Baileys Horse Feeds & the Futurity Evaluations

WHO ARE WE?Baileys have supported the Futurity Young Horse Evaluations since their inception in 2005.• Family owned and run business• Specialists in stud nutrition. We breed

horses ourselves.• The whole team are horse owners

and we fully understand what it takes to feed and keep an equine!

• Well renowned feed company with a solid reputation

• Feeds widely available across the UK and internationally

• Modern, forward thinking ethos

• Feed formulations that work!

WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE BY SUPPORTING THE FUTURITY EVALUATIONS?• Our nutritional message is that the aim for all youngstock is to support growth and development, while maintaining a reason-

ably lean body condition so as not to cause any unwanted compensatory or rapid growth. Particularly where the young horse is being produced for competition, keeping any excessive weight and pressure off the joints during growth is invaluable.

• Through the use of body condition scoring and muscles assessment as management tools, we want to help the horse owner/breeder to understand the relationship and differences between calories and bodyweight, plus the influence of diet on muscle and top line for performance and development.

• Our take home message is that horses in optimum condition, with muscle over their loins, back and hindquarters, are better able to lengthen, elevate, turn etc and support their tendons and ligaments during their development

• While you cannot change the genetics of the horse you can, give it the best possible chance of achieving its inherited poten-tial.

• The aim is NOT to produce fat, over-conditioned horses and sell more feed!

WHAT ARE WE DOING ON THE DAY? • One of our nutritionists will be standing at the vet assessment and providing

a body condition score and muscle assessment score for each participant and further advice where requested.

• Now that “Condition” is included in the Futurity linear marking criteria, we may discuss some individuals with the vets at their discretion.

• Body Condition Scoring (BCS) is the best way to determine if their calorie needs are being met. Score 1 – 9 (using Henneke et al 1983)

• Top Line Assessment will assist in determining if their amino acid (protein) needs are being met to achieve gradual muscle development. Graded as Excel-lent – Poor.

• Used as a management tool to give an indication as to the suitability of the horse’s diet at the time of assessment. Taking into account the age and stages of development.

• Rule of thumb to improve the muscle development of each “area”, the horse will build muscle in the following order, hindquarters, croup, loin and last will be their back and withers area. It takes an average of 30 days to improve one grade.

Body Condition Scoring, Henneke et al

Top Line Assessment

THE FACTS ABOUT FEEDING FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT• Growth occurs from conception up until 5-7 years of age (maturity).• While we know that poor nutrition can delay development (and in some cases where dietary

restriction occurs over a long period, stunt growth altogether), nutrition past an upper threshold will only increase the rate of growth up to the genetic potential of that individual.

• Feeding the young horse with performance in mind needs to be considered with a long term view. Promoting soundness at an early stage, through nutrition and correct management, should not be underestimated for its role in performance longevity.

• While the mare has the ability to buffer the effects of any mild dietary insufficiency, this does come at a cost. Failure to meet dietary requirements of lactating mares results in the use of body stores to maintain milk production and composition. Where protein is insufficient, the mare will lose muscle and top line and ‘milk off her back’.

• Although previous thoughts on the pregnant mare’s nutritional requirements placed most emphasis on the third trimester, it is now appreciated that her requirements will be increased from conception.

• During early to mid gestation, nutrients (specifically copper, zinc, selenium, calcium and phosphorus) are required for the development of critical organs and the placenta.

• Copper, in particular, is noted for its importance during gestation as it is required for elastic connective tissue and collagen formation in the unborn foal. Many studies have suggested copper supplementation of pregnant mares subsequently influences the susceptibility of the foal to developmental cartilage lesion.

• A theory that has long been discredited is that excess protein is a risk factor with developmental problems; this has been proven incorrect by many studies. These studies have concluded the opposite, in that a deficiency in protein is more likely to negatively affect bone metabolism.

• The entire mineral profile needs to be considered and balanced for the growing horse. Any deficiency and/or excess can be a factor for increased risk of Development Orthopaedic Disorders (DODs).

• It is thought unlikely that one factor alone is sufficient to cause DOD’s, therefore, although changes in nutrition can increase or decrease the risk of DOD, it can never prevent the occurrence completely.

• Over weight /top heavy youngsters experience unnecessary trauma on young developing limbs, which can lead to growth disorders and limitations to physical ability.

• Underweight /poorer horses have the potential for weakened bones and ligaments, poor skeletal develop-ment and negatively affected attitude and physical ability.

BEWARE OF RELYING ON FORAGE AS THE SOLE NUTRIENT SOURCE!

•For those on poached, restricted or over stocked pasture – where is the nutrition coming from!?•Grass will ALWAYS provide more nutrients in comparison to hay/haylage, therefore, breeding stock relying on hay/haylage as their main forage source as opposed to grass, are likely to require more nutrients from concentrate feed. •Pregnant mares in late gestation, where their capacity for feed intake may be limited (the foetus compressing on the digestive system), may be physically unable to consume sufficient forage neces-sary to meet energy and nutrient requirements. This can be further compounded if the forage is of poor quality. In these circumstances more energy and nutrient-dense feeds are required to meet the mare’s requirements. • In the past 10 years we have had analysis results from over 1000 different forages (hay/haylage). Looking at averages from this data, as the sole source of nutrients, it would not meet the require-ments of a mare in the latter stages of gestation, during lactation or growing horses. The most nota-ble deficiencies being in overall calorie/energy intake, crude protein, calcium, phosphorus, copper and zinc. In light of this, it is easy to see how, for example mares, lose condition during lactation when

the average of our hay/haylage samples only provided <45% of her crude protein requirement. • When looking at average pasture analyses separately, when it is the sole source of nutrients it too

would not meet the requirements of a mare in the latter stages of gestation, during lactation or grow-ing horses. While you are more likely to meet calorie/energy requirements with good quality grass, you would still struggle to meet crude protein, copper, zinc, sodium and phosphorus requirements. With pasture, it also has to be noted that the nutrient content changes throughout the growing season and will decrease significantly in mature and dormant pasture.

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For further information contact one of Baileys Nutrition team on 01371 850 247 (option 2)e: nutriiton@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk