Table: Estimated Daily Major Nutrient Requirements of Growing Horses and Ponies-Merck Veterinary Manual

Estimated Daily Major Nutrient Requirements of Growing Horses and Ponies

	----------------------------Daily Nutrients Per Animal^a---------------------------
*Estimated adult weight 200 kg (ponies)*
4	67	0.34	5.3	268	15.6	8.7	3,000
6	86	0.29	6.2	270	15.5	8.6	3,900
12	128	0.18	7.5	338	15.1	8.4	5,800
18	155	0.11	7.7	320	14.8	8.2	7,000
24	172	0.07	7.5	308	14.7	8.1	7,700
*Estimated adult weight 500 kg (average horses)*
4	168	0.84	13.3	669	39.1	21.7	7,600
6	216	0.72	15.5	676	38.6	21.5	9,700
12	321	0.45	18.8	846	37.7	20.9	14,500
18	387	0.29	19.2	799	37.0	20.6	17,400
24	365	0.18	18.7	770	36.7	20.4	19,300
*Estimated adult weight 900 kg (draft horses)^c*
4	303	1.52	23.9	1,204	70.3	39.1	13,600
6	389	1.30	28.0	1,217	69.5	38.7	17,500
12	578	0.82	33.8	1,522	67.8	37.7	26,000
18	697	0.51	34.6	1,438	66.7	37.1	31,400
24	773	0.324	39.2	1,492	66.0	36.7	34,800
^a Assumes good-quality forage with or without additional concentrates. Maximal daily intake is estimated to be 2.5%–3% body weight in dry matter.
^b One mg of beta-carotene is equivalent to 400 IU of the active form of vitamin A for the horse. ^cBased on more recent studies of draft cross horses, these recommendations may be higher than needed.
Adapted from Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 2007, National Academy of Sciences, National Academy Press, Washington, DC.

----------------------------Daily Nutrients Per Animal^a---------------------------

Age (months)

Body Weight (kg)

Daily Gain (kg)

Digestible Energy (Mcal)

Crude Protein (g)

Ca (g)

P (g)

Vitamin A^b (IU)

Estimated adult weight 200 kg (ponies)

0.34

5.3

268

15.6

8.7

3,000

0.29

6.2

270

15.5

8.6

3,900

128

0.18

7.5

338

15.1

8.4

5,800

155

0.11

7.7

320

14.8

8.2

7,000

172

0.07

7.5

308

14.7

8.1

7,700

Estimated adult weight 500 kg (average horses)

168

0.84

13.3

669

39.1

21.7

7,600

216

0.72

15.5

676

38.6

21.5

9,700

321

0.45

18.8

846

37.7

20.9

14,500

387

0.29

19.2

799

37.0

20.6

17,400

365

0.18

18.7

770

36.7

20.4

19,300

Estimated adult weight 900 kg (draft horses)^c

303

1.52

23.9

1,204

70.3

39.1

13,600

389

1.30

28.0

1,217

69.5

38.7

17,500

578

0.82

33.8

1,522

67.8

37.7

26,000

697

0.51

34.6

1,438

66.7

37.1

31,400

773

0.324

39.2

1,492

66.0

36.7

34,800

^a Assumes good-quality forage with or without additional concentrates. Maximal daily intake is estimated to be 2.5%–3% body weight in dry matter.

^b One mg of beta-carotene is equivalent to 400 IU of the active form of vitamin A for the horse.

^cBased on more recent studies of draft cross horses, these recommendations may be higher than needed.

Adapted from Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 2007, National Academy of Sciences, National Academy Press, Washington, DC.