Changes in body condition and body weight in mares supplemented with commercial balanced feed or cereal grain

Abstract

In this prospective study, the strategic use of two supplementary feeding in adult maintenance mares was compared. The experiment was carried out at Equine Production Laboratory, Rio Cuarto National University. The study aims at determining feeding behavior, live weights changes, body score and body-mass index among a group of adult mares fed with controlled (hours) grazing of oat winter grass pasture and complemented with alfalfa hay, in order to meet the daily required needs of dry matter and fiber to cover 70% of volume, the remaining 30% was achieved with barley grain or basic type pelleted balanced feed supplementation. The live weight, morphometric measurements and subcutaneous fat thickness of each mare under study were periodically recorded. The results obtained in this preliminary trial, allow to conclude that a supplementation of a ration composed solely of complete balanced pelletized base type feed or with a ration of barley grain, facilitates the maintenance or promotes an increase in mares’ live weight and body condition with a dry base feeding of good quality alfalfa hay and oats grass pasture controlled grazing No changes were observed in the apparent health that could be related to feeding and the acceptance of the daily ration, whatever its composition, was adequate according to an individually established nutritional demand.