Nutrição de equinos atletas

Abstract

Feeding the horse, mainly the athlete horse, has been made in a wrong way, due to lack of knowledge of these animals´nutritional needs. The horse is a result of its genetic and environment. Time of remaining of feed in the parts of gastrintestinal tract depends on many factors, as: granulometry of particles and food purity. To achieve a good athletical performance, use of high amount of grain, aiming to meet energetic demands, may compromise the intestinal digestive ability, thus resulting in the rise of carbohydrate intake. This may contribute do disorders as colic and laminitis. Therefore, knowledge is needed, to postpone muscle fatigue. The exact causes of muscle fatigue are unclear. However, it is believed that low blood glucose levels, lack of muscle glycogen, lactate rise, loss of adhenosin tri-phosphate and electrolytes can lead to fatigue. To animals that have high levels of physical activity, the most important nutrients are: water, electrolytes, and those necessary to energy production: proteins, carbohydrates and minerals.