Cornell Presents “Why Forage First?” – Equi Management

Home » Cornell’s Equine Seminar Series presents “Why Forage First?”
Dr. Nathalie Trottier will explain the role of dietary forage in modern equids on their gastrointestinal functions and nutritional needs on November 15.
The domestic horse, Equus ferus caballus, belongs to the Perissodactyla order. This order houses 3 families of odd-toed ungulates including the Equidae. Many herbivorous animals eat the reproductive products of plants, including fruits, seeds and berries. However, members of the Equidae family—collectively known as equids—subsist on the structural parts of the plant. Equids have uniquely and successfully evolved with dentition and hindgut fermentation. This has allowed them to use a diet higher in fiber and lower in protein compared to other grazing herbivores. It also means they often benefit from eating forage first.
In this Cornell Equine Seminar, Dr. Nathalie Trottier will explain the role of dietary forage in modern equids on their gastrointestinal functions and nutritional needs. She will emphasize the classification of carbohydrates across common feed ingredients and the horse’s evolutionary feeding strategy in relation to its physiology. She will also describe the roles of the oral cavity, the stomach and the large intestine in favoring forage over grain utilization.
This seminar is presented during the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Equine Seminar Series, on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, from 6 – 7 p.m. Eastern Time via Zoom. Please register in advance: https://bit.ly/ESS-Nov2022
Dr. Nathalie Trottier is a Professor of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University. Her research and teaching focuses on non-ruminant nutrition in particular horses, pigs, cats, and dogs. A native of Quebec, she spent 25 years on faculty at Michigan State University and joined Cornell in 2020.
The Cornell Equine Seminar Series is presented by the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Equine Hospital, the New York State 4-H Horse Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Held monthly, equine experts present on important equine health and management topics. The event is free and open to the public.
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