High Fat Horse Feeding Diet

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 12:41

Recent studies have shown the effectiveness of high-fat diets. Although fat is a potential health hazard to humans, it has established itself as an important, safe and effective source of energy in the horse diet. This farming workshop will show you how to make the most of a high-fat diet.

Benefits

A diet high in fat reduces horse fatigue, injuries and maintains a healthy physical condition with less feed intake (by maximizing forage digestibility). A high fat content in the diet allows you to achieve an even weight gain, while reducing the chance of colic or lameness, and also increases the pregnancy rate of lactating mares. When fat is absorbed, internal heat production is reduced, in contrast to diets high in carbohydrates and vegetable fats.

But, perhaps most importantly, a diet high in fat has a high energy value, which is especially necessary for animals during such peak periods as pregnancy, lactation, and intensive work. Unfortunately, the horse's relatively short digestive tract limits total feed intake. Traditionally, the solution was to increase the proportion of concentrates in the diet while reducing the proportion of roughage. Hay is rich in fiber, but not high in calories compared to grain mixtures.

With an ideal organization of feeding, the daily intake of green food should be at least 50% of the total diet. Intensively working horses should receive more than 50% of their feed in concentrate every day. Unfortunately, an increase in the proportion of concentrate with a high starch content of more than 50% negatively affects the pH and the activity of the bacteria of the digestive tract, which are located in the cecum and colon. As a result, the likelihood of colic and lameness increases.

Energy comparison

Since fats contain 2.25 times more energy than carbohydrates and proteins, increasing the proportion of fat in feed is the easiest and safest way to increase the energy value of feed. The energy value of the feed can be increased by replacing the high carbohydrate but low energy concentrate with a lower amount of the high fat concentrate. Traditional feed is based on oats or corn. Although they are rich in carbohydrates, their fat content is low. The energy value of fat-containing additives such as soybean oil, corn oil, animal fats is three times that of any grain (see table). Studies have shown that adding 5-10% fat to the horse's diet provides adequate physical condition for the animal while reducing concentrate intake by 21-25%.

The fat content of cereal concentrates without special addition of fats is 2-2.5%. Vegetable oils, such as soybean oil and corn oil, taste better than processed animal fats. You can use rice bran. They have a high taste and fat content. A horse can assimilate a mixed feed mixture containing up to 15% fat without digestive tract problems such as diarrhea; however, studies have shown that a fat content of 6-8% gives the same results as 10-20%, but costs significantly less. Most feed makers keep the fat level at 5-8%.

The change from a high-carb diet to a high-fat diet should be done gradually over several days. Changing diets quickly can cause the animal to have weak stools. It will take at least 21 days to change diets. This will not negatively affect the horse's physical condition and will preserve the feeding efficiency.

Article on Feeding and Drinking Hygiene Horses

Owners have traditionally added 1 to 2 ounces of corn oil to the daily diet to improve horse hair (1 ounce = 28.35 grams). However, in order to increase the energy value of the feed and maintain the horse's physical condition, the fat content must be significantly higher. Replacing 10% of cereal fats will improve the digestibility of the feed in general

Although vegetable fats are three times more expensive than cereals, they remain the most important source of energy for hard-working horses. High-fat diets improve the horse's fitness, minimize the risk of colic or lameness, and are generally more cost effective.

Horse weight 1100 pounds * (1 hour walk 5 times a week).

Horse use - hunting, rest, light harness.

# Daily diet WITHOUT added fat:

15 lb (6.81 kg) hay

+

5 lb (2.27 kg) balanced diet

=

20 lb (9.08 kg) (Absorbed Energy = 21.9 Mcal)

# Diet calculation at 10% fat substitution: 5 lb (2.27 kg) grain

x

10%

=

0.5 lb (0.227 kg) fat

# New Ration **:

15 lb (6.81 kg) hay

+

4.5 lb (2.043 kg) compound feed

+

0.5 lb (1 cup) corn oil

=

20 lb (9.08 kg) (energy absorbed = 23, 3 Mcal)

Horse weight 1100 lbs * (medium loads).

Daily training, racehorses.

# Daily diet WITHOUT added fat:

15 lb (6.81 kg) hay

+

10 lb (4.54 kg) balanced diet

=

25 lb (11.35 kg) (Absorbed Energy = 28.8 Mcal)

# Diet Calculation at 10% Fat Substitution:

10 lb (4.54 kg) grain

x

10%

=

1 lb (0.454 kg) fat

# New Ration **:

15 lb (6.81 kg) hay

+

9 lb (4.086 kg) compound feed

+

1 lb (2 cups) corn oil

=

25 lb (11.35 kg) (energy absorbed = 31.5 Mcal)

** Consumption of compound feed can be further reduced by 10% after 21 days.

Source: Dr. Robert A. Movray, Equine Specialist, University of North Dakota, USA. Dr. Robert A. Mowrey, Extension Horse Husbandry Specialist

Russian Rural Information Network, Agricultural Workshop, No. 3-4 / 1999 (https://fadr.msu.ru/rin/vestnic)