Junior Horse Bowl
Section A - Nutrition
Basics of Nutrition
Overview of Nutrition
Five main types of nutrients:
Overview of Nutrition
Five main types of nutrients:
- Water (most important)
- Energy - fats & carbohydrates
- Protein
- Vitamins
- Minerals
WATER (most important nutrient)
Composition:
Primary component of all body fluids
Water makes up about 65-75% of an adult horse's body weight
Water makes up about 75-80% of an foal's body weight
Consumption:
A 1,000 lb. horse will drink about 8-10 gallons/day
The more a horse works, the more water he should drink
Intake varies due to: Environment, size, age, health, activity and type of feed consumed
Primary component of all body fluids
Water makes up about 65-75% of an adult horse's body weight
Water makes up about 75-80% of an foal's body weight
Consumption:
A 1,000 lb. horse will drink about 8-10 gallons/day
The more a horse works, the more water he should drink
Intake varies due to: Environment, size, age, health, activity and type of feed consumed
Functions:
1. Regulates body temperature
2. Necessary for life & shape of cells
3. Transports nutrients to and wastes from the cells
4. Lubricates and protects the body
ENERGY - Fats & Carbohydrates
Energy:
- Nutrients that provide energy to the horse
- The body's fuel
Carbohydrates (primary energy nutrient)
Carbohydrates
Made of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen
Simple Carbs:
Complex Carbs:
Made of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen
Simple Carbs:
- Sugars, Starches (Molasses and lush green pasture)
- Easily digested in small intestine
Complex Carbs:
- Cellulose & Fibers (Roughages, mature pasture & hay)
- Digested by bacteria in the cecum & large intestine
- Excess carbs are stored as muscle glycogen (short-term energy) or fat
Fats & Oils
Fats & Oils:
- Fats - solid
- Oils - liquid
- Fats have more carbon and hydrogen than carbohydrates
- Digested fats are 2.25 times more useable energy that carbs or protein
- Fats help absorb fat-soluble vitamins A,D,E & K
- Excess fat is stored as FAT
PROTEIN
Amino acids
- "Building Blocks of Protein & the horse"
- Made of chains of amino acids
- 23 different amino acids
- 10 essential amino acids (needed from the diet)
- 13 non-essential amino acids (made in the horse's body from breaking down and reconstructing essential amino acids)
- Lysine is most essential (pg. 33 Horse Science)
- Carried through the blood to the body to form: tissue, muscle, internal organs, bones, blood, skin, hair, hooves, the body
- Found in feed and forage. Legumes are high in protein. Mature pasture is low in protein.
- Excess protein is NOT stored
VITAMINS
Organic compounds
Fat soluble or Water soluble
Essential vitamins: A & E (cannot be produced in the body, needs to be consumed through the diet)
Non-essential vitamins: B, D, C & K (produced naturally in the body)
Fat soluble or Water soluble
Essential vitamins: A & E (cannot be produced in the body, needs to be consumed through the diet)
Non-essential vitamins: B, D, C & K (produced naturally in the body)
Fat Soluble Vitamins
Vitamins absorbed with fat and stored as fat
Vitamin A
Function:
Essential
Function:
- Eye Function
- Bone Development
- Proper cell formation
- beta-carotene in plants like fresh pasture & hay
Essential
- Not naturally produced by the body, need from the diet
Vitamin D
Function:
Source:
Function:
- Bone formation
- Absorption & body use of Calcium & Phosphorus minerals
Source:
- Sunlight (skin converts sunlight to vitamin D when activated by sunlight)
- Sun-cured forages
- Produced by the body
Vitamin E
Function:
Source:
Function:
- Maintains & protects body cell membranes from oxidations
- Enhances immunity
Source:
- Fresh green forages, some in hays & grains
- Not naturally produced by the body, need from the diet
Vitamin K
Function:
- Aids in blood clotting (coagulation)
Source:
- Pasture & hay
- Some produced by bacteria in the horse's cecum & large colon
Nonessential
- Produced by the body
Water Soluble Vitamins
Absorbed with water and excreted, not stored
Vitamin C
(Ascorbic acid)
Function:
Source:
Nonessential
(Ascorbic acid)
Function:
- Protect body & Cells from oxidation (burning a substance, like nutrients, to produce energy)
- Boosts immune system
- Helps skin heal wounds
Source:
- Produced in the liver or kidneys
Nonessential
- Produced by the body
B-Complex Vitamins
(thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, biotin, choline, folic acid & cobalamin)
Function:
Source:
(thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, biotin, choline, folic acid & cobalamin)
Function:
- Excess is not stored, it's excreted
- Nutrient metabolism (breaks down foods for nutrient & energy absorption)
Source:
- Produced in the cecum and colon
- Produced by the body
MINERALS
Inorganic - do not have carbon
Two Types:
Two Types:
- Macrominerals (minerals needed in large amounts)
- Microminerals (minerals needed in tiny amounts)
Macrominerals
Needed in large amounts
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Sulfur
- Sodium
- Chloride
Calcium
Phosphorus
- Bone formation and maintenance
- Responsible for skeletal strength
- Muscle contraction and relaxation
Phosphorus
- Builds and maintains bone
- Provides skeletal strength
- Transfers energy throughout body
Magnesium
- Component of bones and teeth
- Helps with muscle contraction
- Metabolism of nutrients
Sulfur
- Produces amino acids and vitamins
- Component of insulin - hormone that regulates blood sugar concentration
Sodium
- regulates osmotic pressure of cells (the amount of water in a cell)
Chloride
- Aids in digestion, part of hydrochloric acid in the stomach
Microminerals
Needed in small amounts
- Copper
- Zinc
- Iron
- Manganese
- Iodine
- Selenium
- Cobalt
Copper
- Keeps bone and blood vessels elastic (helps them not become stiff)
- Helps produce melanin (pigment that gives hair and skin its color)
Zinc
- Helps bone grow
Iron
- Needed for hemoglobin to carry oxygen to cells
Manganese
- Carbohydrate and fat metabolism
- Helps build cartilage
Iodine
- Production of hormones in the thyroid to regulate metabolism
Selenium
- Works with vitamin E to protect body tissue
- Not enough = muscle dystrophy, loss of coordination
Cobalt
- Produces cobalamine, a B-complex vitamin