Based on how horses eat in the wild, how is the % of recommended fat derived for the domesticated horse?

Question

I've been wondering about this all day. Horses in the wild forage...graze grass, trees, get some nuts, seeds and berries possibly, etc., depending on their geography.

So where do wild horses get their fat intake in the wild, besides seeds or nuts?

And how did we come up with the % of protein, fiber, and fat (especially) that domesticated horses need in a balanced feed?

It doesn't seem that wild horses would get hardly any/no fat (or much protein) from their diet in the wild?

Enlighten me, please. Thanks!

Answer 1

Grass contains a pretty high level of Omega-3 fatty acids, but overall is pretty low in fat 5%-6%.  When it's baled as hay, about half of the fat is destroyed.  The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 in grass is about 4:1 (omega 3 being EFA's which the horse cannot manufacture himself).  Horses with IR may NOT tolerate fat well,  It increases insulin resistance in other species, and it's affect on horses is currently being studied (by someone, somewhere).  So, I guesss If I were you, I'd make sure he is or isn't IR before deciding about adding fat, especially since he's on grass right now.

So unless your horse is on dried forage, only, or has some type of ER (exertional rhabdomyolysis), you probably don't NEED to feed fat, but unless is actually IR(insuline resistant), it won't hurt him, in limited amounts.

Answer 2

From plant sources.  Unsaturated fats are in the forages wild horses survive on.  The fats we add to put weight on horses are all plant sources as well.....but most horses do fine without added fat sources.  Horse nutrition is studied by privately and publically funded institutions all over the world.  The proteins, carbohydrates, and fats needed by horses are derived from the grasses and other plants that they eat....we just add a few more plant sources to what they eat.

Answer 3

I don't think its what the wild horse is eating, but more what he's energy requirements are. Wild horses are generally slow moving creatures and don't gallop unless they need to, they survive due to the lack of exercise they do. In a domestic situation, horses are asked to perform more physically and as a herbivore they require alot of grains and hay feeds to meet their protien requirements. Protien=energy.