D&H Research

The dry matter intake of grazing horses

All diets for horses are formulated to meet energy requirements based on the premise that the dry matter intake of horses is 2.5% of their bodyweight.

Validation of alkane-pair technique for estimating

The alkane pair technique has been developed to measure grass intake of grazing animals. Its use has been validated in elephants, sheep, cattle, grazing dairy cows, kangaroos and wombats.

The effect of increasing starch intake on its subsequent digestion in the horse as measured by glycaemic and insulinaemic responses

Clinicians are advised to recommend feeds with a low glycaemic response/index.
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The effect of feeding a single starch source, (oats) or a high and a low starch compound to provide 2g starch/kgm on the glycaemic and insulinaemic response of horses

Various studies have shown that feeding a single starch source to horses is affected by adding fibre.
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The effect of feeding chopped roughage with starch on the insulinaemic and glcaemic response in the equine

It is common practice to recommend the addition of roughage to a meal of concentrates to increase chews and subsequent saliva production to offset problems such as rapid consumption and gastric ulcers.
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Trace element analysis of the equine hoof - between and within horse variation

Dietary adjustment of trace elements is often recommended to obtain improvements in the quality of keratinised tissue of the hoof wall.
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An investigation into the feeding behaviour of laminitic and non laminitic ponies

Not all overweight equines succumb to laminitis. It affects 7.1% of horses and ponies in the UK and is the reason for euthanasia in 7.4% of all equines (Menzies- Gow, 2006).
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Seasonal analysis of the mineral content of pasture used for grazing Thoroughbred breeding stock in the UK

Minerals are an essential component of correct nutrition, particularly in the young growing horse. Spring-summer pasture contributes 60-100% (depending on breeding status) of the daily dry matter intake of thoroughbred breeding stock. Despite this fact the mineral content of UK pasture used specifically for thoroughbred breeding stock is unknown.
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Estimation of growth rates in UK Thoroughbreds

There is a perceived association between developmental skeletal problems and growth rate. Before this association can be assessed UK growth rate data are required.
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The relationship between urinary Tbars and cortisol in a group of semi-feral ponies

Stress has been reported to increase biomarkers of lipid peroxidation in other species. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between urinary TBARS, a marker of lipid peroxidation, and stress as assessed by urinary cortisol.
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