Feeding the Stallion
For most breeders, the breeding season will start soon, so it's important to evaluate and adjust the current diet to ensure the stallion gets enough nutrients throughout the breeding season. During the other seasons, the nutritional needs of the stallion don’t differ much from other adult horses. However, during the breeding season, the stallion’s needs can increase by 25%. Therefore, it is essential to adjust the diet to ensure the stallion is adequately supported during this time.
For most breeders, the breeding season will start soon, so it's important to evaluate and adjust the current diet to ensure the stallion gets enough nutrients throughout the breeding season. During the other seasons, the nutritional needs of the stallion don’t differ much from other adult horses. However, during the breeding season, the stallion’s needs can increase by 25%. Therefore, it is essential to adjust the diet to ensure the stallion is adequately supported during this time.
Energy, Proteins, and Body Condition of the Stallion
Energy is one of the most important nutrients for a breeding stallion during the breeding season. The horse absorbs energy from its diet through carbohydrates (both structural and non-structural) and fats 1. Apart from the breeding season, the stallion only needs energy for body maintenance and possibly extra energy for exercise if the horse is also actively exercising 2. However, during the breeding season, the stallion needs additional energy for breeding. The amount of extra energy required daily depends on the number of coverings. The energy needs of stallions covering every 2 days are comparable to horses that exercise lightly or moderately 3. When a stallion covers two or more times a day, the energy needs are similar to those of horses that exercise moderately to heavily 3.
Energy is also required to maintain the body and body weight. The Body Condition Score (BCS) is used to monitor whether the stallion is receiving sufficient energy from the diet and maintaining a healthy body weight. The ideal BCS for a breeding stallion is between 5 and 6. By monitoring the stallion’s BCS, you can track fluctuating energy requirements and adjust the diet as needed, thus preventing overfeeding or underfeeding 4.
Roughage forms the basis of the diet and provides the horse with structural carbohydrates. The fibres in roughage are converted into volatile fatty acids in the intestines. About 60 to 70% of the daily energy intake from the feed comes from these volatile fatty acids 5,6. Additionally, the roughage diet is often supplemented with concentrates to provide sufficient vitamins and minerals and add extra energy and proteins to the diet 7. Fats provide a long-term source of energy and offer additional support when the horse’s energy requirements increase.
Adequate protein is particularly important for a young growing stallion. But even for the adult stallion, proteins are essential for maintaining healthy and strong muscle mass.
Vitamins, Minerals, and Trace Elements
Vitamins and minerals each play an important role in the body. Minerals are divided into macro and micro minerals. Micro minerals are also called trace elements. The difference between macro minerals and trace elements is that macro minerals are fed in grams per day, while trace elements are fed in milligrams per day.
Vitamins are divided into fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins include A, D, E, and K, while water-soluble vitamins include B and C 8,9. A balanced diet ensures that the stallion receives enough vitamins and minerals. Horses obtain these nutrients from roughage and concentrates, but the diet can be supplemented with a vitamin and mineral supplement if needed, for example, during the breeding season. It's important to consider the increased needs and adjust the horse's diet to avoid deficiencies or excesses of vitamins and minerals. A deficiency in, for example, vitamin E can reduce sperm motility and increase the development of abnormal spermatozoa 10.
The Use of Supplements
To provide extra support for the stallion during the breeding season and promote fertility, supplements can be a valuable addition. Research has shown that supplementing specific nutrients has a positive effect on sperm quality, especially when used for artificial insemination. Commonly used nutrients in these supplements include fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), vitamin E, and selenium.
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that horses mainly obtain from fresh grass. Sperm cells are particularly sensitive to oxidative stress, which occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. This can lead to infertility in stallions. Adding antioxidants, such as vitamin E, helps neutralize free radicals and prevents oxidative damage. The effects of vitamin E supplementation in breeding stallions have been investigated in several studies. One study found that supplementing 3000 IU of vitamin E for 14 weeks in a group of breeding stallions led to a significant improvement in the total and progressive motility of sperm that had been cooled for 48 hours and then warmed for 10 to 30 minutes 11.
In another study, breeding stallions were supplemented with L-carnitine, selenium, vitamin E, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for 30 weeks to evaluate the effect of these nutrients on the quality of cooled, fresh, and frozen sperm 12. This study showed that the supplements significantly improved the quality of all these sperm variants, which could positively affect the success of artificial insemination (AI). Synovium Myocare-E is a supplement often used to support muscles, but it also contains selenium and vitamin E 12.
All in all, it's important to consider the increased needs of the breeding stallion during the breeding season and adjust the diet accordingly.
References
1. Ellis, A. D. (2013) Chapter 5 - Energy systems and requirements. In Geor, R.J., Harris, P.A., & Coenen, M., (Eds.). Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition. Saunders Elsevier: China.
2. Potter, G.D., Gibbs, P.G. (2011) Feeding the Performance Horse. Department of Animal Science Equine Sciences Program, 1-9.
3. Mantovani, R., Bailoni, L. (2011) Energy and protein allowances and requirements in stallions during the breeding season, comparing different nutritional systems. Journal of Animal Science, 89(7):2113-2122.
4. Houssou, H., Bouzebda-Afri, F., Bouzebda, Z., Benidir, M. (2020) Evaluation of sexual behavior of stallion (Arabian versus Barb) during breeding season in Algeria. Indian Journal of Animal Research, 54(9):1078-1082.
5. Argenzio, R.A., Southworth, M., Stevens, C.E. (1974) Sites of organic acid production and absorption in the equine gastrointestinal tract. American Journal of Physiology, 226(5): 1043-1050.
6. Bergman, E.N. (1990) Energy contributions of volatile fatty acids from the gastrointestinal tract in various species. Physiological Reviews, 70(2): 567-590.
7. Harris, P. (1997) Energy sources and requirements of the exercising horse. Annual Review of Nutrition, 17:185-210.
8. Zeyner, A., Harris, P.A. (2013) Chapter 9 - Vitamins. In Geor, R.J., Harris, P.A., & Coenen, M., (Eds.). Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition. Saunders Elsevier: China.
10. Bazzano, M., Laus, F., Spaterna, A., Marchegiana, A. (2021) Use of nutraceuticals in the stallion: Effects on semen quality and preservation. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 56(7):951-957.
11. Gee, E.K., Bruemmer, J.E., Siciliano, P.D., McCue, P.M., Squires, E.L. (2008) Effects of dietary vitamin E supplementation on spermatozoal quality in stallions with suboptimal post-thaw motility. Animal Reproduction Science, 107(3): 324-325.
12. Freitas, M.L., Bouéres, C.S., Pignataro, T.A., de Oliveira, F.J.G., Viu, M.A.D., de Oliveira, R.A. (2016) Quality of Fresh, Cooled, and Frozen Semen From Stallions Supplemented with Antioxidants and Fatty Acids. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 46:1-6.
Energy, Proteins, and Body Condition of the Stallion
Energy is one of the most important nutrients for a breeding stallion during the breeding season. The horse absorbs energy from its diet through carbohydrates (both structural and non-structural) and fats 1. Apart from the breeding season, the stallion only needs energy for body maintenance and possibly extra energy for exercise if the horse is also actively exercising 2. However, during the breeding season, the stallion needs additional energy for breeding. The amount of extra energy required daily depends on the number of coverings. The energy needs of stallions covering every 2 days are comparable to horses that exercise lightly or moderately 3. When a stallion covers two or more times a day, the energy needs are similar to those of horses that exercise moderately to heavily 3.
Energy is also required to maintain the body and body weight. The Body Condition Score (BCS) is used to monitor whether the stallion is receiving sufficient energy from the diet and maintaining a healthy body weight. The ideal BCS for a breeding stallion is between 5 and 6. By monitoring the stallion’s BCS, you can track fluctuating energy requirements and adjust the diet as needed, thus preventing overfeeding or underfeeding 4.
Roughage forms the basis of the diet and provides the horse with structural carbohydrates. The fibres in roughage are converted into volatile fatty acids in the intestines. About 60 to 70% of the daily energy intake from the feed comes from these volatile fatty acids 5,6. Additionally, the roughage diet is often supplemented with concentrates to provide sufficient vitamins and minerals and add extra energy and proteins to the diet 7. Fats provide a long-term source of energy and offer additional support when the horse’s energy requirements increase.
Adequate protein is particularly important for a young growing stallion. But even for the adult stallion, proteins are essential for maintaining healthy and strong muscle mass.
Vitamins, Minerals, and Trace Elements
Vitamins and minerals each play an important role in the body. Minerals are divided into macro and micro minerals. Micro minerals are also called trace elements. The difference between macro minerals and trace elements is that macro minerals are fed in grams per day, while trace elements are fed in milligrams per day.
Vitamins are divided into fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins include A, D, E, and K, while water-soluble vitamins include B and C 8,9. A balanced diet ensures that the stallion receives enough vitamins and minerals. Horses obtain these nutrients from roughage and concentrates, but the diet can be supplemented with a vitamin and mineral supplement if needed, for example, during the breeding season. It's important to consider the increased needs and adjust the horse's diet to avoid deficiencies or excesses of vitamins and minerals. A deficiency in, for example, vitamin E can reduce sperm motility and increase the development of abnormal spermatozoa 10.
The Use of Supplements
To provide extra support for the stallion during the breeding season and promote fertility, supplements can be a valuable addition. Research has shown that supplementing specific nutrients has a positive effect on sperm quality, especially when used for artificial insemination. Commonly used nutrients in these supplements include fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), vitamin E, and selenium.
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that horses mainly obtain from fresh grass. Sperm cells are particularly sensitive to oxidative stress, which occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. This can lead to infertility in stallions. Adding antioxidants, such as vitamin E, helps neutralize free radicals and prevents oxidative damage. The effects of vitamin E supplementation in breeding stallions have been investigated in several studies. One study found that supplementing 3000 IU of vitamin E for 14 weeks in a group of breeding stallions led to a significant improvement in the total and progressive motility of sperm that had been cooled for 48 hours and then warmed for 10 to 30 minutes 11.
In another study, breeding stallions were supplemented with L-carnitine, selenium, vitamin E, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for 30 weeks to evaluate the effect of these nutrients on the quality of cooled, fresh, and frozen sperm 12. This study showed that the supplements significantly improved the quality of all these sperm variants, which could positively affect the success of artificial insemination (AI). Synovium Myocare-E is a supplement often used to support muscles, but it also contains selenium and vitamin E 12.
All in all, it's important to consider the increased needs of the breeding stallion during the breeding season and adjust the diet accordingly.
References
1. Ellis, A. D. (2013) Chapter 5 - Energy systems and requirements. In Geor, R.J., Harris, P.A., & Coenen, M., (Eds.). Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition. Saunders Elsevier: China.
2. Potter, G.D., Gibbs, P.G. (2011) Feeding the Performance Horse. Department of Animal Science Equine Sciences Program, 1-9.
3. Mantovani, R., Bailoni, L. (2011) Energy and protein allowances and requirements in stallions during the breeding season, comparing different nutritional systems. Journal of Animal Science, 89(7):2113-2122.
4. Houssou, H., Bouzebda-Afri, F., Bouzebda, Z., Benidir, M. (2020) Evaluation of sexual behavior of stallion (Arabian versus Barb) during breeding season in Algeria. Indian Journal of Animal Research, 54(9):1078-1082.
5. Argenzio, R.A., Southworth, M., Stevens, C.E. (1974) Sites of organic acid production and absorption in the equine gastrointestinal tract. American Journal of Physiology, 226(5): 1043-1050.
6. Bergman, E.N. (1990) Energy contributions of volatile fatty acids from the gastrointestinal tract in various species. Physiological Reviews, 70(2): 567-590.
7. Harris, P. (1997) Energy sources and requirements of the exercising horse. Annual Review of Nutrition, 17:185-210.
8. Zeyner, A., Harris, P.A. (2013) Chapter 9 - Vitamins. In Geor, R.J., Harris, P.A., & Coenen, M., (Eds.). Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition. Saunders Elsevier: China.
10. Bazzano, M., Laus, F., Spaterna, A., Marchegiana, A. (2021) Use of nutraceuticals in the stallion: Effects on semen quality and preservation. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 56(7):951-957.
11. Gee, E.K., Bruemmer, J.E., Siciliano, P.D., McCue, P.M., Squires, E.L. (2008) Effects of dietary vitamin E supplementation on spermatozoal quality in stallions with suboptimal post-thaw motility. Animal Reproduction Science, 107(3): 324-325.
12. Freitas, M.L., Bouéres, C.S., Pignataro, T.A., de Oliveira, F.J.G., Viu, M.A.D., de Oliveira, R.A. (2016) Quality of Fresh, Cooled, and Frozen Semen From Stallions Supplemented with Antioxidants and Fatty Acids. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 46:1-6.