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Case Study

SPONSORS OF
PRIMERO EQUINE

Appropriate Nutrition for the Spanish Horse to Prevent
Feed Related Disorders (FreDs) and Improve Performance

by Linda Linnane BSc (Hons)

Introduction

All horses have evolved as free-roaming, grazing herbivores with a digestive system designed to ferment and digest a continuous flow of fibrous forage, primarily in the large intestine. This is carried out by way of microbial fermentation whereby millions of fibre digesting bacteria degrades the fibre to allow digestion and uptake of energy and nutrients. These bacteria function within a stable pH environment and do not adapt well to fluctuation in acidity.

The current popularity and commercial viability of the Spanish horse has evoked a dramatic change in habitat whereby many horses are kept stabled and fed cereal based meals such as oats and cereal mixes. As a species, the horse has not adapted to this type of feed material and therefore has a limited capacity to digest large amounts of soluble carbohydrates such as starch. The stomach of the horse is also relatively small as he is a 'trickle grazer' as opposed to a 'meal' eater like us, therefore feeding large cereal meals results in excess feed and starch passing through the stomach and small intestine undigested into the large intestine. The presence of starch in the large intestine causes a rapid rise in acid, which results in degradation and death of the healthy fibre-digesting bacteria.

In it's natural habitat the horse would graze vast areas, continually eating small amounts of plant material. During an average day of natural grazing, the horse would display up to 60,000 jaw movements (chews). The presence of food in the mouth stimulates saliva, which helps to buffer gastric acid and lubricate the feed before it enters the oesophagus and stomach. Recent studies have shown that the association between chewing rate and feed materials vary greatly. For example; 1kg hay requires approximately 3,400 chews and takes around 40 minutes. In contrast, 1kg Oats takes only 850 chews and lasts for only 10 minutes. Chewing and grinding also has a mechanical effect on teeth due to the long sweeping jaw action needed to masticate forage. Chewing cereal grain requires a more restricted jaw action; hence horses that are deprived of forage begin to develop hooks and sharp edges on their teeth, which further reduces the ability to grind food well before it is swallowed.

Nutritional Induced Colic

The term 'colic' refers to abdominal pain caused by various factors. However, nutritional management is frequently indicated and is a major cause of gastro internal disturbance in the horse.

There are several types of nutritional colics, such as: Intestinal Impaction, Tympanic (gaseous), Spasmodic and Intestinal Torsion (twisted gut).

Impaction colic in particular is seen frequently in certain parts of Spain, where the lack of rainfall and forage results in fibre deficiency in the horse. This is also true of stabled horses that receive little forage. The horse will eat any form of fibrous material to satisfy his innate desire and need for fibre, such as straw bedding, wood, sand and droppings, which often impacts in the gut, particularly if the horse is dehydrated. Free access to water cannot be overstressed, particularly in hot or humid climates where dehydration occurs rapidly. The incidence of colic can be virtually eradicated if correct feeding and management procedures are put into place and the horse has free access to clean water. Watering horses at intervals or twice daily is not sufficient and is one of the most common implicators in gastrointestinal impaction seen in southern Spain.

Regular worming regimes are also critical to the horse from birth as many unnecessary deaths and colics are cause by parasite damage to the gut lining or intestinal impaction caused by migrating parasites, particularly when worming a horse that has previously been untreated.

Prevention of Nutritional Colic

• Employ a suitable anti-parasitic (worming) programme to prevent parasite damage to intestinal walls and blockage of the gut lumen.

• Feed a high (digestible) fibre diet complimented by small meals of a quality, nutrient balanced, concentrate feed.

• Feed a minimum of 1.5%/bodyweight/kg of forage. For example; a 500kg horse in medium work should consume min 7kgs forage/daily.

• Ensure that all feed is dust and mould free. Store in a cool, clean, dry environment. Beware! Bacteria and mycotoxins are commonly found in cereal feedstuff.

• Keep starch & sugar intake to a minimum to prevent digestive disorders of the large intestine and gastric ulceration.

• Do not feed on sand floor to prevent ingestion of sand, which are a common cause of sand colic in Spain.

• Do not feed immediately before or after exercise to allow for maximum digestion.

• Maintain a stress-free environment as close to the horse's natural habitat to prevent spasmodic colic - often seen in stressed horses. Turn out for a period if possible.

• SUPPLY FRESH, CLEAN WATER AT ALL TIMES

Nutritional Related Laminitis

Although Laminitis is known to be multi-factorial, the most common is nutritional induced laminitis caused by intake of excess soluble carbohydrates such as grass fructans (UK) and cereal grain starch (Spain).

When an overload of cereal grain is fed, the horse is unable to digest all of the starch content in the small intestine which then travels through to the large intestine resulting in a drop in Ph (rise in acid), dramatically reducing the population of fibre digesting microbes that is needed for fundamental health and homeostasis.

The acid also affects the mucosal lining of the intestine, becomes porous and leaky, allowing toxins to leak through into the circulatory system, resulting in laminitis and colic.

Preventative Nutritional Management

Overweight horses have a predisposition to laminitis and should be encouraged to lose weight without reduction of fibre intake.

• Cereal meals such as oats or cereal mixes should be replaced with a nutritionally balanced high fibre feed. Molassed feeds or chaff should be eliminated form diet. Forage should always be the foundation of the diet.

• Limit 'meal' size to 2kg for an average 500kg horse for maximum nutrient uptake in the small intestine.

• Feed according to individual requirement. Increased energy output = Increased calorie (energy) requirement. But do not increase meal size - feed small, frequent feeds.

• Include live yeast probiotic in daily diet to increase fibre-digesting population of microbes and maintain stability in the large intestine.

MAINTAIN HEALTHY HIND GUT FUNCTION (Large Intestine) BY ENSURING FORAGE/FIBRE IS THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR FEED REGIME (min 1.5% bodyweight daily).