Feeding Horses in Cold Temperatures

Feb 7

A note from the BA Feeds Team

Winter is an inherently challenging season when it comes to feeding and taking care of your horse. There are unique nutritional concerns, and extra energy needs that can make this time of year especially tricky. As a horse owner and lover, you want the best for your equine companion – so how do you know their additional needs during cold temperatures? At Billy Allen Horse Feed, we understand that keeping horses happy and healthy during winter conditions is a priority. That's why today we will be discussing providing energy requirements for horses during winter tailored to common environmental changes.

Several environmental conditions affect horses in the winter.

Reduced feed intake in both cold and windy conditions due to seeking shelter.
Snow accumulations greater that 7 inches grass and reduced intake of pasture. Decreases grazing time (24%) and decreases intake (22%).
Pawing through deep snow to get grass greatly increases the horse's energy requirement.
In cold and windy conditions, horses lose body heat and burn more energy to stay warm.

Lower Critical Temperature

The "Lower Critical Temperature (LCT)" is the temperature below which metabolic heat production must be increased to maintain body temperature.

Mature Horses (LCT) = 5-42F

Thin coat 41F

Thick coat 5F

Young Horses (LCT) = 12 to 32F

For each decrease in coldness of 1 degree Fahrenheit below the critical temperature, there is an increase in digestible energy requirements for body temperature maintenance.

An average 1000lb horse requires 15Mcal per day for maintenance under normal conditions. The following tables outline the additional digestible energy and hay intakes under inclement winter weather conditions.

Fiber should, in most cases, be the first ingredient to increase in your horses' diet when trying to keep them warm, and this is because the microbes in the hindgut produce heat as a by-product of breaking down fiber.

Estimated Feed Energy increase at different magnitudes of cold below the LCT for the mature horse.

When wind and rain are added to the environmental conditions, the digestible energy requirement increase even further.

Now that you know a little more about how to keep your horse warm during the colder months, hopefully, winter will be a breeze. If you have more questions or concerns about your horse, reach out to us today by scheduling an online consultation by following the link below. We'll be happy to chat with you and help however we can.

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Feeding Horses in Cold Temperatures

Several environmental conditions affect horses in the winter.

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