Evidence Based Equine Nutrition: A Practical Approach For Professionals

Cover
Evidence-based Equine Nutrition: A Practical Approach for Professionals
Copyright
Contents
Contributors List
Authors’ details
Forewords
	Foreword by Carl Hester
	Foreword by Tim Mair
Acknowledgements
Glossary of Abbreviations
1 Why This Book?
	Why is Nutrition Important?
	The Role of Nutrition in Preventive Medicine
		Size of the market
	The Importance of Nutrition in Terms of Health Promotion
	Preventive Nutrition
		From foal – epigenetics
		Making every contact count
		Working with nutritionists
		Working with a team
		Meeting Day One competences (D1Cs)
	Evidence-based Equine Nutrition (EBEN)
	Summary
	Notes
	Bibliography
2 Taking a Nutritional History: An Overview of the 5th Vital Sign
	Integrating Nutrition into Your Practice
		The importance of taking a dietary history
		Engaging your clients
	Using an Evidence-based Approach
	Assessment of the Diet
		Physical evaluation
		What is the feed value?
		How is it being fed?
		Feed intake
	Assessment of the Horse
		Digestibility and individualism
		Iterative process
		Ration evaluation
		What is being fed?
		Dietary assessment triage
			Diet history
			Animal history
		Preparing a report
	Recording Data
		Adjusting the diet
		How to support adherence to a diet ration
	Summary
	Notes
	Bibliography
3 Horse Information Required to Check Dietary Adequacy as Part of a Dietary History
	Introduction
	Bodyweight
		Bodyweight and appetite
		Bodyweight and energy requirements
	Workload
		Changes in energy requirements according to workload
		Measuring workload using heart rate
			HR and submaximal exercise
			Using HR to estimate aerobic versus anaerobic energy expenditure
			Calculating energy requirements from maintenance on the yard
	Body Fat Scoring
		Monitoring energy intake by body fat scoring
		Why body fat scoring?
		Why cresty neck score (CNS)?
	Measuring Horse’s Bodyweight
		Weighbridges
		Weight tapes
		Formulas
	How to Weigh a Horse
		Weighbridge
			Setting up
			Loading the horse
		Weight tape
			Using the tape
	Fat Scoring a Horse
		Challenges and statements that clients might ask when discussing fat scoring
			1. It is not accurate.
			2. You cannot compare across breeds – TB and cob conformations differ.
			3. But my horse is healthy and in good condition.
			4. It is not precise.
			5. It can’t be accurate.
			6. But I can see my horse’s ribs, so they are not fat.
			7. I can’t remember all the places to score and the numbers.
			8. I should average the scores.
		Which fat score?
		Cresty neck score
	How to Fat Score
		0–5 (modified Carroll and Huntingdon)
		Henneke 1–9 score system
		How to cresty neck score
	How to Estimate Workload
	Summary
	Bibliography
4	 Diet Details: the Evidence Behind the Practice. What Are Forages? Factors Affecting Feed Value and Intake
	The Importance of Forage in the Horse’s Diet
	What Is Forage?
	What Is Fibre?
	What Affects the Nutritional Value of the Forage Being Fed?
		Availability and season – climate change
		Forage species
		Growth stage
		Advising clients to manage the growth stage of their grass
	Conservation
		Drying
			Grass
			When to advise feeding new hay
		Straw
		Fermentation
	Preferences, Digestibility and Intake Comparisons of Common Forages Fed to Horses
		Other fibre sources
			Chaffs
			Alfalfa
			Grass chaff
			Straw chaffs
			Sugar beet
	Taking a Forage Sample
		How to measure grass quantity and quality
		Sampling hay or haylage for analysis
			What you need
			What to do
	Summary: Fibre First and Foremost
	Notes
	Bibliography
5 Diet Details: What Are Cereals and Complementary Feeds? The Importance of Energy Sources in the Horse’s Diet
	Introduction
	What is a Compound Feed?
	Composition of Compound Feeds
	Cereals
		Safe starch solutions
		Starch digestion in the horse
		Processing
			Physical and mechanical processing
			Heat processing, cooking
		Meal size
			Amount of starch per meal
		Timing of feeding starch relative to fibre
			Pre-feeding fibre
			Feeding concentrates before forage
		Other factors affecting starch digestion in the small intestine
			Age
			Individual variation
	Fat and Oils
		Oil palatability
		The effect of fat feeding on the physiology of the horse
			Aerobic exercise
			Anaerobic exercise
			Other considerations
			Effect on thermal load
		Essential fatty acids
	Timing of Feeding Relative to Exercise
		Glucose and insulin
		Cardiovascular effects
		Feeding after exercise
	The Effect of Feed Type on the Feeding Behaviour of the Horse
		Chewing behaviour and speed of eating
		Slowing intake
		How to advise feeding concentrates to replicate trickle feeding
	The Effect of Feed on the Horse’s Behaviour
		Stereotypies
		Temperament
			Fizzy
			Laid back
			Heating
			Non-heating
			Evidence
	Explaining Feed and Marketing Terminology by Relating to Gut Physiology
		Energy versus calories
		Heating versus non-heating
			Heating
			Non-heating
	Which Feed – What to Advise
	Summary
	Notes
	Bibliography
6 What Are Supplements? The Importance of Micronutrients in the Horse’s Diet
	Introduction
	Supplements
	Nutrients
		Broad-spectrum vitamins and minerals and specific micronutrient supplementation
		Vitamins
		Minerals
	Assessment of the Diet for Micronutrient Balance
		Points to consider when assessing the ration for micronutrient balance
		What to check: typical situations when supplements are needed
		Advising supplements to balance single or narrow range of vitamins and minerals
			Salt supplementation
			How to advise adding salt
		Other factors to consider
		Advising a hoof health nutrient supplement
			Daily intake of biotin
		Advising antioxidant nutrient supplements
		Dietary advice: feeding multiple supplements
		Dietary advice: increasing Ca intake for bone development
	Nutraceuticals
		What and when to advise
		Advising a joint nutraceutical
		Advising a behaviour nutraceutical
		Advising a digestive nutraceutical
			Probiotics
			Yeast
			Prebiotics
		Antacids and equine gastric ulcers
		Herbs and other functional ingredients
	Practical Steps for Supplement Selection
		Working out the amount of active ingredient in a dose
		Checking the advice for duration of supplementation
		Supporting clients to monitor progress
	Summary
	Notes
	Bibliography
7 Advising a Feed: How to Read a Label
	Feed Labelling Demystified
	Statutory Statement
	Safety and Traceability
		Product name, individual bag number and batch number
		Manufacturer’s name and address
		Establishment number
	Nutritional Appropriateness
		Product name
		Description
		Composition (ingredients)
		Analytical composition
			Protein
			Fibre
			Ash
			Oil
		Nutritional additives
			Sensory additives, herbs and spices
			Vitamins and minerals
	Quality Control
		Weight
		UFAS registration
		‘Best before’ date
	How Does the Labelling for Feeds with a Particular Nutritional Purpose Differ?
	Information Provided Outside of the Statutory Statement
		Feeding guide
		Digestible energy (DE)
		Starch
		Processing
			Chelated minerals
			Micronising or cooking of cereals
		Symbols and logos
		Marketing information and general descriptions
	Label Declarations and Their Relevance to Nutritional Requirements
		The limitations of reading the label
		Protein
		Fibre
		Oil
		Ash
		Nutritional additives
	Checking the Nutrient Content of Feeds
		Wet chemistry
		NIR
		How to sample a feed
		Steps
		Importance of feed evaluation
	Using the Feed Label Information in Practical Feeding Scenarios
		Which feed provides the most protein?
		Client feeding less or more than recommended intakes
			Intake below recommended intake and horse is overweight
			Intake above recommended intake and horse is losing weight
			Intake above recommended intake  and horse is at ideal fat score
		Comparing feeds within a specific range
			Leisure range
			Performance feeds
	Summary
	Notes
	Bibliography
8	 Which Feed? Advising a Quality Feed Formulation, Quality Control and Expertise Standards
	Introduction
		Global regulations and nutritional standards
	The Manufacturer’s Quality Challenge
		What drives feed assurance?
		Regulatory requirements
		Feed hygiene and undesirable substances
		Prohibited substances – naturally occurring substances (NOPS)
			What are NOPS?
			Herbs
			How can contamination occur?
	How to Achieve Quality: General Principles
	How Is Feed Quality Demonstrated?
		HACCP
			Appropriate sampling and testing for risk
			Lack of equine data
		Insect and rodent controls
		Sampling and testing (raw materials and final product)
		Final product specification and assessment
		Work instructions and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
		External auditing
		Feed industry assurance schemes
			Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS)
			British Equestrian Trade Association naturally occurring prohibited substances scheme (BETA NOPS)
			National Animal Supplement Council (NASC)
	Feed Quality and Safety Throughout the Distribution Chain
		Feed storage
		Storing feed with climate changes in mind
			Bagged feed longevity
	Suitably Qualified Nutritionists
	Sustainability and Environmental Policies
	Evidence-based Quality Formulations and Feeding Management
	Summary
	Notes
	Bibliography
9 Which Fibre? Choosing a Forage and Understanding a Forage Analysis
	Introduction
	Interpreting Forage Analysis
		Haylage analysis
		Hay analysis
		Interpreting the analytes
	The Role of Fibre and Forage
		Feeding behaviour
		Chewing behaviour
			Chewing and fibre content of forages
		Stomach health
		Hind gut health
	The Relationship Between Forage Feeding Management and Eating Behaviour
		Stereotypies
		Advising grazing to support normal feeding behaviour
			Using muzzles
			Time-limiting grazing to reduce calories
			Strip grazing
			Track systems
			Removing grass by mowing
	Relationship Between Timing of Grazing and Feed Value
		Changes in glucose over 24 h
		Seasonal changes
	Maintaining Normal Eating Behaviour and Dry Matter Intake When Grass Cannot Be Restricted
		Advising straw as a low-calorie forage for overweight horses
			Evidence supports advising straw to provide low-calorie fibre
		Advising soaking hay to provide low-calorie forage
		Soaking and nutrient reduction
			Calories
			Protein loss
			Minerals
			Dry matter
		Soaking or steaming for dust suppression
			Is soaking safe?
		Maintaining fibre intake for performance horses
	Replicating Natural Eating Time Budgets
		Advising haynets, bags and grids
		Adding chaff to bucket feed (grains, cereals, concentrates)
		Feeding forage before concentrates
		Providing forages in ‘dry’ paddocks
		Allowing horses to exhibit foraging behaviour
	Maintaining Dry Matter Intake for Horses Eating Forages High in Water (e.g. Haylage and Grass)
		Grass intake and hours grazing
		Advising forage based on calorie content
	Summary
	Notes
	Bibliography
10 Intake versus Requirements: Using Computer Programs
	Introduction
	Ration Evaluation
		Software programs
	How to Use the Software
		Input data: horse details
			Determining metabolic rate
			Exercise level
		Input data: diet details
		Interpreting the data output
		Contribution of each feed to requirements
		The ration: intake versus requirements
		Contribution of each feed to nutrient intakes
			Energy
			Protein
			Vitamins and minerals
			Acceptable ranges of all nutrients
	Using the Software to Highlight Common Feeding Errors and Questions
		How to advise a diet for a retired horse out 24/7 maintaining good body condition (Fig. 10.8)
		How to recommend a diet for a horse eating ad lib conserved forage (Fig. 10.9)
		Diet advice for horses being fed less than recommended amounts of feed (Fig. 10.10)
		Diet for a horse prone to laminitis (Fig. 10.11)
		Advising a diet for a competition horse fed a leisure feed (Fig. 10.12)
		How to advise a client with a showjumper who wants to feed a high-protein diet (Fig. 10.13)
		How to recommend a diet for a horse that is anaemic (Fig. 10.14)
		How to advise supplements for an endurance horse (Fig. 10.15)
		How to check a ‘normal’ horse’s diet (Fig. 10.16)
		How to recommend a diet that contains straights or individual feed ingredients (Fig. 10.17)
		How to advise a client feeding small-bale haylage to meet DM intake (Fig. 10.18)
	Advantages and Disadvantages of Software Programs
		Pros
		Cons
	Summary
	Bibliography
11 Feeding the Leisure Horse
	Overview
	The Contribution of Pasture to the Diet
		Grass quantity
		Restricting pasture
			Stabling horses
			Disadvantages of pasture restriction: fibre restriction, gastric ulcers, stereotypies and colic
			Advantages of pasture restriction
			Your role
	Feeding Management of the Leisure Horse
		Count calories
			Choosing a low-calorie forage
			Controlling and monitoring grass intake
		Measuring grass in the field
			The supermarket bag test
			The poo pick
		Feeding hay
			Soaking hay
			Feeding hay at floor level to mimic natural eating position
		Advising straw
	Balancing Micronutrients
		Balancing a ration
			Which Balancer?
		Trickle feeding concentrates to replicate more closely the feeding behaviour of a horse eating forage
	Advising the Correct Diet
		How to advise the correct compound feed
			Energy
			Calorie
	Case Examples
		How to check the diet of a Riding Club horse
		How to advise using straw as a hay replacer
		How to advise using dusty hay as a sole forage source
		How to advise a diet for a horse in good condition
	Summary: Which Feed for the Leisure Horse?
	Note
	Bibliography
12 Feeding the Performance Horse
	Introduction and Overview
	Aspects of Diet Associated with Fatigue
		Dietary energy
			Consequences of eating a large meal of carbohydrates
		Maintaining blood glucose: starch versus simple sugars to reduce fatigue
		Introducing concentrates into a horse’s ration
		Adaptation to starch diets
		Muscle glycogen depletion
	Feeding to Replenish Glycogen Muscle Stores
		Feeding fat
		Feeding starch
			Timing of starch feeds relative to exercise
			Starch intake and insulin sensitivity
	Protein Intake
		Timing of protein intake relative to exercise
	Feeding and Transport
	Minimising the Risk of Nutritionally Related Disease Associated with Feeding Management of Performance Horses
	Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)
		Equine squamous gastric syndrome (ESGD)
			Fibre intake and stomach health
			Cribbing and saliva production
			Forage ‘meal’ size
			Advising small meals of forage fed multiple times a day
			Starch intake and stomach health
			Exercise and feeding
	Colic
	Equine Exertional Rhabdomyolysis
		Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM)
			Dietary advice
		Concentrates
		PSSM – type 2
		Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER)
	How to Advise Diets for Specific Disciplines
		Feeding the endurance horse
		Feeding racehorses
		Feeding sports horses
		Dressage horses
		Polo ponies
		Showing
		Eventers
		Showjumpers
	Summary
	Notes
	Bibliography
13 Electrolytes
	Overview
	The Role of Electrolytes
		Water
	Control of Electrolyte and Water Balance
		Internal regulation
	Effect of Exercise on Electrolyte Balance
		Thermoregulation, dehydration, its consequences and the role of water in rehydration
		How does exercise affect electrolyte and water balance?
		Sweating
	The Composition of Sweat and the Implications of Isotonic versus Hypotonic versus Hypertonic
		Effect of ambient relative humidity (RH) on water and electrolyte requirements
	Dehydration and Exhaustion
		Clinical signs of dehydration in the horse
		Management of dehydration and exhaustion
	Sweat Loss Across Different Disciplines
		Endurance horses
			Low-intensity prolonged exercise
		Event horses
			Short-duration intense exercise
		Racehorses
		Bodyweight losses due to sweating
	Clinical Conditions Associated with Electrolyte Loss and Management Solutions
		Sporadic/extrinsic exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER)
		Anhidrosis
		Problems associated with specific electrolytes
			Sodium
			Potassium
			Chloride
			Calcium
			Magnesium
			Phosphorus
	Practical Management to Minimise Risk of Dehydration or Exhaustion
		Prevention and management of dehydration occurring during transport
	Practical Management to Replace Electrolytes
		Correcting fluid loss
			Where the horse is drinking
			Where the horse is not drinking but gut activity is audible on auscultation
			Where the horse is not drinking and gut activity is not detectable
	Maintaining Electrolyte Balance
	Electrolyte Levels in Horse Feeds
		Factors to consider when advising an electrolyte supplement
		Oral supplementation
			Powders
			Solutions
			Pastes
	How to Advise an Appropriate Electrolyte Regime According to Discipline and Workload
		Eventers
		Endurance horses
		Transport adaptations
	Summary
	Bibliography
14 Feeding for Breeding
	Introduction and Overview
	Natural and Artificial Breeding Seasons
		Natural breeding season
		Artificial breeding season
	Feeding the Broodmare
		Overview: implications of epigenetics
			Nutritional requirements
	Pre-pregnancy
		Energy requirements
		The overweight mare
		Protein requirements
		Vitamins and minerals
		Dietary advice
			Access to grazing
			Limited or no access to good grazing
	Gestation
	1st Trimester
		Energy and protein
		Vitamins and minerals
		Dietary advice
			Natives and pleasure horses
			Sports horses
			Thoroughbreds
	2nd Trimester
		Energy and protein
		Vitamins and minerals
		Dietary advice
			Natives and sports horses
			Thoroughbreds
	3rd Trimester
		Energy and protein
		Vitamins and minerals
		Dietary advice
			Natives, sports horses and leisure horses
			Thoroughbred mares foaling in January–March
	Lactation
		Colostrum
		Requirements
		Energy
		Protein
		Vitamins and minerals
		Dietary advice
			Natives and sports horses
			Thoroughbreds
		Drying off the mare prior to weaning
	Feeding the Foal
		Colostrum
			Failure of passive transfer
	Nursing Foals
		Milk
			Normal physiological and physical parameters
		Creep feeding
			Backward or weak foals
			Foals maintaining weight
		Dietary advice
		Creep feeding systems
	Orphan Foals
		Foals > 3.5 months of age
		Foals < 3.5 months of age
		Fostering
		Milk replacers
		Dietary advice: feeding schedule
		Advising feeding milk replacers
			Bottle-feeding
			Transition to wide scoop or bucket
			Diarrhoea and constipation
		Creep feeds for orphan foals
	Weanlings and Yearlings
		Energy requirements
			Monitoring energy intakes using growth rates
			Estimating youngstock BW from predicted adult weight
		Protein
		Vitamins and minerals
	Weaning Methods
		Pasture group weaning
		Stable weaning
		Gradual weaning
		Impact of weaning on behaviour
	Feeding Weanlings
		Dietary advice
	Feeding Yearlings
		Dietary advice
	Sales Prepping
		Dietary advice
	Developmental Orthopaedic Disorders (DOD)
		Energy
			Controlling glycaemic response
		Balancing protein
		Minerals
			Dietary cation–anion balance (DCAB)
			Copper
		Vitamins
	Stallions
		Energy
			Polyunsaturated fats and antioxidants
		Minerals
		Dietary advice
	Other Nutrition-related Issues in Breeding Stock
		Coprophagy
		Foal heat diarrhoea
		Gastric ulcers
		Laminitis
		White muscle disease
	Conclusion and Summary
	Bibliography
15 The Chronically Inflamed (Obese) Horse: Understanding Adipose Biology
	An Overview of Obesity in Horses
	The Biology of Fat Cells
		Adipose tissue and cytokines
		The detrimental effect of obesity takes time
		Why does excess adipose tissue change metabolism?
			Explaining to the client
			Insulin resistance
		Insulin essential for life
			Long-term IR and metabolic compromise
			IR, cortisol and FAs
		The relationship with IR, adiposity and fatty acids
			Plasma free fatty acids
			Intramuscular fat
			Fat storage
			Fat cell size
	Regional Fat Deposition and IR
		Body fat scoring
		Regional versus fat cell type
		Regional distribution of fat
		Re-categorising upper and lower fat in horses
		The cresty neck
		Crown-like structures
	What Is Chronic Inflammatory Disease?
		Why is dysfunctional fat inflammatory?
		White blood cells (WBCs)/leukocytes (monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils)
		Cytokines produced by dysfunctional fat
			Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)
			Toll-like receptor-4 protein (TLR4)
			Interleukin-1β (IL-1)
			Interleukin 6 (IL-6)
		Proteins involved in cytokine responses
			Acute-phase protein responses (APR)
			Cytokine signalling proteins (SOCSs)
		Hormones
			Leptin
			Leptin and obesity
			Leptin, appetite and obesity in ponies
			Adiponectin
	Ageing and Obesity
		Linking the puzzle
	Factors Increasing the Risk of Chronic Low-grade Inflammation (Fatness/Obesity) in Horses
		Failure to recognise obesity
		Normalisation of obesity
		Intermittent body fat scoring in practice
		Confusing body fat with bodyweight and condition
			Bodyweight
			Condition
		Perception that horses get fat on fresh air
		Epigenetics
	How to Increase Understanding of Obesity
		Teaching fat scoring
	How to Increase Compliance
		Do not use the word ‘diet’
		Control calorie intake
		Maintain dry matter (bulk) intake
			Restricting bulk in short term for fat loss
			Fibre restriction, insulin resistance and cortisol levels
		Balance micronutrients
		Lifetime commitment to management
			Rugging
			Regular exercise
			Encourage winter fat loss
	Summary
	Bibliography
16 Feeding the Aged Horse
	Introduction
		Perception of ageing
		Risk factors that reduce healthy longevity
	Common Management Practices Related to Feeding Requirements of the Old Horse
		Workload
		Feeding management
		Access to grazing
	Feeding for the Older Horse
	‘Fit’ Old Horse
		Light work
			Maximise grazing
			Forage replacers
			Balancing vitamins and minerals
	Common Clinical Conditions of the Old Horse That Can Be Supported Through Diet
		Muscle loss in the aged horse
			Protein requirements
			Amino acids
			How to check protein intake
		Weight loss
	Forage for the Old Horse with Dental Disease
		Advising a forage replacer for a horse that quids or has difficulty chewing
		How to feed a horse with diastemas or periodontal disease
	The Role of Supplements in the Diet of the Older Horse
		Supplements to minimise the risk of osteoarthritis
		Which supplement?
		Factors to consider when advising joint supplements
	Feeds and Feeding Management of the Old Horse
	Summary
	Bibliography
17 Feeding the Donkey
	Introduction
		Origins of the donkey
		Feeding behaviour
		Feeding in a domestic setting
		Dietary adaptations
	Nutritional Requirements
		Energy requirements
		Overfeeding energy
		Dry matter appetite
		Protein requirements
		Vitamin and mineral requirements
		Water requirements
	How to Monitor the Donkey
		Bodyweight
		Body condition/fat scoring
	Practical Feeding for the Healthy Donkey
		Straw as forage
		Supplementary feeding and compound feeds
		Dietary assessments
	Feeding Working Donkeys in Lower- and Middle-income Countries (LMICs)
		Energy requirements
		Forages
		Cereals
		Other ingredients
			Molasses and oils
			Legumes
		Water
	Feeding Donkey Hybrids
	Feeding Donkeys in Production
	Feeding in Pregnancy and Lactation
		Pregnancy
		Feeding the foal
	Dietary Adaptations for Common Nutritional Problems
		Obesity
		Laminitis
		Hyperlipaemia
		Dental disease
			Advanced dental disease
		Gastric ulcers
	Summary
	Notes
	Bibliography
Index
Back Cover