Find out more about starch in the article « STARCH ».
The recommended quantities in the table below have been calculated taking into consideration both the starch provided, as well as the size of the stomach (do not exceed 400g/100kg live-weight of feed per meal).
PREVENTING DIGESTIVE DISORDERS
Situation : Preventing colics and hindgut acidosis
| Maximum limit per meal | In practice : Maximum limit per meal (500kg adult horse) | |
| 150 g /100 kg live-weight |
Adult | 3 litres (2 kg) |
| Adult Energy | 3 litres (2 kg) | |
| Racing | 3 litres (2 kg) | |
| Training | 3 litres (2 kg) | |
| Adult Specific Energy | 3 litres (2 kg) | |
| Breeding | 3 litres (2 kg) | |
Situation : Preventing gastric ulcers
| Maximum limit per meal | In practice : Maximum limit per meal (500kg adult horse) | |
| 100 g /100 kg live-weight |
Adult | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) |
| Adult Energy | 2 litres (1.4 kg) | |
| Racing | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) | |
| Training | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) | |
| Adult Specific Energy | 3 litres (2 kg) | |
| Breeding | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) | |
Situation : To accompany gastric ulcers treatments
| Maximum limit per meal | In practice : Maximum limit per meal (500kg adult horse) | |
| 50 g /100 kg live-weight |
Adult Specific Energy | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) |
PREVENTING OSTEOARTICULAR DISORDERS
Situation : Preventing osteoarticular disorders in the foal
| Maximum limit per meal | In practice : Maximum limit per meal (500kg adult horse) | |
| 100 g /100 kg live-weight |
Breeding (pregnancy) | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) |
| Foal (6 months) | 1.4 litres (950 g) | |
| Foal (12 months) | 2 litres (1.4 kg) | |
| Breeding (12 months) | 1.5 litres (1 kg) | |
| Breeding (18 months) | 2 litres (1.4 kg) | |
PREVENTING MUSCULAR DISEASES
Situation : Preventing exertion myopathy in a non-predisposed horse
| Maximum limit per meal | In practice : Maximum limit per meal (500kg adult horse) | |
| 100 g /100 kg live-weight |
Adult | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) |
| Adult Energy | 2 litres (1.4 kg) | |
| Racing | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) | |
| Training | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) | |
| Adult Specific Energy | 3 litres (2 kg) | |
| Breeding | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) | |
Situation : Horses suffering from RER
| Maximum limit per meal | In practice : Maximum limit per meal (500kg adult horse) | |
| 50 g /100 kg live-weight |
Adult | 1.2 litres (860 g) |
| Adult Energy | 1 litre (700 g) | |
| Racing | 1.2 litres (860 g) | |
| Training | 1.2 litres (860 g) | |
| Adult Specific Energy | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) | |
| Breeding | 1.2 litres (860 g) | |
Situation : Horses suffering of PSSM
| Maximum limit per meal | In practice : Maximum limit per meal (500kg adult horse) | |
| 15 g /100 kg live-weight |
Adult | 0.4 litre (260 g) |
| Adult Specific Energy | 0.8 litre (540 g) | |
| Breeding | 0.4 litre (260 g) | |
PREVENTING AND MANAGING METABOLIC DISORDERS
Situation : Limit the metabolic response in a healthy horse
| Maximum limit per meal | In practice : Maximum limit per meal (500kg adult horse) | |
| 100 g /100 kg live-weight |
Adult | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) |
| Adult Energy | 2 litres (1.4 kg) | |
| Racing | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) | |
| Training | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) | |
| Adult Specific Energy | 3 litres (2 kg) | |
| Breeding | 2.5 litres (1.8 kg) | |
Situation : Managing a horse suffering from a metabolic disease
| Maximum limit per meal | In practice : Maximum limit per meal (500kg adult horse) | |
| 30 g /100 kg live-weight |
Adult | 0.7 litre (500 g) |
| Adult Specific Energy | 1.5 litre (1 kg) | |
| Breeding | 0.7 litre (500 g) | |
Situation : Preventing laminitis in a predisposed horse
| Maximum limit per meal | In practice : Maximum limit per meal (500kg adult horse) | |
| 30 g /100 kg live-weight |
Adult | 0.7 litre (500 g) |
| Adult Specific Energy | 1.5 litres (1 kg) | |
| Breeding | 0.7 litre (500 g) | |
Situation : Managing a case of acute laminitis
| Maximum limit per meal | In practice : Maximum limit per meal (500kg adult horse) | |
| 15 g /100 kg live-weight |
Adult | 0.4 litre (260 g) |
| Adult Specific Energy | 0.8 litre (540 g) | |
| Breeding | 0.4 litre (260 g) | |
TO KNOW
- Increasing the frequency of concentrate distribution improves assimilation of oils and minerals1.
- Increasing the frequency of concentrate distribution lowers the postprandial glycaemia and insulinaemia, and normalises serum leptin (satiety hormone) concentrations.1-3.
This allows the horse’s metabolism to get closer to what it is when out at grass and grazing2.
TO LEARN MORE
1. Jansson, A., Sandin, A. & Lindberg, J. Digestive and metabolic effects of altering feeding frequency in athletic horses. Equine Comp. Exerc. Physiol. 3, 83–91 2006).
2. Steelman, S., Michael-Eller, E., Gibbs, P. & Potter, G. Meal size and feeding frequency influence serum leptin concentration in yearling horses. J. Anim. Sci. 84, 2391 (2006).
3. Pratt-Phillips, S. et al. The Effect of Feeding Two or Three Meals Per Day of Either Low or High Nonstructural Carbohydrate Concentrates on Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Concentrations in Horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 34, 1251–1256 (2014).