Download Horse Anatomy, Markings and Digestion

Horse Lecture #2
Body Parts, Facial Markings, Digestive
Tract, Nutrition Requirements
Body Parts
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Poll
•Coronet
Withers •Fetlock
Croup •Pastern
Muzzle
Latch
Stifle
Hock
Cannon
Hoof
White marking between
eyes.
Comes in many shapes.
Thin line down
front of nose
Small white fleck
between nostrils
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Thick white line down
front of nose. Horse also
has a star.
Very wide blaze that extends to and
may cover the eyes, nostrils, and upper
lip.
• Horses with bald faces often have
white that extends to the lower lip as
well.
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Face Markings
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Star
Stripe
White Face
Blaze
Snip
Interrupted
Stripe
Digestive Tract
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Esophagus
Stomach
Small Intestine
Large Intestine
– Cecum
– Large Colon
– Small Colon
Rectum
Monogastric stomach: Digestion through
digestive juices unlike the microbial fermentation of
ruminants.
• Esophagus (food passes from mouth to stomach)
• Stomach (digestive juices breakdown food)
• Small Intestine (starch, sugar, fats, vitamins, and
1/2 of protein absorbed)
• Large Intestine (Fermentation by
microbes/bacteria. Remaining protein and some
minerals absorbed.)
– Includes: Cecum, Large Colon, Small Colon
Horse Stomach
• The stomach of a horse is smaller, compared
to other species, in relation to the size of the
animal.
• Therefore, it is more desirable to feed horses
in smaller amounts at one time but provide
more frequent feedings.
Large Intestine, Horses
• IMPORTANT- because the large intestine of
the horse usually contains substantial
quantities of ingested material, impaction
occurs easily.
• This impaction is the start of what horse
ailment?
• Colic
Horses can’t what!
They also are
obligate nosebreathers!
• Burp or vomit!
• Their cardiac sphincter (valve between esophagus
and stomach) only works 1-way.
• Once food/air goes in….
Large Intestine, Horses
• Cecum is an important organ in horses.
• The large intestine makes up approximately 60% of
the total digestive tract.
• Divided into cecum, large colon, small colon and
rectum.
• Horses can use large amounts of roughage because
of the presence of bacteria in the cecum and colon.
• These bacteria digest hemicelluloses and cellulose
and ferment carbohydrates.
Horse Care
• Nutrition: Requires about 2% of body wt daily
• Feed smaller amounts than cows, more
frequently
• 10-12 gallons of fresh water per day
• Balance Hays, Grains, and Supplements
• Diet: 80% roughage & 20% concentrate
– more grain if horse is working hard, not to exceed
50% of diet grain because of increased likelihood
of colic and possibly laminitis (founder).
Equine Feeds
Classes of Feeds
• Roughages
• Concentrates
• Supplements
Roughages
• High in Fiber
• Low in Energy
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Pasture (2 acres per horse)
Hay (most common)
Forage Crops
Silage
Concentrates
• Low in fiber and high in energy
• Grains: Oats (most popular), Barley, Corn
(energy-dense)
• Grain by-products
Molasses
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A popular component of mixed concentrates
Palatable
Cheap source of energy
Can reduce the quantity of dust in feed
5% of the ration - recommended
Supplements
• Can help correct deficiencies in protein,
minerals, and vitamins.
• Increases nutritive value
• 3 common types
– Protein (Higher energy horses need more)
– Vitamin (A, B, D, E)
– Mineral (Calcium, Phosphorous, Sodium Chloride)
Extra Material/Curriculum
•STOP
Small white
marking up to
and including
the pastern.
Small white
marking on the
heel, at the
back of the hoof.
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White marking
finishing around the
knee or hock.
White marking
that ends around
half-way up the
cannon bone.
Small white ring
around the coronet
band, above the
hoof.
Stocking that continues up the leg
Stocking that
continues up the
leg, but only
partially.
Hay
• Most common form of roughage
• Many variables affect hay quality
– Plant Species
– Rainfall
– Stage of plant growth
– Harvesting Procedures
Alfalfa Hay
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Highly Palatable (acceptability of taste)
High in Protein (18%-19%)
Good Source of Vitamins A and B
Higher Priced (Bale = $7-$10)
Cubes
5-8 cuttings (not all are clean)
Pasture
• Native is most common
• Grasses, legumes, and forbs
• Generally, pasture should be a mixture of 1-2
grasses with 1-2 legumes.
• A mature horse requires a minimum of 2 acres
Concentrates
• The concentrate part of the ration contains
the grains
– Higher in energy
– Lower in fiber
• Most Common
– Oats
– Barley
– Corn
Than Roughages
Oats
• Most Popular grain fed to horses
• High fiber content (13%)
– More bulk per nutrient content
– Must eat more to satisfy nutrient content
– Less likely to founder or colic
• Cleanliness is a must
– Dust feeds can lead to respiratory problems
• Whole or processed
Barley
• Comparable to oats
– Lower in fiber
• Weighs more per unit volume than oats
Barley
Oats
Corn
• Very “energy-dense”
– Large amounts of carbohydrates
• Excellent for horses that require a lot of
energy
– Working horses
– Race Horses
• Low in protein
• High weight per unit volume
Protein
• Higher requirement for horses that are:
– Growing
– Lactating
– In later pregnancy stages
– Eating poor quality roughage
– Performance animals (high stress)
• Converted to energy by the horse
Protein
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Examples of protein supplements include:
Alfalfa
Linseed
Soybean
Cottonseed Meal
Vitamins
• Horses derive no benefits from “extra”
vitamins.
• Supplements for Vitamin A:
– Fish liver oils
– Liver meal
• Supplements for Vitamin B:
– Dried brewer’s yeast
– Dried legumes
Vitamins
• Supplements for Vitamin D:
– Suncured hay
– Exposure to sunlight
• Supplements for Vitamin E (usually not
necessary):
– Alfalfa pellets
Minerals
• Frequently needed to balance the mineral
content of rations.
• Most common deficient minerals are:
– Calcium
– Phosphorus
– Sodium chloride
Minerals
• Supplements for Calcium and Phosphorus:
– Steamed Bone Meal
– Dicalcium Phosphate
• Supplements for sodium chloride:
– Salt block
Review - Supplements
• Name two situations where a horse might
need protein supplements.
• T/F – Vitamins supplements are always a must
for horses.
• What is a good supplement for vitamin D?
• T/F – Alfalfa pellets are a good supplement for
vitamin E.
• What is a good supplement for a sodium
chloride deficiency?
Horse Care
• Nutrition: will eat 1 1/2 - 3% of body wt daily
• feed smaller amounts than cows, more
frequently
• 10-12 gallons of water / day
• hays, grains, supplements
• 4 parts roughage to 1 part concentrate
– more grain if horse is working
Horse Care
• Reproduction: low conception rate
• Mares more likely to conceive in spring
• Health: colic (abdominal pain) & broken bones
most serious
• Vaccinate annually
• Worm regularly: at least twice / year