Ohio State University Extension Bulletin

Horse Nutrition

Bulletin 762-00

Tables

 

Table 1. Digestible Energy Requirements of Growing Horse (Mcal).
Age (mos.) Mature Weight
 
440
880
1,100
1,320
3
7.4
11.5
13.7
15.1
6
8.8
13.0
15.6
16.9
12
8.2
13.8
16.8
18.9
18
8.1
14.4
17.0
19.1
24
8.1
13.9
16.5
19.3

 

Table 2. Minimum Crude Protein Requirement (Percent in Ration).
  % In Ration % of Live Wt. Fed/Day*
Mature idle horse
8.5
1.5
Pregnancy (last 90 days)
11.0
1.5
Lactation (first 4 mos.)
14.0
2.0
Foals (creep feed, nursing)
18.0
2.8
Weanlings
16.0
2.3
Yearlings (12 mos.)
13.5
1.9
Yearlings (18 mos.)
11.5
1.7
Two year olds
10.0
1.5
* Percent of live weight fed is based on moisture-free feed. Actual percent of weight eaten will be higher on an as-fed basis. Also, if the horse eats more or less than this percent of its weight per day in moisture-free feed, the percent needs to be adjusted accordingly.

 

Table 3. Calcium-Phosphorus Requirement for Horses as Percent of Ration
  Calcium (%) Phosphorus (%)
Mature maintenance
0.30
0.20
Mares- last 90 days pregnancy
0.50
0.35
Lactating mares (first 4 mos.)
0.50
0.35
Foal (creep feed; first 6mos.)
0.85*
0.60*
Weaning
0.70
0.50
Yearling (12 mos.)
0.55
0.40
Yearling (18 mos.)
0.45
0.35
Two year olds
0.45
0.35
Mature horses, all levels of work
0.30
0.20
* These levels may be too low for foals being fed for maximum growth. The values should be Ca = 1.0% and P = 0.80% for foals being fed all they can eat.

 

Table 4. Digestible Energy Requirements for Horses.
Maintenance
Mature weight = 440 lb.
880 lb.
1,100 lb.
1,320 lb.		 Mcal required =

8.2
13.9
16.4
18.8

  Maintenance Requirement:_________________
 
If the horse is not mature (<24 mo.), get the DE requirement from Table 2 instead of using the mantenance value:_________________
 
Work
 

Light work (slow trot, pleasure riding, little cantering):
0.23 Mcal x _______ cwt. of horse x _______hr. work = _______

Moderate work (canter, sweating, fast troting):
0.57 Mcal x _______ cwt. of horse x _______hr. work = _______

Heavy work (galloping, jumping, heavy sweating):
1.77 Mcal x _______ cwt. of horse x _______hr. work = _______
 

Pregnancy (last 90 days)
  Add 2 Mcal
 
Lactactation (first 4 mos.)
Mare's weight = 440 lb.
880 lb.
1,100 lb.
1,320 lb.		 Mcal required = 6.4
9.5
12.0
14.3
  Lactation Requirements:_________________
 
Breeding Stallion (only during breeding season)
  0.57 Mcal x _______ cwt. of horse = _______
 
Total DE Requirement is the sum of all the above items that apply to the horse being fed:

 

Table 5. Nutrient Content of Common Feedstuffs (Moisture Free).
Feed Dry Matter % DE Mcal/lb CP % Calcium % Phosphorus %
Corn
88
1.75
10.9
0.05
0.60
Oats
89
1.51
13.6
0.07
0.37
Barley
89
1.64
13.9
0.05
0.37
Wheat bran
89
1.33
17.0
0.12
1.43
Soybean oil meal
90
1.63
50.9
0.31
0.70
Linseed oil meal
91
1.38
38.9
0.43
0.90
Molasses
75
1.48
4.3
1.05
0.15
Alfalfa hay
  Early bloom
90
1.10
17.2
1.75
0.26
  Mid bloom
90
1.04
16.0
0.15
0.25
  Late bloom
89
0.98
15.0
1.29
0.24
Dehydrated alfalfa (15%)
91
1.10
16.3
1.40
0.24
Red clover hay
89
0.98
14.9
1.49
0.25
Timothy hay
  Pre-bloom
88
1.06
12.0
0.50
0.25
  Late bloom
88
0.90
9.0
0.41
0.19
Orchardgrass
  Fresh
19
1.10
18.4
0.57
0.54
  Hay
88
0.94
10.1
0.35
0.31
Fescue
  Fresh
27
1.04
11.5
0.60
0.43
  Hay
88
0.91
10.1
0.35
0.31
Bluegrass
  Fresh
31
1.11
17.0
0.56
0.40
  Hay
90
1.00
11.0
0.30
0.29
Ground Limestone
--
--
--
36.10
--
Dicalcium Phosphate
--
--
--
23.70
18.80
Monodicalcium Phosphate
--
--
--
16.80
22.10
Monosodium Phosphate
--
--
--
--
25.80

 

Table 6. Trace Mineral Levels Required, Toxic Levels, and Levels Found in Feedstuffs.
      Normal Range Found in Feed
Mineral Required Toxic Roughages Grain
Potassium, %
0.4
1.5 - 2.5
0.3 - 0.05
Magnesium, %
0.09
0.15 - 0.6
0.1 - 0.02
Sulfur, %
0.15
0.15 - 0.5
0.15 - 0.4
Iron, ppm
50
150 - 400
30 - 90
Zinc, ppm
40 -60
200
17 - 22
17 - 50
Manganese, ppm
40
25 - 190
6 - 45
Copper, ppm
20-30
5 - 25
4 - 9
Cobalt, ppm
0.1
Selenium, ppm
0.1
5.0
Iodine, ppm
0.1
4.8

 

Table 7. Vitamin Requirements for Horses.
Vitamin Mature Horses Growing Horses
A*
910 IU/lb.
910 IU/lb.
D
140 IU/lb.
365 IU/lb.
E
25 U/lb.
40 IU/lb.
Thiamin
1.5 mg/lb.
1.5 mg/lb.
Riboflavin
1 mg/lb.
1 mg/lb.
* Pregnant and lactating mares require 1,370 IU/lb.

 

Table 8. Balanced Rations for Different Protein Levels.
Feedstuff Crude Protein
  10% 12% 12% 14% 14% 16% 16% 16% 18% 18%
Corn
50.0
50.0
82.0
51.0
26.0
50.0
23.0
67.0
23.0
53.0
Oats
42.0
35.0
--
27.0
53.0
18.0
48.0
--
44.0
12.0
Soybean Oil Meal
--
6.5
11.0
14.0
13.0
24.0
21.0
23.0
25.0
27.0
Molasses
5.0
7.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
6.75
5.0
5.0
Ground Limestone
1.0
1.0
1.25
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.25
1.0
1.0
Dicalcium Phosphate
1.0
--
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
TM Salt
1.0
0.5
0.75
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0

 

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