Thursday, December 16, 2010

Are you using guesswork to decide what and how much to feed your horse?

 You think it's very hard to change your horses' feed as their workload changes or time? For many of the ten years I have been managing the feed for the horses we breed and train, I just made. The horse appeared healthy and in good condition. Little did I know how much money is wasted by feeding the horse too much of the wrong things! Only one of our horses, I was feeding 20% more energy and 30% more protein than he needed! When he was an Australian Stock Horse stallion, he is not getting fat. Instead, he sweated up 'easily, and he always seemed hyperactive. We just put it down to him is a stallion. What can we be saved? Every year it accounted for 20% over $ 200, just a horse!
The purpose of this article is that, for those of you who also rely on guesswork when putting together your horses' feed, open your eyes to how easy it is to calculate the right diet for your horse. You need to know this before even thinking about entering the local horse feed store to choose a commercial feed from the vast area that is on offer.
Before we go into detail on the calculation of what to feed your horse there are some points that need to understand about horses in general.
1) The horse is designed by nature as animal grazing. While grazing they can also eat some grass seed (grain), but it should not make a large part of their diet. So if possible, try to always make up so much in your horse feed good quality grass and hay.
2) A horse digestive system 'can process only a limited amount of food each day. This includes pasture, hay, and all diets ('force feed') can provide. The general rule is that the total weight of food eaten should be between 1.5% and 2% of the horses' body weight (eg 500 kg horse feed = 10 kg total per day).
3) the amount of feed a horse needs depends on three factors. These are the weight of your horse, how much work they do and the weather. The last factor requires your horse is kept in an open enclosure or area (ie not held in a stable). It also assumes your horse is in good condition (body, teeth, worming, etc.) and in good health. In general, the larger they are, the more work they do and the colder weather, the more energy they need - but still within the limits specified in paragraph (2).
What are the basic rules for working out what to feed your horse? your horse's overall diet should contain a balanced quantity;
1) digestible energy (from carbohydrates, sugar and fat);
2) Protein;
3) and crude fiber,
4) Vitamins and minerals.
To quickly assess the correct amount for your horse, use the following. BW references to refer to your horses' body weight.
1) resting Horse (no work): 15MJ DE (energy) per 100 kg BW, 150g protein per 100 kg body weight, at least 1% BW into cellulose, between 1.5% and 1.75% total weight BW ( with grass).
2) horses in light work (20-30 minutes per day): 18MJ DE (energy) per 100 kg BW, 180g protein per 100 kg body weight, at least 1% of BW cellulose, about 2% BW total weight (including grass).
Vitamins and minerals are not included as it is a complex area that deserves its own article. Worry about getting the first three right and then deal with the vitamins and minerals later.
Given the above information, what to do now is to work out the right balance of foods offer the right level of energy, protein and crude fiber, while staying below the maximum weight consumption. General steps are:
1) Working out how much your horse eats grass and the energy and protein value of pasture. This is determined by how long they are in the paddock / field and the quality of the grass. If you live in areas where temperatures fall to 5-12 degrees Celsius, in Winter, the energy content of grass is at least 15% lower than in the mid to late spring.
2) Calculate the remaining amount to your horse needs, and determine whether it can be done from the very good quality hay.
3) If your horse still needs more energy and protein, you now have to go looking for the commercial compound that meets the remaining requirements for your horse.
You might think that it all seems to be a complex balancing act. This is probably why a lot of us avoid proper calculation of our horses' feed. But there are now some good food calculators are available on the Internet that makes it all very simple. Easier if you use a calculator that takes a holistic approach by including grass and hay available for your horse and give general advice not related to a particular feed producer. If it contains pictures of the type of grass, and that includes the amount of energy and protein food brands available to you at your local horse feed suppliers, you can save a lot of time.
You now know the basics of what your horse needs. There are various online tools to help you calculate the exact amount. Make use of it today, removing the guesswork and save money at the same time!

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