Anuario Raza Polo Argentino Anuario2018 | Page 254

Nutrition for Optimal Growth
Adequate nutrition is basic for optimal growth. It
is probably the most determining environmental
factor even during gestation and subsequent
lactation period (maternal nutrition). In summary, it
may be said that the principal aim of good nutrition
includes providing the necessary food without
causing either a deficit or excess of any nutrient
and enabling the greatest efficiency in the digestive
process. To this end, it will be necessary to know,
as precisely as possible, which exactly are the
nutritional needs of the animals at each stage on
the one hand, and on the other which is the true
nutritive value of the feed provided.
As a result of their basic physiological needs for
life, equines need nutrients. These requirements
are influenced by many factors primarily by the
weight of the animal, the physiological situation
in which it finds itself (growth, gestation, lactation)
and by the activity or physical work they carry out.
Energy requirements—ED/day—and proteins—
grams/day—(and more specifically that of essential
amino acids such as Lysine) are the first and
second growth-limiting nutrients. Just as the
appropriate amount for each stage is key, so is its
relation in order to ensure harmonic development
of the different tissues. In the equations studied to
determine the nutritional requirements of growing
foals, we see in detail how they are based on age,
body weight and growth-rate (increase of weight
per day).
AGE, BODY WEIGHT AND GROWTH RATE,
ESSENTIAL FACTORS IN NUTRITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS EQUATIONS
Evolution of GIT Development
Therefore, in the case of young growing equines,
carefully balanced feed is highlighted, in which
all requirements are adequately in proportion,
particularly in relation to energy consumption,
quality proteins and minerals.
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Another point to be considered in efficient feed
management is the evolution and usefulness of
the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) at each stage of
development, where from the start foals breastfeed
extracting vital nutrients from the milk in order that
in time they may be prepared to be able to ferment
and absorb forage nutrients. To this we must add