RED DEER – Myths about protein, grain and minerals in a horse’s diet sometimes do more harm than good in the long run, say two equine specialists who spoke at a horse industry conference in Red Deer.
There are some who claim excess protein makes a horse excitable and hard to handle. Or, it might cause founder, kidney trouble or skeletal damage in young horses because it makes them grow too fast.
Not so, said Lori Warren of the University of Florida at the Jan. 13-14 conference. She joined Bob Coleman of the University of Kentucky to dispel some myths about nutrition.
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“Nutrition does play a role in these skeletal type problems, but protein in and of itself is not the cause,” she said.
Excess protein does not make a horse grow faster.
Switching a foal to a low protein diet may be harmful. Protein is necessary for proper skeletal development as a basis to build bone and cartilage along with minerals like calcium and phosphorus. Removing protein could set the horse up for future problems even if it resolves the short-term problem of the horse growing too fast.
“Nutrition is not the only thing we have to blame on these young horses developing incorrectly,” Warren said.
There are some bloodlines where horses grow rapidly, leading to bone stress. A kick from another horse could cause trauma to the joints or bones.
On the nutrition side, unsteady growth spurts and slumps may be due to mineral deficiencies of calcium, phosphorus or copper, and their relationships to one another.
Or the horse may have received too many calories from too much starch, sugar and fat, yet people often cut back the dietary protein.
“If you want to slow growth down of your young growing horse, it’s the calories you really need to focus on,” Warren said.
Do not put young horses on a starvation diet. Instead, temporarily reduce caloric intake with fewer helpings of oats, barley or fats. Provide adequate nourishment through more concentrated protein supplements with added minerals and no extra calories.
Provide free choice access to good quality forage like a grass-alfalfa mix. Do not feed mature hay. Free choice of hay reduces behavior problems like chewing wood when horses become bored.
Gradually put a horse on a new diet to avoid digestive upset and growth problems.
When it comes to grain, amounts delivered depend on the horse, its activities and what is locally available, said Coleman.
Grain may be fed to add protein and minerals as well as supplying calories. It is important to consider the nutrients in the hay and the grain when putting a diet together. Remember that horses will eat beyond their energy requirements.
Calories are provided from starch in the grains.
It is a myth that starch is a problem. It depends on how it is digested by the horse.
Starch should be used in the small intestine of the horse so it is converted to glucose for energy. If it goes to the hind gut it disrupts the intestinal microbes and that could lead to colic or laminitis.
Processed grain affects starch digestibility, especially in corn or barley. Oats do not benefit as much from further processing such as rolling or cracking the kernels.
It is a good idea to feed grain twice a day to limit starch intake and not overwhelm the animal’s small intestine.
“Limit it so the horse has a chance to deal with it and adapt to anything you are doing with the diet,” he said.
Another issue with horse rations is the growing incidence of mouldy hay.
Fine, powdery mould in the hay becomes airborne when the horse is rooting in it. The dust and mould can be inhaled deep into the respiratory tract and cause allergic reactions.
Respiratory problems are probably the second most serious condition next to lameness among performance horses, he said.
Mould is generated by excess moisture at harvest. If hay is put up at more than 17 percent moisture, mould could grow. Making hay into round, tight bales where the air cannot pass through allows mould to grow more easily.
If buying large amounts of hay, get an analysis done before purchase. If it is more than 22 percent moisture, don’t buy it.
Mould can be stopped by treating the hay with proprionic acid.
Some people are nervous about using treated hay because they associate acid with something harmful. But it is a natural, organic acid found in the horse’s digestive tract.
Some believe soaking hay before feeding to keep the dust down may help. Shaking out the hay does not work and feeding outside does not prevent mould because it does not go away.
