Forages

Good quality forage should be the basis behind all balanced nutrition management programmes as your veterinary surgeon will rightly tell you.

Q. What is the single most important component of a horse’s diet?
A. Forage, forage and more forage (Prof. M. Coenen Institute of Animal Nutrition, Leipzig, Germany 2010)

Forages are classified as legumes or grasses. The nutrients in the forage vary greatly with maturity of the grasses, fertilization, management, and environmental conditions. In order to determine the nutrient content in forage it is best to take samples and get them analysed by a forage testing lab. Legumes are usually higher in protein, calcium, and energy than grasses. They have more leaves than grasses and require optimal growth conditions (warm weather and good soil) to produce the best nutrients. Some legumes include clover and alfalfa. Some commonly used grasses include orchard grass, timothy, bluegrass, and fescue. Hay is forage that has been harvested, dried, and baled before feeding to horses. Legume hay can contain 2 to 3 times more protein and calcium than grass hay. However, it is usually more costly. Common grass hays include timothy, brome and orchard grass. They have fine stems, seed heads and longer leaves than legumes. They are most nutritious when cut earlier in their growth stage. Maturity at harvest is the key to quality. Second cut grass hays average 16 to 20% protein.

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient intake in the exercising horse The nutrient requirements of athletic horses are closely dependent on workload and as such need to be defined for each individual discipline. Furthermore, there is the phenomenon of individual response and individual management conditions which means that good nutrition is based both on the application of science but also the art. Differentiating between nutrient requirements and recommendations The industry standard is that of the NRC Nutrient Requirements of Horses 2007. The recommendations are based on small controlled studies conducted in horses, ponies and other livestock and represent the minimum amounts needed to sustain normal health, production and performance. There exists also other indexes such as the INRA (France) and (Germany).

Below are the nutrients that are to be found in the different Equistro products. Click on the nutrient of interest for more information relating to it:

B-carotene	ß-carotene is a natural pigment found in plants, giving them their yellow or red colour. It reacts with or scavenges “free radicals” directly and thus acts as an antioxidant. Horses have the ability to convert ß-carotene to vitamin A in their small intestine.

Choline	Choline is a dietary component of many foods and is a component of several major phospholipids that are critical for normal cellular membrane structure and function.

Vitamin A	The horse is able to synthesize vitamin A (retinol) from ß-carotene and as such strictly speaking has a dietary requirement for the latter only. A metabolite of vitamin A is a major compound of the retina rod and cone cells. Its function in night vision is very important. Reproduction: Vitamin A functions in cell differentiation and as a result, plays crucial roles in reproduction and development of the foal in utero. Immunity: Vitamin A is important for maintaining immune response to infection. Skin and mucosa: Preservation of skin epithelial tissues and mucous membranes. Growth: Vitamin A is a cofactor stimulating chondrocyte differentiation (cartilage growth).

Vitamin D	Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that regulates specific expression of certain genes. The biologically active form of the hormone is 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (calcitriol). It regulates calcium and phosphorus concentrations.

Vitamin E	Vitamin E is a mixture of several related compounds known as tocopherols. The most biologically active tocopherol is α-tocopherol, but there are eight different forms of the base molecule. Vitamin E is absorbed in the small intestine and accumulates in cell membranes, adipose tissue and circulating lipoproteins. It functions purely as an antioxidant and thus protects unsaturated lipids in tissue from oxidation.

Vitamin K	Vitamin K is a cofactor for the glutamine metabolism producing proteins that are essential for blood clotting and its regulation whereas others have a role in the regulation of tissue mineralization and cell proliferation.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)	Vitamin B1 is necessary as a cofactor for enzymes catalyzing chemical cell reactions to produce energy during carbohydrate metabolism. Sources: Intestinal microbial synthesis and typical horse feed, in relatively high concentrations in cereal grains, cereal grain byproducts, protein supplements, brewer’s yeast.

Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalmin)	Vitamin B12 is a component of several enzyme systems involved in protein synthesis, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, cell replication. Sources: Synthesized by microorganisms from the intestinal tract. Bacteria require the trace element cobalt to synthesis vitamin B12.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	Vitamin B2 is precursor for coenzymes involved in a wide range of reduction-oxidation reactions of cell metabolism: energy production, drug metabolism, lipid metabolism, and antioxidant defense mechanisms. Sources: Legumes (alfalfa (lucerne), clover) > grass hays > grains. Biosynthesis by the gut flora.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxal, pyridoxine)	Vitamin B6 functions as a cofactor in transamination reactions required for the synthesis and catabolism of the amino acids and glycogenolysis (generation of glycogen, a muscle energy source). Sources: Biosynthesis by the gut microflora.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)	vitamin C is required for the maintenance of normal connective tissue and in wound healing. Vitamin C is also necessary for bone remodelling. Sources: Derived from glucose in equine tissues.

Cobalt (Co)	Cobalt is necessary for the synthesis of vitamin B12 involved in blood formation. It is an essential compound also for energy and nitrogen metabolism.

Copper (Cu)	Copper is essential for several copper-dependent enzymes involved in the synthesis and maintenance of elastic connective tissue, mobilization of iron stores primarily for blood synthesis and preservation of the integrity of mitochondria (important for energy production). Sources: The copper concentration of common feedstuffs ranges widely according to the food source. Deficiencies can be notably problematic in pregnant mares and foals due to increased requirements.

Iodine (I)	Iodine is necessary for the synthesis of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which are thyroid hormones that regulate basal metabolism.

Iron (Fe)	Iron is contained in hemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochromes, and many enzyme systems essential for the horse’s organism to function normally. Fe plays a critical role in oxygen transport and cellular respiration.

Manganese (Mn)	Manganese is essential for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and for synthesis of chondroitin sulfate necessary in cartilage formation.

Selenium (Se)	Selenium is an essential component of an enzyme (glutathione peroxidase) which aids in an important antioxidant that detoxifies toxins resulting from cellular metabolism which would otherwise destroy cell membranes . It supports vitamin E and muscle function. Se plays also a role in the control of thyroid hormone metabolism.

Silicon (Si)	Silicon is involved in the formation of new bone and is an important component of connective tissue, hyaluronic acid, and articular cartilage. The relative abundance of silicon makes the deficiency of this element difficult to achieve.

Zinc (Zn)	Zinc is present in the body as a component of more than 100 enzymzes including many metalloenzymes. Zn is crucial for normal growth and maturation and it plays an important role in neural activity.

Calcium	About 99% of the calcium (Ca) in the body is found in the bones and teeth, with calcium constituting about 35% of equine bone. Ca also plays an important role in muscle contraction and neural function, the function of cell membranes, blood coagulation, and the regulation of many enzymes. The skeleton serves as a readily available storage location for Ca.

Chlorine	Chlorine (Cl) normally accompanies sodium in the diet as the anion chloride. Chloride is an important extracellular anion involved in acid-base balance and osmotic regulation. It is an essential component of bile and is important in the formation of hypochloric acid, a gastric secretion necessary for digestion.

Magnesium	Magnesium (Mg) is a constituent of skeleton and muscle. It is an important ion in the blood, plays a role as an activator of many enzymes and participates in muscle contractions. Mg is essential for the stabilisation of DNA and proteins. Mg metabolism is linked to calcium and phosphorus ones.

Phosphorus	Like Calcium, Phosphorus (P) is a major constituent of bone, making up 14 to 17% of the skeleton. It has a role in the stability of skeletal integrity : apatite is a calcium phosphate complex and is the primary component of the bone matrix. Phosphorus is important for the acid-base metabolism, the energy transduction and utilization in cells. It is a component of nucleic acids and cells membranes.

Potassium	Potassium (K) regulates osmotic pressure and water uptake by organs. It has a role in skeletal integrity and muscle function. K is involved in neuromuscular excitability.

Sodium	Sodium (Na) is critical for normal function of the central nervous system, generation of action potentials in excitable tissues, and transport of many substances such as glucose across cell membranes. Sodium is the major extracellular cation and the major electrolyte involved in maintenance of acid-base balance and osmotic regulation of body fluids.

Sulfur	Sulfur, in the form of sulfur-containing amino acids, B vitamins (thiamin and biotin), heparin, insulin, and chondroitin sulfate, makes up about 0.15% of the body weight. The sulfur-containing amino acids cysteine and methionine play a major role in the structural component of almost all proteins and enzymes in the body. Thiamin is involved in carbohydrate metabolism, biotin is a coenzyme involved with intermediary metabolism, heparin serves as an anticoagulant, insulin helps regulate carbohydrate metabolism, and chondroitin sulfate is important to joint health. Sulfur is also necessary for keratin formation.

DL-Methionine	DL-methionine is an essential amino acid. This means that it must be obtained through the diet in adequate quantities to meet the body’s needs. DL-methionine is obtained by the hydrolysis of protein by pancreatic enzymes during digestion.

L-Lysine	L-lysine is an essential amino acid. This means that it must be obtained through the diet in adequate quantities to meet the body’s needs. L-lysine is obtained by the hydrolysis of protein by pancreatic enzymes during digestion and necessary for optimal growth in the youngest and for the maintenance of nitrogen balance in adults. Lysine is often the most deficient in horse’s diets due to its inadequate levels in commonly-fed cereal grains and grass.

L-Threonine	L-threonine is an essential amino acid. This means that it must be obtained through the diet in adequate quantities to meet the body’s needs, because it is not synthesized by the horse’s organism. L-threonine is obtained by the hydrolysis of protein by pancreatic enzymes during digestion. Horses can only use amino acids if all essential amino acids are present at sufficient levels.

L-tryptophan	L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid. This means that it must be obtained through the diet in adequate quantities to meet the body’s needs, because it is not synthesized by the horse’s organism. L-tryptophan is obtained by the hydrolysis of protein by pancreatic enzymes during digestion.

L-Leucine	Leucine is an essential amino acid. This means that it must be obtained through the diet in adequate quantities to meet the body‘s needs. Leucine is a member of the branchedchain amino acid family, along with valine and isoleucine. The three branched-chain amino acids constitute approximately 70 percent of the amino acids in the body proteins. L-leucine is obtained by the hydrolysis of protein by pancreatic enzymes during digestion and necessary for optimal growth in the youngest and for the maintenance of nitrogen balance in adults.

BARLEY	Barley is a cereal grain derived from the annual grass Hordeum vulgare. Barley grain is very hard and needs to be crushed or rolled, or cooked before feeding. Barley is the primary grain used in brewing industry and brewers’ dried grains are often incorporated into animal feeds.

BIO-MOS®	Bio-Mos® is a prebiotic. Prebiotics can be defined as a non-digestible food ingredient that beneficially affects the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon, and thus improving host health.

CASEIN	Casein, used in the form of calcium caseinate, is protein extracted from milk, making up 80% of the proteins in cow milk. Casein has a wide variety of uses, from being a major component of cheese, to use as a food additive. As a food source, casein supplies essential amino acids, carbohydrates, and two inorganic elements, calcium and phosphorus.

CHONDROITIN SULFATE	Chondroitin sulfate is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG), a naturally found polymer of linear repeating units of sugars (N-acetylgalactosamine and D-glucuronic acid).

Extruded linseed	Linseed (also known as flax) (binomial name: Linum usitatissimum) is grown both for its seeds and for its fibers. Seeds are used in animal feeding stuff (fibers are used in the textile industry). Linseed contains the greatest amount of energy (2 720 kcal/kg) higher than any other elements contained in horse feed. Extrusion is a series of compressions and decompressions of seeds, which are subjected to extreme heat (300/400°C) in a short space of time. Extrusion allows any antinutritional factors to be neutralised by deactivating the cyanogenic components in the linseed, and also deactivates the lipases (enzymes) responsible for oxidising oils. Extrusion processes create a «nugget» form of feedstuff without damaging vital nutrients.

FISH OIL	Fish oils are rich in Omega-3 essential fatty acids that constitute the basis of their interesting properties. Essential fatty acids are so called because the body requires them for good health, but cannot manufacture them itself.

Glucosamine	Glucosamine is a compound found naturally in the body, made from glucose and the amino acid glutamine.

Green Lipped Mussel	Green-lipped mussel extract comes from Perna canaliculus, a salt-water shellfish indigenous to New Zealand.

Lucerne (Alfalfa)	Lucerne (or alfalfa) hay is made from the lucerne plant (Medicago sativa), a leguminous temperate perennial plant. Lucerne hay, when it is produced and stored correctly is commonly green in colour and should, on closer inspection contain a high percentage of leaf material and fine stems.

Maize	Maize (Zea mays), known in many English-speaking countries as corn, is a cereal grain, just like oats and barley. Corn is often an economical energy source for horse feeds. Dent corn is the most common type of corn used in animal feeds, whereas sweet corn and popcorn are usually grown for human consumption. Corn is frequently fed cracked, rolled or flaked, and is highly palatable.

MSM Methylsulfonylmethane	Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an organosulphur compound with the formula (CH3)2SO2. This colourless solid features the sulfonyl functional group and is considered relatively inert chemically. It occurs naturally in some primitive plants, it is present in small amounts in many foods and beverages and it is marketed as a dietary supplement. MSM is an odourless, water-soluble, white crystalline material that supplies a bioavailable form of dietary sulphur, which plays a major role in stabilising and promoting numerous body functions.

Oats	The common oat (Avena sativa) is a species of cereal grain grown for its seed, which is known by the same name (usually in the plural, unlike other grains). Oats belong to the best and most popular grain feeds for horses because they were readily available, cheap and, most importantly, best suited to their digestive systems. They should be clean, big and hard and free from dust.

POTATO PROTEINS	In the process of extracting the starch from potatoes, a protein-rich juice is produced. To remove the protein from the juice, acids and heat are added to coagulate them. Then, they are precipitated and removed by filtration or centrifugation. The isolated proteins are dried, resulting in a free-flowing powder of high protein content (78%) and high biological value.

SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE	Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a species of yeast. It is perhaps the most useful yeast owing to its use since ancient times in baking and brewing. It is the microorganism behind the most common type of fermentation. S. cerevisiae cells are round to ovoid, 5–10 micrometres in diameter.

SEAWEED	Seaweed is a marine plant that can be found in oceans all around the world. There are approximately 1700 different varieties of seaweed and they come in three different colours; green, brown and red. The green seaweeds generally grow close to the waters surface and are smaller than the brown and red varieties.

Sodium bicarbonate	Sodium bicarbonate is an alkalinising agent. It is a white, crystalline powder having a slightly saline or alkaline taste. It is soluble in water and insoluble in alcohol.

Sunflower seed is	The sunflower seed is the fruit of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Black Oil Sunflower Seed is often abbreviated BOSS. They are bird feed, the same black sunflower seeds that lots of people buy in bags to feed the birds during the winter. Only the black oil sunflower seeds can be used in horse feed. NOT the striped seeds. The striped seeds are the ones that humans usually eat, and they have thicker, tougher hulls that cannot be broken down by the horse’s digestive system, so it may be too risky to give it to them. BOSS do not need to be processed, a horse can eat a handful of the whole seeds.

UCII Undenatured type II collagen	There are several types of collagen. The main ones, however, are designated Type I, Type II and Type III. Type II collagen is found predominantly in articular cartilage and is sold in dietary supplements as Collagen-II (denatured or hydrolysed collagen type II protein) or as Undenatured Collagen type II (also known as native).

Herb corner

The horse’s health
Humans have been gathering herbs since the New Stone Age. From there, the Chinese and then western herbalist traditions developed into modern herbalism which encompasses a broad knowledge and clinically relevant data towards good health promotion. Likewise, in the past, horses grazed large areas, and when required selected certain plants to ensure their diet was balanced in minerals, vitamins and proteins as well as certain phytonutrients for “well-being”.

Herb selection today
Modern selection relies primarily on the classification according to the intended body process that is being targeted, e.g. Devil’s claw for the promotion of the joint mechanism. Herbs are sourced from nature and hence can vary from batch to batch. Factors such as the plant variety, climatic conditions, soil type, and time of harvest can all influence the quality of the herb. The importance of using reputable suppliers, who are subject to quality control audits must be emphasised.

Below is listed the herbs that are found in the Equistro products. Click on a herb to discover more botanical information…

• Respiratory
• Locomotor
• Digestive
• Nervous
• Performance

	Herb name:
	Anise

	Herb name:
	Black Horehound

	Herb name:
	Clove

	Herb name:
	Coltsfoot

	Herb name:
	Eucalyptus

	Herb name:
	Fenugreek

	Herb name:
	Garlic

	Herb name:
	Grindelia

	Herb name:
	Ground Ivy

	Herb name:
	Hyssop

	Herb name:
	Java Tea

	Herb name:
	Liquorice

	Herb name:
	Mullein

	Herb name:
	Onion

	Herb name:
	Oregano

	Herb name:
	Sage

	Herb name:
	Scots Pine

	Herb name:
	Thyme

	Herb name:
	Yarrow

	Herb name:
	Arnica

	Herb name:
	Blackcurrent

	Herb name:
	Canadian Fleabane

	Herb name:
	Chrysantellum

	Herb name:
	Devil’s Claw

	Herb name:
	Hazelnut

	Herb name:
	Horsetail

	Herb name:
	Meadowsweet

	Herb name:
	Rose Hip

	Herb name:
	Stinging Nettle

	Herb name:
	White Willow

	Herb name:
	Witch Hazel

	Herb name:
	Artichoke

	Herb name:
	Burdock

	Herb name:
	Milk Thistle

	Herb name:
	Hawthorn

	Herb name:
	Hops

	Herb name:
	Lemon Balm

	Herb name:
	Passion Flower

	Herb name:
	Sweet Clover

	Herb name:
	Artichoke

	Herb name:
	Bush Clover

	Herb name:
	Grape Seed

	Herb name:
	Java Tea