Equine Nutrition Guidelines for Life Stages - CRF Horse Nutrition Guide
Equine Nutrition Guidelines for Life Stages
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Foals
Foals should be allowed to nurse or be provided with sufficient high-quality colostrum to provide a blood antibody concentration of 800 mg/dl or higher by 12 to 24 hours of age. High-quality creep feed, fed at the rate of one pound per 100 pounds of body weight daily, should be provided to foals by three to four weeks of age. Soft, high-quality hay should also be provided by one month of age. Foals that are creep fed for at least one month prior to weaning may be weaned when the foal is 1) consuming at least four pounds of a high-quality commercial horse feed and 2) is at least three months old. This feeding recommendation for is light horse breeds.
Orphan Foals
An orphan foal can be the result of the dam’s death, rejection, illness or lack of milk production. Sufficient colostrum should be provided within 24 hours of birth. For the first three months of the foal’s life, feed a high-quality foal milk replacer as a substitute for mare’s milk. Foal milk pellets can also be provided, as can a high-quality commercial horse feed can be fed. The weaning process may be started if the foal is at least three months of age and consuming at least two pounds of foal pellets or four pounds of high quality commercial horse feed. This feeding recommendation for is light horse breeds.
Weanlings and Yearlings
Maintain a steady growth rate to avoid developmental orthopedic disease (DOD). Use feeds with quality protein sources (soybean meal and guaranteed amino acids), high levels of trace minerals and vitamins, proper levels of calcium and phosphorus and low, controlled starch levels from feeds with fixed formulas. Provide a horse feed with an adequate protein level to meet total dietary protein requirements with available hay or pasture. Total dietary protein levels should be 14 percent for weanlings and 12 percent for yearlings.
Two-Year-Olds
Increase digestible energy intake from added fat and digestible fiber, control or limit NSC intake and provide sufficient levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium for bone remodeling. Total dietary protein level should be between 10 and 12 percent.
Pleasure Horses
Feed according to age and activity level to maintain desired body condition. Total daily feed intake (hay/pasture and concentrate) should be 2.0 to 2.5 percent of body weight, with at least 1 percent of this amount as forage (hay/pasture). Increase protein levels for more active horses, with a maximum dietary protein level of 12 percent for hard-working horses.
Feeds with added soy oil, biotin, rice bran, flax seed, yeast culture, organic trace minerals and other digestive aids are recommended to improve hair coat and hoof condition; they also reduce stressful conditions in the horse’s hindgut.
Broodmares
Maintain proper body condition at all times with feed well fortified with vitamins and minerals. Feed slightly above maintenance requirements for digestible energy and protein until last trimester of pregnancy, at which time increase dietary protein to at least 12 percent through foaling and early lactation. Use a supplement or balancer pellet if less than four pounds daily of feed is needed to maintain good body condition.
Stallions
Feed a low NSC diet with added fat to maintain body condition and decrease colic risk and hyperactivity. Provide a feed highly fortified with vitamins and minerals during breeding season. Added fats with high omega-3 fatty acid content (soy oil, rice bran, flax seed and fish oil) can improve sperm quality in older stallions. Maximize feeding of good quality hay and pasture to maintain good body condition. Ensure a dietary protein level of at least 12 percent during the active breeding season.
Older Horses
Provide high calorie intake from feeds with added fat and digestible fiber to maintain good body condition with reduced hay consumption. Control NSC levels to minimize insulin resistance and colic risk and provide a dietary protein level of 12 percent. Provide processed hay (chopped hay or hay cubes) to allow consumption by older horse with reduced dentition.
Feeds with added soy oil, biotin, rice bran, flax seed, yeast culture and other digestive aids are recommended to improve fiber digestion, hair coat and hoof condition.
Performance Horses
Maximize caloric intake and muscle function with high fat, controlled NSC diets and high levels of antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C and selenium) to maintain active muscle tissue and immune system function. Increase nutrient utilization with digestive enzymes, yeast culture, organic trace minerals, probiotics and lecithin compounds. Good quality hay should be fed to maximize caloric intake. Provide additional electrolytes, two to four ounces daily to hard-working, heavily sweating horses. For timed events where excess weight can be a problem, limit hay to only 1 percent of body weight for three days prior to competition and feed hay in smaller, more frequent portions.
Draft Horses
Feed a low NSC diet to minimize colic risk with well-fortified vitamin and mineral content due to lower feeding rate than light horse breeds. Provide grass hay instead of alfalfa hay for horses with maintenance needs to provide fewer calories for prevention of excessive body condition.
For growing horses, provide a diet with low NSC content. A supplement or balancer pellet may need to be added to the overall feeding program to increase nutrient density (increased protein, vitamins and minerals) because of reduced grain feeding rate to maintain proper growth rate. Avoid excessive calorie intake and high starch diets.
For horses with PSSM (polysaccharide storage myopathy – also called EPSM) feed a diet with low NSC content, high digestible fiber and high fat content. Added fat or vegetable oil may be necessary for prevention of symptoms. Alfalfa and alfalfa/grass hays are preferred due to a lower NSC content than most grass hays. Avoid small grain hays such as rye, wheat, oat and barley and brome due to higher NSC content.
Ponies and Miniature Horses
Feed a low NSC diet with moderate fat levels due to high incidence of insulin resistance and easy weight gain. High levels of vitamin and mineral fortification are needed due to reduced feeding rates. Supplemental feed products with lower feeding rates and more concentrated vitamin and mineral levels provide for requirements without excessive caloric intake. Weight management programs with reduction of hay or pasture may be necessary.