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Horse Diet

Performance Horse Feed

Nutrient requirements are needed when analyzing and balancing a horse’s diet.  The nutrient requirements are based on the horses’ different life stages.

Horses require feed to supply energy, protein, minerals and vitamins for maintenance, production, growth and performance.  Recommended nutrient requirements are expressed as absolute amounts per day. 

These recommendations are considered averages because horses of similar body weights and production status will vary slightly in their individual nutrient needs.  The amounts of nutrients needed will of course depend on the horses’ weight, life stage, activity and growth.

These recommendations are developed by years of research at universities around the world and are compiled by the National Research Council Subcommittee on Horse Nutrition.

Nutrient Requirements of the Light Performance Horse

• Digestible energy (DE) i1.15 Mcal/lb
   
• Crude protein 9.8%
   
• Lysine .35%
   
• Calcium .30%
   
• Phosphorus .22%
   
• Magnesium .11%
   
• Potassium .37%
   
• Vitamin A 1220 IU/lb
   
• Expected total feed eaten (lbs/100 lbs. body weight) 1.5% - 2.5
   
• Hay to grain ratio of total feed daily 65% hay & 35% grain

Nutrient Requirements of the Moderate Performance Horse

• Digestible energy (DE) i1.20 Mcal/lb
   
• Crude protein 10.4%
   
• Lysine .37%
   
• Calcium .31%
   
• Phosphorus .23%
   
• Magnesium .12%
   
• Potassium .39%
   
• Vitamin A 1100 IU/lb
   
• Expected total feed eaten (lbs/100 lbs. body weight) 1.75% - 2.5%
   
• Hay to grain ratio of total feed daily 50% hay & 50% grain

Nutrient Requirements of the Intense Performance Horse

• Digestible energy (DE) 1.30 Mcal/lb
   
• Crude protein 11.4%
   
• Lysine .40%
   
• Calcium .35%
   
• Phosphorus .25%
   
• Magnesium .13%
   
• Potassium .43%
   
• Vitamin A 890 IU/lb
   
• Expected total feed eaten (lbs/100 lbs. body weight) 2% - 3%
   
• Hay to grain ratio of total feed daily 35% hay & 65% grain

Feeding foal