Will total mixed rations be the future of horse feeding?

Abstract

Forage-based total mixed rations (TMR), wherein all the nutritional needs of the animals are met in a single feedstuff, have been used successfully for decades in growing and adult food animals. The advantages to use of TMRs over traditional long stem hay/concentrate rations is the ease of handling, reduced waste, ability to completely control/regulate nutrient intake and, in some regions cost and improved nutrient availability. In addition, in our increasingly non- agricultural societies, horse owners frequently have little knowledge of judging hay quality and adjusting feed intakes of concentrates to accommodate variations in hay nutrient content. The result is frequently over- or underfeeding nutrients. Over feeding nutrients such as nitrogen (protein) and phosphorus are increasingly becoming environmental concerns (Williams et al., 2011; Westendorf et al., 2011). The use of TMRs would allow specific formulation that could meet but not exceed recommended intakes.