HORSE FEED FACTS
Seventy-five percent of a horse ’ s breeding goes down his throat . This is just another way of saying that the horse ' s maximum genetic potential in reproduction , growth , body form , speed and endurance cannot be achieved unless he is fed properly . Indeed , feed is the most important influence in the environment . To the end that better rations will be used , the following horse feeding facts are presented :
• Grass hay and farm grains are inadequate in quantity and quality proteins , in certain minerals and vitamins , and in unidentified factors .
• Horses have a smaller digestive tract than cattle , and the cecum is on the wrong end . Thus , horses cannot eat as much hay and grass as ruminants , cecum synthesis ( microbial activity ) gives only a limited assist in synthesizing proteins and vitamins , and there is reason to question the efficacy of absorption so far down ( the cecum ) in the digestive tract . ( See illustration ).
• Artificial conditions have been created in horses . In the wild state , they roamed the plains in bands ; with plenty of outdoor exercise on natural footing , feed derived from unleached soils , by
Dr . M . E . Ensminger , Ph . D . Clovis , California
and unforced production . Today , many horses spend 95 % of their time in a stall or corral , are exercised before daylight , are forced for early growth and use ( are ridden and raced as 2-year-olds ), are put under terrific stress when shown , ridden , or raced ( when running , horses expend up to 100 times the energy utilized at rest ).
• Horses differ from other farm animals and should not be fed the same feeds . They are kept for recreation , sport and work ; are fed for a longer life of usefulness ; should not carry surplus weight ; and are fed for nerve , mettle , animation , and character of muscle .
• In a classic rabbit experiment at Washington State University ( using rabbits because of more numbers and quicker reproduction , but we have reason to believe that the results apply to horses also ), alfalfa hay produced on low phosphorus soils resulted in 9.8 % lower weaning weights 12.0 % more matings per conception 47.0fv lower breaking strength of bones Of course , phosphorus is only one of the several minerals making up that all important 5 % of the body weight of a horse .
It ' s Time For a Change
During the past 25 years , the feed required per pound of gain of meat animals ( beef cattle , sheep , and swine ) has been reduced by 14 % and rate of gain has been increased by 21 %. But no such progress has been made in feeding horses ! Too many horsemen are still feeding the same old oats and the same old timothy hay . It ’ s time that we up-grade horse feeds . Marks of a Good Horse Feed
A good horse feed is balanced ; which means that it provides the necessary energy , protein , minerals , vitamins , and unidentified factors . Also by selecting the proper feed , you can meet the needs of the horse ( s ) for maintenance , growth , reproduction , and work ( riding , driving , or running ).
• Minerals — A good horse ration usually contains in proper a- mounts and balance , salt , calcium , phosphorus , iodine , iron , copper , sulfur , cobalt , and manganese .
• Vitamins — Good horse feeds generally contain Vitamins A , D , E , K , the B vitamins — riboflavin , thiamine ( Bj ), pantothenic acid , B12 , choline , folic acid , and niacin ( nicotinic acid ); and the unidentified factors found in such products as distiller ’ s dried solubles , alfalfa leaf meal , condensed fish solubles , and brewer ’ s dried yeast . It now appears that unidentified factors have a prohibitive effect on ulcers in certain farm animals and in man . Also , optimal results with horses during the critical periods ( growth , gestation - lactation , and when under stress as in racing or showing ) appear to be dependent upon providing unidentified factors .
Results More Important Than Cost Per Bag !
As is true when buying anything — whether it be a suit of clothes , a dinner , or what not — horse feed should be bought on a quality basis ; rather than what is the cheapest — results are more important than cost per bag . If this were not so , one might well buy and feed many cheap products , including sawdust .
14 VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse