The
prima donna treatment of stallions often leads to them being
over-fed. Extra weight creates additional stress on big, stout
horses, which can aggravate arthritis and increase the risk
of developing laminitis or causing a heart attack. Obese stallions
are also anecdotally observed to have lowered libido.
Ideally,
stallions should be maintained in a moderate body condition
(condition score of 5 or 6) year round. A moderate body condition
will provide enough fat cover over the ribs making them hard
to see, but still easy to palpate. The withers will appear
rounded and the shoulders and neck will blend smoothly into
the body.
Some
stallions may lose weight during a breeding season while others
are able to maintain themselves in good condition. For stallions
that tend to lose condition, a higher degree of body fatness
(condition score of 6 or 7) should be established before the
breeding season to ensure stallions do not become too thin
during the breeding season.
The
stallion’s body condition and body weight should be
monitored on a weekly basis during breeding season and adjustments
made to the diet accordingly.
Pre-Breeding
Season
Unless
the stallion is being ridden or shown regularly, his nutrient
requirements in the off-season are relatively low. In contrast,
stallions that are exercised regularly will have higher nutrient
requirements and should be fed similar to a performance horse.
The
stallion should be in good body condition going into the breeding
season. If the stallion is already in good condition in the
off-season, he should be fed to maintain that condition. If
you anticipate the stallion may lose weight, he should enter
the breeding season in a slightly higher body condition so
that he does not become too thin during the season. Take advantage
of the months leading up to the breeding season to improve
the stallion’s body condition. Adding an additional
3 to 4 pounds of grain to the existing diet can improve the
stallion’s body condition by one level in 3 months.
Breeding
Season
In general, mounting and breeding a mare or a phantom can
be thought of as “work” performed by the stallion.
The nutrient affected most by work is energy, or the caloric
content of the diet. Thus, providing adequate dietary energy
is of the utmost concern with the stallion.
The
amount of use a stallion receives during the season, as well
as his psychological response to breeding, contribute to the
amount of energy he expends during the season. Some stallions
will service over 200 mares per season, while others will
cover just a few. Even if a stallion has a full book of mares,
the actual amount of energy expended by the stallion during
the act of mating is quite small. However, the stallion’s
behavior and attitude towards the breeding season can substantially
increase his dietary energy (calorie) needs. Some stallions
get nervous, pace, and fret, while others remain calm and
quiet. Therefore, the diet of the stallion should be individualized
to reflect the work they are doing and their behavioral responses
towards breeding.
The
stallion should be fed high quality hay at a minimum level
of 1.5% of body weight (Table 2). Depending on the time of
year, good quality pasture may furnish some or all of the
forage the stallion needs. Allowing at least a few hours of
grazing each day will not only contribute to meeting his nutritional
needs, it will also promote greater mental health.
Stallions
that are expected to cover a significant number of mares will
also require energy-dense feed rations, fed at levels up to
a maximum 1% body weight per day (Table 2). The increase in
grain should take place over 7 to 10 days to avoid digestive
upsets, especially if the stallion was not receiving a feed
concentrate prior to the breeding season. In addition, each
meal of grain should be limited to less than 5 pounds. If
your stallion needs more grain than this to maintain good
body condition, split the daily ration into several, smaller
meals. The addition of vegetable oil or use of a fat-added
grain mix will provide additional calories, thereby reducing
the reliance on calories from starch and sugar found in traditional
grain mixes.
Unfortunately,
we often tend to over-feed stallions. Feeding large amounts
of grain have been associated with greater risk of digestive
upset (diarrhea, colic, laminitis), high-spirited behavior,
and obesity. Stallions should not be allowed to become obese.
Grain rations should be reduced if the stallion appears to
be gaining too much weight. The proper amount of feed is that
which is necessary to maintain the stallion in a moderate
body condition (condition score of 5 to 6).
Post
Breeding Season
Stallions finishing the breeding season in good condition
can be tapered down to a maintenance, off-season diet by increasing
the hay portion of the diet and decreasing the grain portion
(Table 2). Again, use body condition to gauge if you are meeting
the stallion’s energy requirements and adjust the diet
accordingly.
If
a stallion experienced significant weight loss during the
breeding season, he should be fed to regain a body condition
score of 5 or 6. Weight gains should be made gradually (0.5
to 1.0 pounds per day). Depending on the amount of weight
loss, it may take 5 to 10 pounds of grain per day and several
months to recoup weight lost.
Can
Nutrition Enhance a Stallion’s Fertility?
If the stallion is already receiving a properly balanced diet,
adding extra feed or supplements to the diet will not enhance
fertility. As many owners know, even the most fit, healthy,
and properly fed stallions can have fertility problems.
Vitamin
C and E supplements are occasionally used by some breeding
farms to enhance the stallion’s reproductive performance
or fertility. However, numerous studies have shown that giving
large doses of vitamins C or E is of no benefit for this purpose.
If additional vitamins are desired, provide a balanced supplement
that contains additional quantities of all vitamins, without
excessive amounts of any, to maintaining optimum health and
reproductive ability.
Extra
nutrition may not make a stallion more fertile, but poor nutrition
and improper body condition can result in heart attacks, poor
libido and lower conception rates. Stallions should be fed
a balanced diet and should not be allowed to become too thin
or too fat.
Conclusions
The most important aspect of stallion nutrition management
is feeding a balanced diet and realizing that there are huge
variations in energy intake required to maintain proper body
condition from one stallion to another. Keeping the stallion
in moderate body condition and providing a balanced ration
of good quality hay and grain are the keys to successful stallion
management.
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