The use of sorghum silage in feeding weanling horses: Body development

Abstract

A correct and balanced nutrition has a great importance in the development of young horses. Weanlings should reach 90% of their final height at twelve months of age, and it is necessary that their rations allow them to reach their genetic potential during this critical growth period. The objective of this study was to compare the growth and development of weanling fillies fed sorghum silage versus grass hay as the source of forage during the dry season. Fillies of the Mangalarga Marchador breed (MM) were weaned and were randomly allocated to one of 2 groups with 7 foals each: GS: fed sorghum silage (Sorghum bicolor cv. BRS655) or GH: fed Vaquero grass hay (Cynodon cv. CD90160 × cv. Mirage). Both groups were fed a commercial concentrate at the rate of 1.5% body weight (BW) in dry matter daily. The results show that the growth and development of the fillies in both groups of this experiment was suitable for the breed. The use of sorghum silage for fillies from 6 to 9 months of age that are also receiving 1.5% BW of a concentrate balanced for growing horses during the dry season allowed normal growth and development of MM fillies.