Pegus News

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) B-vitamins are a group of 8 water soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism. They can not be produced by the body itself, but can be produced by bacteria, fungi and plants. In the horse, microorganisms in the gut (mainly the hind gut) is capable of synthesizing B-vitamins and nutrient requirements have only been established for thiamin (B1) and riboflavin (B2). In this article we will look at the function, dietary sources and requirements for riboflavin (vitamin B2). Function Riboflavin is a precursor to the…

Most horses have some type of compound feed included in their daily ration. This is mainly to supply additional energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. Of special interest with horses is the type of feed ingredient providing the energy . It makes a difference if the energy substrate is starch, fat or fibre. Feed manufacturers often have a wide range of compound feeds that vary in composition and nutrient content. Therefore, it is important for the horse owner to be able to make informed choices about the product that best meets…

Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) B-vitamins are a group of 8 water soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism. They cannot be produced by the body itself, but can be produced by bacteria, fungi and plants. In the horse, microorganisms in the gut, mainly the hind gut, are capable of synthesizing B-vitamins. Nutrient requirements have so far only been well established for thiamin (B1) and riboflavin (B2). Function Vitamin B12 performs a wide variety of functions in the body. It is a component of several enzyme systems, most of which…

Fibre in Horse Feed The horse is a grass-eating herbivore and its digestive system is adapted to rations that consist mainly of roughage, i.e. grasses and herbs, either fresh or as hay or haylage. Roughages are rich in fibre and the horse needs this fibre for both energy and as a structural component to ensure proper functioning of the digestive system. Fibre-rich diets require a long time for chewing, keeping the horse occupied and increasing the time needed to consume a meal. This is important for the horse’s comfort and…

It’s time to make plans for the upcoming breeding season. Spring will soon be here, most owners wanting to breed a horse will be soon deciding what stallion they want to use for their mare. If you’re brood mare is pregnant and expecting a foal in the spring, you should inform your chosen insemination centre of your mare’s expected foaling date. Agreement must be reached with the stud owner concerning transport of the mare before foaling and return afterwards with the foal or, if the mare is to foal at…

Adjusting rations for mares in late pregnancy At this time of year, many pregnant mares are in their last months of pregnancy. The foetus now increases its growth rate and demands more nutrients to support that growth. The mare has to deliver these nutrients to her foetus and her ration will have to be adjusted accordingly. Foetal growth In the first 7 months of pregnancy, the foetus grows moderately and only reaches about 20% of its final birth weight. This means that the mare’s nutrient requirements in this period changes…

We often use the term “maintenance requirement” believing its meaning to be well understood by most horse people. We might, however, speculate as to what extent this is true. Today most horses are owned, used and fed by people with little or no connection to farming practice or theoretical knowledge about their horse’s nutritional requirements, and how this is to be calculated. Maintenance requirements can be described as the nutrients needed to maintain a body in a steady state. This means that the animal should no longer be growing nor…

Prepare for good grazing After a long winter horses will again be back on lush pastures. The transition from indoor feeding to grazing requires proper preparations, if you are to avoid digestive problems and maintain a good health. Needless to say, fences and gates must be in good technical condition. Take some time to tidy up the field. Remove accumulated trash (plastic, bottles, sharp items) that have “stranded” in the pasture during winter. Control the water supplies, and provide salt licks (sodium chloride). Horses should be wormed before they are…