Page 20 - April 2009 The Game

20 The Game, April 2009 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
The Game
Health & Nutrition 2009
Special Advertorial Feature
Fueling the Racehorse: Balancing Starch, Sugar and Fat
Mars Horsecare US Inc., BUCKEYE® Nutrition brand
two main sources of energy in horse feeds: non- structural carbohydrates (NSC; sugar and starch), and fat. To optimize speed and stamina and still ensure the overall health of the horse, these sources need to be balanced in a racehorse’s diet.
maintained, but the risk of digestive upset can
be minimized, when fat is added to the diet to complement the NSC. Fats contain almost two and a half times the calories as carbohydrates, so the energy of a diet can be increased without adding more grain. Besides being able to get the same amount of energy with less feed, there are other physical bene ts to feeding fats. Fats have been shown to decrease blood glucose and insulin uctuations, delay the onset of fatigue, and lower blood lactate levels in working horses. These changes all combine to improve overall performance.
Most people will agree that racehorses are probably the hardest working, most t group of athletes in
the equine population today. In a sport that requires horses to give their maximum efforts with minimum recovery time, nutrition can play a huge factor in racing success. Energy is by far the most important nutrient for a racehorse, and providing enough of the right kind of energy can be a challenge. There are
It is not uncommon for racehorses to be fed diets comprised of more than 50% grain in order to meet their high-energy needs. In fact, it is quite common for some racehorses to be fed up to 18 pounds of
grain a day. There are concerns with these high grain diets though, as they can be quite high
in NSC. When excessive NSC is fed to the horse, it overloads the small intestine, which is the natural site of starch and sugar digestion. When the small intestine is overloaded, the NSC passes into the large intestine where it is fermented. This process results in a decreased pH in the hindgut (acidosis), disruption of the hindgut microbial ora, and a risk for colic
Although fats are highly digestible in the horse,
it takes time for the body to adapt to using fat as an energy source, instead of only NSC. Also, fats seem to work best in the body when supplied in conjunction with NSC. Ideal fat levels in the racehorse are anywhere between 8-15%, depending on the individual horse.
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needed. For this reason, we know that some starch and sugar is needed in horse diets. The question becomes then, how can we incorporate the correct amount of starch without incurring digestive upset?
Fat should be optimized as an energy source, with recommended levels of between 12-14%.
and diarrhea. In addition, diets high in NSC increase the risk for ulcers and tying up in racehorses. Today, we consider grains with NSC levels of 35% or greater to be high in starch and sugar.
What is the best way to supply fat to the racehorse? The simplest method is to look for a commercial grain mix with at least 8% fat. Commercial high fat feeds are correctly forti ed in their protein, vitamin, and mineral content in relation to the energy provided, so you can be assured the entire diet will be balanced. Many horse owners might try to top dress with a type of oil or other fat supplement, but this can become overly expensive and often messy.
In spite of the inherent risks of feeding too much sugar and starch, racehorses do need diets that contain some NSC. Sugar and starch help replace glycogen, or the muscle’s storage form of energy to fuel the contractions necessary for movement. During racing, glycogen provides up to 80% of the energy
A special note should be made regarding horses that are prone to ulcers or tying up. These horses need to be carefully managed in regard to their dietary NSC levels, as sugar and starch aggravate both conditions. Horses that fall into these categories should have dietary NSC levels controlled to 30% or below.
Energy can be
Beth Stelzleni, MS, PAS Equine Nutritionist Applied Mars Horsecare US
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Buckeye Nutrition: Fueling the Racehorse
Supreme Cadence Ultra Prominent Race’ N Win Trifecta
The Game April 2009.indd 20
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