Livestock Studies 1997, Vol 37, Num, 1     (Pages: 083-108)

Nutrition of Race Horse

Adnan ŞEHU 1

1 Dr. AÜ. Vet. Fak., Hayvan Beseme ve Beslenme Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı. ANKARA - Horse is a monogastric animal. The horse is somewhere between the monogastric and the ruminant animals in digestive phiysiology. The horse has the digestion of stomach and small intestine similar to their monogastric animals and the digestion of large intestine similar to ruminants. However, the absorption of nutritients from large intestine is limited.

Metabolic mechanism of the exercised horse changes according to the duration and degree of exercises. Muscles use long chain fatty acids as an energy source during light works. Of the light exersice is prolonged, muscles use body fat as an energy source. Skeletal muscles use rapidly muscle glycogen during heavy exercises and lactic acid is produced.

Physical activity of horses causes increases in energy and nutrient requirements depending on the degree of activity. The increase in energy requirement of horse is Iarger than the requirements of protein, salt, minerals and vitamins.

Rations of horses must be prepared according to their physiological characteristics, live weight, degree of work, type of work and body condition. Keywords :