4th September 2023

Getting horse nutrition on point from the get-go matters – it has a critical role in weight maintenance, fertility, foetal development, and in the sound development of growing horses.

 To help achieve optimal nutrition this breeding season, there are 3 basic nutrition pillars you need to consider.

1. Energy – finding the right balance

Breeding and growth take a lot of energy! Of course, you need to feed enough energy, but providing too much (and having horses that are too fat) can lead to poor fertility in mares, and joint issues in both stallions and young, growing horses. So getting the balance right is important. 

How should you feed energy?

The base of every good horse diet – including one for your growing or breeding horse – is pasture and forage (fibre), with a recommended intake of at least 1.5-2% Dry Matter of body weight per day (that’s 7.5-10kg pasture and/or hay DM per day for a 500kg horse). If pasture availability and quality aren’t ideal, you’ll probably also need a supplementary feed to ensure your horse gets enough energy for weight maintenance – especially during lactation and growth.

When choosing a supplementary  feed to provide additional energy, if you opt for one that contains grain or grain by-products, make sure those grains are cooked (extruded or pelleted). This increases the likelihood of starch in the grain being digested in the small intestine (which minimises the chances of it reaching the hindgut). This matters a whole lot because a healthy hindgut allows for optimal fibre (ie. pasture and hay) digestion. It is also important to remember to maintain access to good quality fibre to prevent digestive upsets like ulcers and colic.

2. Protein – high-quality matters

After energy, protein intake is the next most important nutrient for growing and breeding horses. Breeding stallions, pregnant and lactating mares, and growing horses need high-quality protein in their diet to support fertility, foetal development, milk production and normal growth and development. Diets that DON’T contain enough high-quality protein can result in poor milk production and stunted growth.

 When it comes to protein – the quality of it matters! Proteins are made up of amino acids, which include non-essential amino acids (horses can make these themselves) and essential amino acids (horses can’t make these, so have to consume them via the feed). High-quality protein sources contain lots of essential amino acids in the right proportions AND the amino acids are digestible (so they can be absorbed and used by the horse). Soybean meal is a high-quality protein source. When selecting a feed, look for the protein ingredients it contains, rather than just the percentage of protein per se.

3. Vitamins & minerals

Growing and Breeding horses need more vitamins and minerals in their diets – especially calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, zinc and manganese. It is crucial that these requirements are met. Studies have shown that foals born to mares on a copper-deficient diet were at increased risk of developmental disorders. It is also well known that growing horses fed a diet deficient in other minerals can result in bone and joint development problems, including OCD.

Vitamins A, D, E & K are fat-soluble vitamins and horses usually obtain their maintenance requirements from green pastures and good quality fresh hay. However, horses grazing dry pastures may need additional supplementation. B vitamins are water soluble and are widely misunderstood and have been over supplemented. However, there is evidence that B1 supplementation may be beneficial for performance horses in heavy work to prevent thiamine deficiency, as thiamine is part of the enzyme system for energy metabolism.

Australian pasture and forages are almost always deficient in copper and zinc, and growing pastures are often too high in phosphorus, so it’s important to provide the correct amounts of vitamins and minerals for breeding and growing horses, in the correct ratios (i.e. Ca:P above 1).

CopRice – Nutrition that stacks up.

Got questions? Need advice on the right diet for your growing or breeding horse? The Team at CopRice would love to help! Give us a call on 1800 029 901.

The information provided in this article is intended as a guide only. Information contained in this article has been provided by the manufacturer and although Nutrien Ag Solutions has taken all due care to provide accurate information in this article, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date you read it, or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. You should not rely on the information in this article, and it should not be considered advice. You should seek professional advice regarding relevant factors specific to your situation, such as planting times and environmental conditions. This article does not take into account variable conditions such as climactic conditions, soil type and individual circumstances that may impact performance. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Nutrien Ag Solutions Limited and its related associated entities will not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by any person arising out of any reliance on any information contained in this article.