STUD FARMING
Feeding Management for Horse
§ The digestive anatomy of the horse is classified as a monogastric (simple stomach) animal with extensive post-gastric fermentation of undigested feed residue.
§ Horses are physically unable to vomit or belch. Consequently, overfeeding and rapid rates of intake are a potential problem.
§ One of the unique features of the horse digestive tract is the presence of a large microbial population in the caecum and colon.
§ As a general rule of thumb, a horse will typically consume 10 to12 gallons of water, greater than or equal to 1.0 percent of body weight in forage, and less than or equal to 1.0 percent of body weight in concentrate per day.
Feed
§ Normally, horses will eat the equivalent of 1.5 to 2.5 percent of their body weight as dry matter per day
§ Heavily lactating mares, intensively worked mature horses and younger weaned horses (4 to18 months of age) can consume up to 3 percent of their body weight as dry matter daily.
§ Feeding long-stemmed forages tends to reduce the rate of consumption, stabilize ingesta flow and maintain digestive health.
§ Providing long-stemmed forages increases the amount of time spent eating, increases saliva flow, and reduces the level of boredom and associated behavioral problems.
Frequency of feeding
§ When concentrates exceed 0.5 percent of body weight in the ration it is generally best to feed the grain in two or more feedings per day to reduce the risk of digestive upset.
§ Mature horses can be fed up to 5 pounds of grain once a day, if they have continuous access to pasture.
§ Young, growing horses consuming significant quantities of grain need to be fed concentrates at least twice a day.
§ Stabled horses should also be fed at least twice a day.
§ High performance horses are often fed three times a day or more.
§ Individual feeding is the best way to assure each horse receives the necessary amount of feed to meet its individual nutrient requirements.
§ To place feeding stations 50 to 75 feet apart to reduce competition during feeding.
Housing the horse
§ The horse spends approximately 22 hours per day in its stable.
POSITIONING OF STABLES:
§ Stables should not be positioned near dust sources such as large hay sheds or grain dryers.
§ Boxes facing just east of south will get the benefit of morning sun, especially in winter.
Horse breeding
§ The male horse, a stallion and the female horse, the mare.
§ Offspring is called a foal.
§ The word "colt" refers to a young male horse only; "filly" is a young female.
Estrous cycle of the mare:
§ The estrous cycle lasts about 19–22 days, with the average being 21 days.
Care of the pregnant mare
§ Domestic mares receive specific care and nutrition to ensure that they and their foals are healthy.
§ Pre-foaling vaccines are recommended 4–6 weeks prior to foaling to maximize the immunoglobulin content of the colostrum in the first milk.
§ Deworming the mare a few weeks prior to foaling is also important, as the mare is the primary source of parasites for the foal.
§ During the last 3–4 months of gestation, rapid growth of the fetus increases the pregnant mare's nutritional requirements.
Foaling
§ Most mares foal at night or early in the morning, and prefer to give birth alone when possible.
§ Labor is rapid, not more than 30 minutes. Once the foal is born, the mare will lick the newborn foal to clean it and help blood circulation.
§ In a very short time, the foal will attempt to stand and get milk from its mother. A foal should stand and nurse within the first hour of life.
§ After birth, a foal's navel is dipped in antiseptic to prevent infection; it is sometimes given an enema to help clear the meconium from its digestive tract.
DISEASES OF HORSES
BACTERIAL DISEASES:
§ TETANUS
§ STRANGLES
§ GLANDERS
§ EPIZOOTIC LYMPHANGITIS
§ SALMONELLOSIS
§ BRUCELLOSIS
§ TUBERCULOSIS
§ VIRAL DISEASES:
§ AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS
§ EIA
§ EQUINE INFLUENZA
§ EQUINE COITAL EXANTHEMA
§ EVA
§ EQUINE VIRAL RHINOPNEUMONITIS
§ RABIES
§ EEE
PROTOZOAL INFECTIONS:
ú EQUINE BABESIOSIS
ú TRYPANOSOMIASIS
ú EPM
ú TOXOPLASMOSIS
ENDOPARASITES
ú STRONGYLES
ú ASCARIDS
ú BOTS
ú OXYURIS EQUI
ú TAPEWORMS
ú STOMACH WORMS
