SHORT-CUT RATION BALANCING FOR HORSES K. H. Kline, Extension Specialist, Horses University of Illinois

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1 SHORT-CUT RATION BALANCING FOR HORSES K. H. Kline, Extension Specialist, Horses University of Illinois Ration balancing for horses can be a tedious job, and there are several methods. The basic concept, however, remains the same for all methods. The horse s requirements for basic nutrient groups must be determined, and then the diet must be constructed to meet those requirements. The following method uses estimates of the most critical nutrient needs (energy, protein, calcium, and phosphorus) for horses and expresses them in the form of simple tables. Only the most basic mathematical calculations are required. A certain degree of accuracy and precision is lost in such a simple procedure, as compared to more detailed methods. One reason is that feed quality differences within broad feed categories are not taken into consideration. Testing the forage (the single most important component of the horse s diet) for nutrient content can greatly improve decisions about necessary supplementation. Using this method, however, should produce an adequate ration for most classes of horses, providing that only wholesome, high quality feedstuffs go into the make-up of the overall diet. Formulating a daily ration for a 700-pound, 12-month-old yearling colt will be used as an example. Step 1. Estimate your horse s daily intake of hay and grain. Table 1 (below) lists estimated feed intake (lbs feed/100 lbs body weight) at various stages of life. Table 1. Pounds of Feed Per 100 Pounds of Body Weight Required for Horses Feedstuffs Stage of Life Hay Grain Inactive adult (Neither in foal nor In-foal mare (last 3 months) Lactation Heavy work (mature horse) Two-year-old (light training) Long yearling (18 months) Yearling (12 months) Weanling Example: A 700 lb yearling would eat lbs of hay and lbs of grain each day.

2 Step 2. Determine percent protein required in the grain mix depending on the type of hay being fed. Table 2. Percent Protein Required in Gain Mix When Feeding Legume (alfalfa, clover, etc.) or Grass (brome, orchard, timothy, etc.) Hay Type of Hay Stage of Life Legume Grass Adult (Neither in foal nor lactating) In-foal mare (last 3 months) Lactation Heavy work (mature horse) Two-year-old (light training) Long yearling (18 months) Yearling (12 months) Weanling Example: A yearling will need percent protein in his grain mix if he were eating mostly alfalfa hay. He would need percent protein in his grain mix if he were eating mostly bromegrass or timothy hay, since most grass hays have less protein than most legume hays. Step 3. Determine how much protein supplement (usually soybean meal) is needed to bring the grain mix to the proper protein level. Table 3. Percent Protein Supplement Required to Provide Various Levels of Protein in the grain Mix (Pounds of supplement/100 lbs Total Grain Mix). Percent Protein Desired in Grain Mix (See Table 2) Supplement Dried skim milk (34% protein) None Linseed meal (36% protein) None Soybean meal (with hulls-44% protein) Soybean meal (without hulls 50% protein) None None Example: A yearling eating hay that is mostly grass would require a grain mix that contains about 20

3 lbs. of soybean meal without hulls, with the other 80 lbs. being oats, corn or other grains to achieve an overall average protein percentage of about 18 in the grain mix. A yearling eating hay that is mostly legume would require a grain mix that contains about 10 lbs. of soybean meal without hulls, with the other 90 lbs. being oats, corn or other grains to achieve an overall average protein percentage of about 14 in the grain mix. Step. 4. Add calcium and phosphorus to the gain mix according to the type of hay being fed and the horse s stage of life. Table 4. Pounds of Calcium and Phosphorus Supplement* needed per 100 lbs of hay being fed, and the horse s stage of life Type of Hay Stage of Life Legume Grass Adult (Neither in foal nor lactating) None None In-foal mare (last 3 months) Lactation Heavy work (mature horse) None None Two-year-old (light training) Long Yearling (18 months) Yearling (12 months) Weanling 1 lb. dicalcium phosphate 1 lb. dicalcium phosphate plus 1 1/2 lb. limestone *Dicalcium phosphate supplies both calcium and phosphorus, while limestone contains only calcium. Steamed bone meal, deflourinated rock phosphate, or monocalcium phosphate may be used in place of dicalcium phosphate. Example: A yearling eating mostly alfalfa (legume) hay would need calcium/phosphorus supplement (dicalcium phosphate) in the amount of 1/2 pound per 100 pounds of total grain mix. If he ate mostly grass hay, the yearling would need one pound of ground limestone per 100 pounds of total grain mix in addition to the 1/2 pound of dicalcium phosphate.

4 Summary The horse used as an example in each of the above ration balancing steps was a yearling at 12 months of age weighing 700 lbs. To achieve an overall example ration for this yearling we will assume that alfalfa hay will be fed to this yearling. Based on these criteria, the final ration should fall in the following ranges: Total intake: pounds of total feed (From Table 1) /2 pounds of alfalfa hay (7 cwt. x 1-1 1/2) /2 pounds of grain mix (7 cwt. x 1-1 1/2) Grain mix composition: Table 2 shows that a yearling consuming alfalfa hay may need up to 14 percent protein in his grain mix, and Table 3 shows that 10 pounds of soybean meal (without hulls) mixed with 90 pounds of grain (corn, oats, rolled milo, etc.) will provide an adequate protein level. Calcium Supplements: Table 4 shows that a yearling consuming a legume hay such as alfalfa will need an additional 1/2 pound of dicalcium phosphate to be added to each 100 pounds of grain mix. Additional comments: -A reasonable ballpark type ration can be derived in the same way for any class of horse appearing in the preceding tables. However, just because a reasonably balanced ration for energy, protein, calcium, and phosphorus is derived using these techniques, don t assume that your job is done. Taking the following points into consideration will help to complete the task: -Always provide all the fresh, clean water your horse will drink (at least gallons per day for adult horses). -Never feed moldy or dusty feeds. -Provide trace mineral salt free choice, because feedstuffs maybe widely variable in trace minerals and may be deficient in minerals such as selenium, copper or zinc. (Be certain that the product is specifically designed for horses). -Provide a commercial vitamin supplement according to label directions when hay color is poor (brownish rather than bright green). Buying vitamin supplements on the basis of the highest vitamin A content per dollar is usually the best bet. Horses grazing good pasture or consuming freshly harvested green hay should not need extra vitamins.

5 -When custom mixing your own grain mix, add about 5 pounds of liquid molasses to every 100 pounds of grain mix to keep the fines (soybean meal, dicalcium phosphate, etc.) from sifting out and to reduce dustiness. Many horsemen will prefer to purchase commercially mixed grains that meet the guidelines presented in the tables of this article for the sake of convenience and quality control rather than custom mixing their own grain. -Feed horses on a regular schedule. Feed two or preferably three times daily rather than providing the entire ration in one feeding in order to maintain gut fill the way nature intended. -Make diet changes gradually. Try not to completely run out of a feedstuff before another replaces it. This way, the new feed may be blended with the old over a few days time to allow the horse to become adapted to the new feed. Switching from a coarser feed to a richer feed is more dangerous than vice versa due to the potential for colic. -Keep feed troughs and water containers clean. -Check teeth regularly. Be sure your horse s teeth are sound. Floating the rough edges of cheek teeth can help feed efficiency, but smoothing the teeth too much can actually decrease the horse s ability to chew. -Provide feed according to the horse s body weight and the weight of the feed. Most horses will require between 2% and 3% of their body weight in total feed each day. The practice of providing feed according to cans of grain and flakes of hay will result in a high degree of nutritional variability because feed density (weight per volume of feed) may be different between different feed products. The horse s body weight is the best basis for estimating feed requirements, and feed quantity should be adjusted according to the horse s body condition. -Don t overfeed inactive horses! Obesity is one of the most common nutritional problems among sedentary companion and light pleasure type horses. See Body Condition for Optimal Performance for a body condition scoring system for horses.