Nutrient Requirements and Balancing Rations for Horses

Author: L.A. Lawrence, Extension Animal Scientist, Horses, Virginia Tech

Publication Number 406-473, July 1996

Table 8.

Recommended Nutrient Allowances for Concentrates (As-Fed Basis))

                                  Concentrate allowancesa
                            DE        Crude Proteinc       Calcium     Phosphorus
                         Mcal/kg           (%)               (%)          (%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MatureHorses
   Maintenance             3.0         10.0 - 12.0           0.40         0.30 
   Mare, late gest.        3.0         12.0 - 14.0           0.50         0.40
   Mare, early lact.       3.0         12.0 - 14.0           0.65         0.45
   Mare, late lact.        3.0         12.0 - 14.0           0.65         0.45

Working Horses
   Light                   3.0            10.0               0.40         0.30
   Moderate                3.0            10.0               0.40         0.30
   Intense                 3.0            10.0               0.40         0.30

Young Horses
   Creep feed              3.1         15.0 - 16.0           0.95         0.65
   Foal 3 mob              3.1         15.0 - 16.0           0.95         0.65
   Weanling 6 mo           3.1         15.0 - 16.0           0.95         0.65
   Yearling 12 mo          3.0         12.0 - 14.0           0.65         0.45
   Long yearling 18 mo     3.0         12.0 - 13.0           0.50         0.40
   2 year-old              3.0         10.0 - 12.0           0.45         0.35
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Formulated to be fed with average quality grass hay. If higher quality roughages are fed, the nutrient content of the concentrate can be reduced.
**  Without milk.
*** Greater crude protein allowance suggested to be fed with grass hays, lower crude protein suggested to be fed with legume hays.

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