Feeding Behaviors
Highly selective grazers that eat certain areas down to bare ground
What are spot grazers?
This should always be given before grain.
What is forage?
The most vital nutrient for horses
What is water?
The foundation of the equine diet.
What are forages?
This stage has the lowest nutritional requirements.
What is maintenance (adult horses)?
Horses spend how many hours per day eating
What is 10-12 hours?
Feed changes should take this many days.
What is 7-14 days?
This nutrient helps build muscle and repair tissue.
What is protein?
These help correct deficiencies.
What are supplements?
This stage can double energy needs.
What is lactation?
Horses prefer this type of forage based on maturity.
What is immature, leafy forage?
Horses on a grain diet should be fed grain this many times per day minimum.
What is twice?
This nutrient provides more than twice the calories of carbs.
What are fats?
These provide extra calories when forage isn't enough.
What are concentrates?
Foals require this percent protein range.
What is 14-18%?
Horses have this type of digestive system that constantly processes small forage amounts.
What is a hindgut fermenter system?
Feeding more than this amount of grain per meal should be avoided.
What is five pounds?
This macronutrient is the primary energy source via fiber fermentation.
What are carbohydrates?
This type of hay is high in protein and calcium.
What is alfalfa?
These horses need softer, highly digestible feeds.
What are geriatric horses?
Peak grazing times occur during these two periods of the day.
Feeding at the same time helps prevent this digestive issue.
What is colic?
These minerals must be kept in a 1:1 ratio.
What are calcium and phosphorus?
Forage intake should equal this % of body weight daily.
What is 1.5-2%?
Energy increases by this % during late pregnancy.
What is 20-30%?