Information Package / Course Catalogue
Basic Principles of Horse Nutrition
Course Code: VHB639
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: Third Cycle (Doctorate Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 3
Prt.: 0
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 7
Objectives of the Course

Teaching practical and scientific knowledge and raising experts knowing this knowledge. Teaching enough knowledge to people will work in horse farms.

Course Content

Basic nutritional requirements of horse. Critical points considered in nutrition of horses with different physical activity and age. Forages and concentrates (properties and usage amounts) used in horse nutrition.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.Gaining recent practical and theoretical knowledge about horse nutrition.
2.Applying practical and theoretical information about horse nutrition.
3.Determination of nutrient requirements in horses.
4.Nutrition of lactating mares and their nutritional requirements. Ration formulation.
5.Forages (green and dried forages, conserved feeds) used in horse nutrition. Importance of forages quality.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Pagan, JD. (2000) Advances in Equine Nutrition I, II, III., Nottingham University Pres, Kentucky, ABD.
2.Frape, D. (1986) Equine nutrition and feeding. Longman group UK
3.Burger, I. (1993) The Waltham Book of Companion Animal Nutrition. Pergamon Press Oxford, England.
4.NRC. (2007) Nutrient Requirement of Horses, 6th edition, The National Acedemey Pres, USA.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Digestive system anatomy and physiology in horses. Importance of secum for digestion processes.
Week 2 - Theoretical
Determination of nutrient requirements in horses.
Week 3 - Theoretical
Forages (green and dried forages, conserved feeds) used in horse nutrition. Importance of forages quality.
Week 4 - Theoretical
Concentrates used in horse nutrition (grains, soy bean meal, flaxseed meal, cotton seed meal, sunflower seed meal and others)
Week 5 - Theoretical
Feeding of foals (0-6 months old), importance of colostrum for health and performance.
Week 6 - Theoretical
Feeding of foals (6-12 months old), nutritional requirements, weaning and adaptation to feeds.
Week 7 - Theoretical
Feeding of foals (1-2 years old), nutritional requirements, forages may be given to fowls in this period, ration formulations (Midterm exam)
Week 8 - Intermediate Exam
Forages may be given to fowls in this period, ration formulations in foals
Week 9 - Theoretical
Nutrition of gestating mares (during first six months period), nutritional requirements, proper feed sources and ration formulations.
Week 10 - Theoretical
Nutrition of gestating mares (during last three months period), nutritional requirements, proper feed sources and ration formulations.
Week 11 - Theoretical
Nutrition of lactating mares and their nutritional requirements. Ration formulation.
Week 13 - Theoretical
Common seen nutritional diseases in horse feeding. Giving home assignment subject.
Week 14 - Theoretical
General repetition.
Week 15 - Final Exam
Final exam
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%30
Final Examination1%70
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory140228
Assignment70749
Reading140570
Midterm Examination110212
Final Examination114216
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)175
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
PÇ-13
PÇ-14
PÇ-15
PÇ-16
PÇ-17
PÇ-18
PÇ-19
OÇ-1
OÇ-2
5
OÇ-3
OÇ-4
OÇ-5
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026