8/ NOVEMBER 2023 THE RIDER Nutritional Precision: Optimizing Equine Diets Through Hay Analysis
Even if your hay is coming from the same supplier year after year, or even being har- vested off of the same field the nutritional content will change from batch to batch. So, when the nutritional content of the hay is changing, and the supplemental feed is not being adjusted to complement the nutritional profile of the hay, nutritional issues can arise – such as in Sunshine’s case a loss of condi- tion.
The process of developing a balanced
An Equine Nutrition Series by Madeline Boast,
MSc. Equine Nutrition Let’s start this article with the story of a
senior mare named Sunshine. I was contacted by Sunshine’s owner over nutritional con- cerns. Sunshine was losing condition and was unable to maintain her topline muscles. The owner was puzzled as underlying medical conditions had been ruled out by the vet, and she was providing Sunshine with the same feed and supplements that she had been on for years. The one missing piece of the puzzle was a hay analysis. Therefore, although her daily meals had been kept the same, the nu- tritional content of the forage had changed.
diet for a comprehensive nutrition plan is more in-depth than a simple 5-minute evalu- ation of the supplements you feed. For a diet to be properly balanced there is a comprehen- sive gathering of important information re- quired. From measurements of the horse to estimate weight, body condition scoring, weighing the feeds, and of course, a hay analysis must be done. If the majority of what a horse consumes in a day is hay, how can it be claimed that a ration is balanced without knowing the nutritional content? – It truly makes no sense. Therefore, at Balanced Bay, whether you’re opting for an on-farm consul- tation or a remote consultation a hay analysis is a crucial first step in designing an optimal diet for your horse.
How do we know what a horse requires nu- tritionally? The NRC, 2007 (Nutrient Requirements
of Horses) is an extensive publication that provides information on nutrient requirements for horses in different life stages, as well as under different workloads. This document is only the starting point for curating a balanced diet. Dedicated nutritionists also consider more recent publications, especially when dealing with horses that have specific nutri- tional concerns. This ensures that the horse is
getting a detailed nutrition plan that is person- ally developed to meet their specific needs while based on the most up-to-date scientific information.
What is a balanced diet? To have a balanced diet means that all of
the animal’s nutrient requirements are being met in the optimal proportions. For a horse, there are 6 nutrient classes that must be ac- counted for. These include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, and water. The requirement for forage should also be carefully considered when balancing a diet. Just because nutrient levels are being met with a concentrate, does not necessarily mean the horse will thrive on that program. So, when Sunshine’s forage was ana-
lyzed, it became abundantly clear that the for- age was nutritionally poor. Upon visual inspection of the hay, it looked relatively av- erage, however, the analysis indicated that the hay was above average in indigestible fibre content, low in digestible energy and low in protein. Now this hay may be ideal for some of those easy keepers, but it was playing a sig- nificant role in Sunshine’s loss of body con- dition. Once we had the information on the for-
age, it allowed me to take a precise and tar- geted approach to remedy the nutritional issues such as the protein deficiency in her diet. With Sunshine, her timothy cubes were switched to alfalfa, soybean meal was added, and a switch in the ration balancer was made. Additionally, with these diet changes, some of her supplements were able to be removed from the diet, for example, she did not need both a ration balancer and a selenium supple- ment – saving her owner money! Now if we didn’t have the hay analysis,
we may have suspected low protein and that an increase in digestible energy was required, however why take random guesses at how much protein to add when by simply investing in a hay analysis it can be precisely calcu- lated. Especially because greatly oversupply- ing protein can cause nutritional issues as well.
To conclude, as an independent nutrition-
ist I am able to truly be there for the horse and their individual needs. Just because one horse thrives on a certain brand of feed, doesn’t mean that all horses will – additionally some horses just have different palatability prefer- ences. Therefore, when you invest in an in- depth nutritional evaluation for your horse, their balanced diet can be personalized and precise in meeting their nutritional needs to optimally support them. Whether your horse is an elite sport horse, or a pasture pony – a balanced diet that is carefully curated for their individual needs can make all of the differ- ence. Please note that horse names have been changed to protect client confidentiality.
By: Madeline Boast, MSc. Equine Nutri- tion
About the author: Madeline Boast com-
pleted her master’s in Equine Nutrition at the University of Guelph and started an inde- pendent nutrition company known as Bal- anced Bay. She has worked with a variety of equids – from miniature ponies to competing thoroughbreds. Through Balanced Bay she designs customized balanced nutrition plans that prioritize equine well-being. This in- cludes diets for optimal performance as well as solving complex nutritional issues and everything in between. For additional infor- mation see
www.balancedbay.ca
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