Benefits Of Using Slow Feeders For Horses
When it comes to feeding your horses with food, you are required to know the right supplies to give them. Their consumption should be small amounts of fodder over a long time. This is because these animals have complex digestive systems that require them to feed continually. No matter the type of feed you give your equines, you need to do it appropriately. An excellent option to take is utilizing the use of slow feeders for horses to enjoy the advantages highlighted in this article.
Since equines are created to eat regularly, they may experience different levels of stress associated with feeding. This stress leads to an increase in a hormone called cortisol. If cortisol increases, it leads to the rise in insulin, which causes storage of fat in the body. The stored fat results in obesity in equines. The best way to alleviate the possibility of being obese is by using this feeding program.
Slow feeding helps in preventing ulcers. The constant intake of food causes the stomach to produce acid round-the-clock. This is because saliva production is activated from chewing, which, in turn, buffers the gastric acid produced. Hence, if food is always present in the stomach, it prevents splashing of the acids on the inside, reducing chances of ulcers.
The program promotes metabolism. Proper digestion and fermentation of food need ample time, and this is available with the free-choice mode of feeding. With optimal digestion, conditions that lead to colic cannot occur. This promotes the health of the equine. The ideal way of maintaining the balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria is by ensuring that horses are constantly feeding.
Food is the main focus in equines. If the equines feed for a long time, it alleviates boredom, and the equine is unlikely to develop vices. A horse can sleep for not more than twenty minutes at a time. This means that it is awake most of the time. Without food around, it is more likely to develop bad behavior like stall kicking or cribbing due to boredom. Hence, this explains the importance of having these feeders.
Winds can disrupt the feeding patterns in a manner that the hay is blown away. Besides, uncontained grass can be trampled on until it can no longer be eaten. Since this causes plenty of wastage, use feeders to make sure that hay is not being wasted. Feeders contain the hay so that it is not blown by the wind or trampled on.
Horses are prey animals. They depend on sight and sound to be able to detect their predators. If locked in their stalls, they may feel unsafe, and this causes tension, which, in turn, affects their eating behavior. Feeders are put in the open spaces so that equines can feel safe when eating. Since they are on the ground, your equines will be eating correctly.
Horses are violent when eating. You may realize that the less dominant equines are avoiding feeding from the same place with the dominant ones. In such a case, putting food in one source is not a good ideal. With slow feeders, you can allocate the hay in different places so that all the animals can eat peacefully. Additionally, you may separate the equines that require special diets and allow feed with the others later.
Since equines are created to eat regularly, they may experience different levels of stress associated with feeding. This stress leads to an increase in a hormone called cortisol. If cortisol increases, it leads to the rise in insulin, which causes storage of fat in the body. The stored fat results in obesity in equines. The best way to alleviate the possibility of being obese is by using this feeding program.
Slow feeding helps in preventing ulcers. The constant intake of food causes the stomach to produce acid round-the-clock. This is because saliva production is activated from chewing, which, in turn, buffers the gastric acid produced. Hence, if food is always present in the stomach, it prevents splashing of the acids on the inside, reducing chances of ulcers.
The program promotes metabolism. Proper digestion and fermentation of food need ample time, and this is available with the free-choice mode of feeding. With optimal digestion, conditions that lead to colic cannot occur. This promotes the health of the equine. The ideal way of maintaining the balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria is by ensuring that horses are constantly feeding.
Food is the main focus in equines. If the equines feed for a long time, it alleviates boredom, and the equine is unlikely to develop vices. A horse can sleep for not more than twenty minutes at a time. This means that it is awake most of the time. Without food around, it is more likely to develop bad behavior like stall kicking or cribbing due to boredom. Hence, this explains the importance of having these feeders.
Winds can disrupt the feeding patterns in a manner that the hay is blown away. Besides, uncontained grass can be trampled on until it can no longer be eaten. Since this causes plenty of wastage, use feeders to make sure that hay is not being wasted. Feeders contain the hay so that it is not blown by the wind or trampled on.
Horses are prey animals. They depend on sight and sound to be able to detect their predators. If locked in their stalls, they may feel unsafe, and this causes tension, which, in turn, affects their eating behavior. Feeders are put in the open spaces so that equines can feel safe when eating. Since they are on the ground, your equines will be eating correctly.
Horses are violent when eating. You may realize that the less dominant equines are avoiding feeding from the same place with the dominant ones. In such a case, putting food in one source is not a good ideal. With slow feeders, you can allocate the hay in different places so that all the animals can eat peacefully. Additionally, you may separate the equines that require special diets and allow feed with the others later.
About the Author:
Slow feeders for horses can easily be found on the Web. Spend a minute or two reading the FAQs here at http://www.hayburnersequine.com/faq.
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