Determination Of Working Equines Nutrient Requirements

DR. Mohamed Salem Zallam,
Associate, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Aleppo University.

Abstract

working Equines are characterized by the fact that their main production is muscular work, which, in turn, determines the peculiarities of digestion and metabolism. The level of nutritional exchange operations and the exchange of energy in working Equines depends on the breed, the sex, the age, the physiological condition and the kind of work carried out.

working Equines, whether they do draught, transport or field work, the actual work they carry out is useful mechanical work and an additional work consisting of moving the body of the Horse, which represents 25-30% of the amount of the useful mechanical work.

In order to maintain the capacity of the horses to work (Draught, sport and colts under training) as well as to secure a long economical employment period extending from 10-12 years, we must make available ration of full nutritional value which ensure a balanced diet, in addition to good care.
This is also necessary to maintain the live-body weight of fully-grown horses and to secure weight increase of the growing colts and the production of milk by the mares.
The basic factor affecting the nutritional requirements of working Equines is the Live-body weight, in addition to the amount and intensity of executed work. Therefore, the basic measurement for evaluating the ration of working Equines is the change in live-body weight and body measurements.
The average nutritional requirements of working Equines , which have been established in many countries, had taken into consideration the economic specifications of using working Equines for various ages and for both sexes. These are average requirements when applied we must take into account the breed, the sex, the mood and the habits of the horses and the individual consumption of the feed, as well as the kind of work carried out by the horses, and therefore, these averages can be modified by about 5%.
We have given the nutritional requirements of working Equines in resting states and when working according to the live-body weight and the amount of work to be carried out, and also for young horses working during growth periods and for sire- horses, of both sexes. We have also given the importance and the role of the nutritional materials for working horses in addition to determining the feeds used in feeding the horses as, qualitatively and quantitatively and the methods of preparing them. We also dealt with the technique of feeding and watering working Equines.