increase in roughage until he is at maintenance ration.

Front 39

List at least four things to consider when adjusting ration.

Back 39

EASY ANSWER: work, temperament, condition and age.
LONG ANSWER
1) Physical Type: rangy vs. pony
2) Temperament: high strung vs. lazy
3) Appetite and feeding behaviour: aggressive vs. picky feeder
4) Age: different needs, ability to digest
5) Seasonal changes: winter vs. summer
6) Current condition: maintaining, condition, roughing off etc.
7) Health: feeding sick horse
8) How kept: stable vs. at grass
9) Daily work variation: rest day ration

Front 40

List the 9 feeding rules.

Back 40

1) Fresh water available at all times
2) Feed little and often
3) Feed according to work, temperament and condition
4) Keep same feeding hours each day
5) Do not work hard immediately after feeding
6) Feed adequate roughage
7) Introduce changes to feed gradually
8) Feed clean, good quality forage
9) Feed something succulent every day

Front 41

Why must the horse always have clean water?

Back 41

Adult horse is 60-70% water
20% loss can be fatal
Horses drink 27-54 litres of water per day

Front 42

Why should you feed little and often?

Back 42

Stomach is small for size of animal. Digestion is most effective when stomach is 2/3 fulls.
Peristalsis works best with constant supply of food.
Volume of food increases before it reaches stomach (addition of saliva etc)

Front 43

Why should you feed according to work, temperament, condition etc?

Back 43

There are many factors which affect horse's dietary needs and digestion efficiency. Some other considerations are brood mares/stallions, worms, teeth and stable vices

Front 44

Why should you keep the same feeding hours every day?

Back 44

Horses are creatures of habit and keeping a regular schedule allows horse to thrive and minimizes stress.

Front 45

Why shouldn't you work a horse immediately after feeding?

Back 45

The horse cannot digest while galloping.
A full stomach takes up room and prevents diaphragm and lungs from working effectively.
It takes time for food to be digested.

Front 46

Why should you be sure to feed adequate roughage?

Back 46

Roughage keeps the digestive system working efficiently. It should make up approximately 2/3 of the diet.

Front 47

Why should you introduce changes to the diet gradually?

Back 47

This allows time for the digestive system to adjust and use the new food effectively. Some feeds require specific bacteria to effectively digest and sudden feed changes does not allow time for the bacteria population to build to effectively digest = indigestion

Front 48

Why should you feed only clean good quality forage?

Back 48

Bad food can cause further health problems.

Front 49

Why should you feed something succulent every day?

Back 49

Succulents provide variation and help to make up for the lack of grass in the diet.

Front 50

What is roughage?

Back 50

Feed that is lower in energy but higher in fibre and cellulose than concentrates

Front 51

What are some examples of roughage?

Back 51

Hay, meadow hay, seed hay, alfalfa, soaked hay

Front 52

What are concentrates?

Back 52

Feeds that are generally higher in energy than roughages

Front 53

What are some examples of concentrates?

Back 53

oats, corn, barley, cubes

Front 54

What are some examples of succulent feeds?

Back 54

grazing, fresh cut grass (not lawn clippings) carrots, apples, hydroponic food

Front 55

What is a succulent?

Back 55

A food item of higher moisture content than other feed stuffs that the horse finds enjoyable.

Front 56

What is a supplement?

Back 56

Something added to the diet to compensate for a requirement that is not met in the roughage and concentrate portions of the ration.

Front 57

What are some examples of supplements?

Back 57

salt, minerals, molasses, fat

Front 58

When looking at a feed sample how can you tell the difference between a grass and a legume?

Back 58

Grasses have long leaves with veins that run parallel to each other. Legumes have oval or oblong leaves with veins in a net like pattern.

OR
Grasses have seed heads that either spike like or open headed and legumes have flowering heads and their seed is produced in a pod

Front 59

What makes legumes different that grasses nutritionally?

Back 59

Legumes fix nitrogen making them generally higher in protein and they ten to be higher in calcium and vitamins than grasses.

Front 60

What are cubes?

Back 60

A mixture of ingredients including vitamins and minerals that are formed into cubes.

Front 61

What are the four types of pellets?

Back 61

1) single ingredient (eg alfalfa)
2) mixed ingredients (several ingredients in one pellet)
3) feed supplements (eg mineral mix)
4) complete feed: roughage, concentrate and supplement in one pellet

Front 62

List at least three advantages to feeding cubes/pellets/mixed feeds.

Back 62

1) you don't have to store several different feeds
2) reduces amount of mixing required at feed time
3) ensures horse has standardized, balanced diet
4) certain mixes are less likely to hot the horse up than using straight grain

Front 63

List at least three disadvantages to feeding cubes/pellets/mixed feeds.

Back 63

1) it is difficult to detect the quality of the ingredients
2) can be a boring diet
3) don't have a long storage life
4) it is more difficult to make fine adjustments to the horse's ration

Front 64

List three characteristics of oats.

Back 64

Thought to be best all around concentrate for horses
Not as "dangerous" to feed as higher energy grains like corn
May hot up ponies
May be fed whole, bruised, rolled or crushed
Best fed with some form of calcium rich feed or supplement

Front 65

List the following grain in order of energy from highest to lowest:
barley, corn, oats

Back 65

corn, barley, oats

Front 66

How is boiled barley fed?

Back 66

Useful after hard exercise fed, easily digestible and can be added to bran mash.
Soak for a few hours before cooking then boil and simmer until husks (outer casing) splits and grains are soft (2-3 hours)

Front 67

List two cautions about feeding corn (maize).

Back 67

Make changes very gradually as every pound has 2 times more energy than a pound of oats.
Must not be moldy --> mold can cause brain damage or death

Front 68

Is wheat considered a suitable feed for horses?

Back 68

Not except wheat bran (a portion of the wheat head)

Front 69

What part of wheat may be safely fed?

Back 69

Bran

Front 70

What is bran?

Back 70

It is a product from milling wheat.

Front 71

What are the advantages of feeding bran?

Back 71

It encourages a horse to chew
Adds bulk to assist digestion
Fed Dry --> can tighten up loose droppings
Fed Damp --> mild laxative

Front 72

What must one be cautious about feeding bran?

Back 72

Too much can inhibit calcium absorption and result in growth and health problems.
It is also high in phosphorous and if fed in large quantities can upset calcium to phosphorous ratio.

Front 73

How do you make a bran mash?

Back 73

2-3 pounds bran in bucket
Pour boiling water over until damp throughout
Stir thoroughly
Add 1 Tablespoon salt or epsom salt
Cover and let set until cool enough to eat
Add linseed jelly or boiled barley if you wish.

Think "3 Wet 1" --> 3 pounds barley, wet it, 1 Tbspn salt

Front 74

What forms can linseed be fed in?

Back 74

JELLY --> soak for 24 hours, boil and simmer until seed splits, boil thoroughly, feed warm once or twice per week.
TEA --> as for jelly but with more water. Feed as warm drink or instead of water when making bran mash
BOILED BARLEY AND LINSEED --> soak barley and linseed for 24 hours, cook until linseed is jellyish and barley swells and splits. Mix with evening feed when still warm.

Front 75

What are the nutrient characteristics of beetpulp?

Back 75

High in calcium (between timothy and alfalfa), low in phosphorous and B vitamins. carotene and Vitamin D. Good source of digestible fibre.

Energy producing but has to be mixed with so much water not considered to most effective way of increasing energy.

Front 76

How do you prepare beetpulp to feed?

Back 76

Must be soaked in cold water as it swells when wet and could cause choke if eaten dry. Dry beetpulp for 12 hours, cubes for 24 hours. Soak 3 parts water to 1 part beetpulp. Feed no more than 1lb dry/3 lbs wet (0.5 kg dry/1.5 kg wet) per day.

Feed with 24 hours of soaking (it will begin to ferment and could cause illness)

Front 77

List 7 characteristics of good quality hay.

Back 77

1) Low moisture content (12-18%)
2) Green colour
3) Sweet smelling like newly cut grass
4) Free of mold and dust
5) Cut before maturity: grass hays--> before seed heads mature; alfalfa --> in early bloom.
6) Fine stems; high proportion of leaf to stems
7) Free from weeds, poisonous plants, trash or foreign objects.

Front 78

List 7 factors affecting forage quality.

Back 78

1) species of which composed
2) soil in which grown (influences mineral content)
3) time of year when cut
4) way in which made (properly cut and baled)
5) which cut (first cut generally higher quality)
6) how it has been stored
7) growth stage of plants

Front 79

What are the two types of hay?

Back 79

Meadow hay: from pasture permanently in grasses.
Seed Hay: from areas that have been planted to specific forage crops (have been "seeded")

Front 80

What is "chaff" or "chop" and how and why is it fed?

Back 80

Chaff or chop is either hay by itself or hay mixed in with small proportion of oat straw that has been passed through a chaff cutter. Fed with corn or cubes to help with chewing, adds bulk to the diet and slows down a horse that bolts its feed. Also aids digestion by breaking up the mass of cereal feed allowing digestive juices to be more effective.

Front 81

What might happen if a horse is fed whole grains?

Back 81

The grain may pass through the horse's digestive tract without being digested.

Front 82

How can digestion of grain be improved?

Back 82

By bruising, flatting etc the grains to expose the inner nutrient rich portion of the grain. Regular chewing and digestion does not always break through the husk to allow the horse to digest to nutrient rich portion.

Front 83

What is a disadvantage of bruising, flatting or crushing grain?

Back 83

The nutritional value decreases more rapidly reducing its storage life.

Front 84

List at least 5 poisonous plants.

Back 84

Privet
Ragwort
Foxglove
Yew
Laburnum
Horsetail
Hemlock
Acorn
Woody nightshade
Black nightshade
Deadly nightshade
Rhododendron
Oleander
Yellow Star Thistle
Bracken Fern
Chokecherry

Front 85

What are proteins made out of?

Back 85

Amino Acids

Front 86

How many Amino Acids are there?

Back 86

24

Front 87

How many of the amino acids are considered essential to horses?

Back 87

10

Front 88

What are the two most important essential amino acids to horses?

Back 88

Lysine and Methionine

Front 89

Why are lysine and methionine considered so important?

Back 89

Without them other amino acids cannot be used by the horse.

Front 90

How is the amount of protein being fed expressed?

Back 90

As % of the total daily ration.

Front 91

What parts of the horse can be damaged if excess protein is fed?

Back 91

The liver and kidneys because they must work harder to excrete the excess.

Front 92

What is another name for fats?

Back 92

Lipids.

Front 93

What is lost in the sweat of horses?

Back 93

Salt is lost in sweat at a higher rate than other minerals so salt is a critical supplement.

Front 94

What do you need to consider when feeding the sick horse?

Back 94

Needs nutritious and easy to digest food. May also need some laxative feed (constipation is common in inactive horses). Bran mashes, succulents, plenty of water. Do not leave uneaten feed in front of horse as it may spoil.