Developing a feed ration

Horses are herbivores, and their daily ration is made up of green or dry forage, to which vegetable mixtures (grains and others) and possible supplements may be added. 
This intended to cover the horses nutritional requirements:

• In energy: expressed in HFU, Horse Feed Units
• Protein: expressed in g of MADC (Matières Azotées Digestibles Cheval  in French - Digestible Crude Protein for the Horse)
• In minerals: macro and trace elements
• And in vitamins (see factsheet on the horse’s nutritional needs: generalities)

The recommended daily intake takes into account the needs of the animals according to their physiological situation (sex, size, age, activity...). Nevertheless, the condition and feeding behaviour of each individual should also be taken into consideration when adjusting the ration.

As an example: (source INRA 2012)

Water content of feeds - concept of dry matter (DM)

Feeds are composed of water and dry matter. The dry matter (DM) is made up of mineral matter and organic matter which contains carbohydrates, lipids (fats) and proteins (total nitrogenous matter).

The water (moisture) content of food varies from:

• 80-85% for young grass (which therefore contains 15-20% DM),
• 77-88 % for beets or carrots,
• 8-15% for cereals, meal, commercial feed, hay, straw (i.e. 85-92% DM).

When the nutritional value of a feed is given, it can be presented per kg gross or per kg DM

Forage

Forage often makes up the bulk of the ration. It is important to know its nutritional value in order to supplement this as accurately as possible. Although the nutritional value can be estimated from the characteristics of the forage (species harvested, time and conditions of harvest) using food tables, this often leads to significant errors. See also: Estimating the quality of preserved forage intended for horses and The chemical analysis of forage.

Warning: In general, laboratory analysis results are given per kg DM (dry matter).

Concentrated feeds

Concentrated feeds such as cereal grains/oilseeds/protein crops generally have nutritional values that fluctuate less.
Commercially prepared foods have a known and approximately constant nutritional value.

Generally speaking, the proportion of forages may be at its highest for animals with low needs (80 to 100% of the daily ration). It decreases as the needs increase to reach 50 or even 40% of the quantity of dry matter distributed per day. The use of high nutritional value forages (wrapped, early harvested hay) can fully cover the needs of working horses.

Straw should be distributed in limited quantities because it is rich in non-digestible fibres and can cause digestive disorders (stasis colic).

Generally speaking, spring grass or young grass has a high nutritional value, potentially covering the needs of all types of animals, even those with high requirements. In contrast, care should be taken to limit the quantities available to animals with low needs and which are already overweight.

The sanitary quality of the fodder (absence of dust, mould) is also crucial in order to avoid respiratory and infectious problems.

Preparing a ration is complex. It can be done with the help of rationing software, but it is wise to ask your veterinarian or specialist technician for advice.

The general approach is as follows:

1. Record the recommended daily allowances for the animal in question (see "Nutrition et alimentation des chevaux” ed. W. Martin Rosset, Quae 2012 edition)

2. Make an inventory of the feeds available: forages intended to provide the basic ration, concentrates and the nutritional values of each

3. Calculate the intake achieved by the quantity of forages distributed

4. Possibly supplement with other feedstuffs that make up the supplementary ration, according to the needs linked to the physiological situation of the animal concerned.

In practice, this will include:

• Providing a daily ration adapted to the horse, representing 2 to 3.5 kg DM (dry matter) per 100 kg live weight depending on the work/production and the proportion of forage distributed. A minimum quantity is necessary for the digestive tract to function properly. If the quantity required is too large, for example: high needs and a ration composed of forages of low nutritional value distributed alone: the ration will not be able to cover the horse’s needs despite the daily quantity ingested;
• Balance the ration in energy and protein;
• Respect a balanced and sufficient mineral intake: in particular, make sure you provide an adequate amount of calcium and phosphorus with between 1.5 and 1.8 times more Ca than P.
• Finally, for breeding horses, brood mares and young foals, care must be taken to ensure a supply of “quality” protein, i.e. containing essential amino acids such as lysine and methionine. These amino acids are found naturally in alfalfa or soybean meal, for example. They are often incorporated into speciality foods.

Forage(s) + cereals + mineral and vitamin supplement
or Forage(s) + complementary forage feed (including an adapted mineral and vitamin supplement)
or forage(s) + cereals + forage and cereal supplement (including an adapted mineral and vitamin supplement)
or forage(s) + “home-made” complementary food + adapted vitamin and mineral supplements

Example 1: to maintain the weight of a 600kg horse fed only on hay

In general, good quality hay (see ration 1 above) is easily enough to cover the needs of a horse which should maintain its condition. On the other hand, with average quality hay (see ration 2 above), the needs, particularly in terms of MADC, may not be covered.

Example 2: a 600kg horse working 1 hour/day fed on hay + pellets

Better quality hay  would better cover daily needs in terms of MADC.

• Do not overlook forage, a basic horse food, and a source of fibres necessary for the proper functioning of the digestive tract. It also limits boredom.
• Divide the daily ration into at least 2-3 meals. Distribute rations at regular hours.
• Do not give more than the equivalent of 2 kg of barley per meal for a 500 kg horse: avoid massive starch intakes.
• In the event of a change of ration, make sure to transition the change over a minimum of one week in order to allow the horse’s digestive system to adapt.
• Make sure there is access to clean water at all times.