A field study to estimate the energy requirements of modern Belgian and Percheron horses

Abstract

Summary Digestible energy requirements for maintenance and fattening of 14 mature, purebred Belgian and Percheron horses were estimated in a 98-day feeding trial. Horses were fed Bermuda grass hay and varying amounts of oats to achieve variation in weight change. The horses were weighed at weekly intervals, and the regression of weight on day of the trail was calculated to determine daily weight change. Digestible energy requirements for maintenance and fattening were estimated by regression analyses of digestible energy consumption vs. weight change. The estimated digestible energy required for maintenance was 27 kcal/kg body weight (144 kcal/kg75). The estimated digestible energy requirement for fattening was 16.02 Mcal/kg of gain.