Fictional example case
Sample report: ration analysis
A fictional horse, a fixed daily ration: this is what the first estimate looks like.
Synthetic case, hay contents from a table profile, no laboratory analysis. The ration estimate is to be professionally validated and is not an approved formula. All details are set scenario values, not measurements on a real horse.
The case at a glance
Example horse · 520 kg · 12 years · Warmblood
Maintenance · 9 kg meadow hay per day · no other feeds, no lick, no pasture
Public calculation example
Example horse: Starting ration
Estimate of the defined example ration; to be professionally validated. Not a target ration or an approved formula.
Classification of the recorded feeds against the model requirement; feeds not recorded are not included.
- Clearly high: Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium and 1 more.
- Too low: Energy (ME), Sodium, Zinc and 3 more.
- Slightly high: Magnesium, Chloride.
- Within target range: Digestible crude protein (DCP), Manganese, Lysine and 2 more.
- Unknown: Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin D. Missing data does not mean a proven deficiency.
- Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin D: content for Hay is missing.
100% = model requirement, not a toxicity limit. Scale 0–200%.
Energy (ME)
Starting rationToo low · 83%
46.8 MJ
Estimated
Digestible crude protein (DCP)
Starting rationWithin target range · 107%
351 g
Estimated
Calcium
Starting rationClearly high · 226% · above scale
40.5 g
Estimated
Phosphorus
Starting rationClearly high · 161%
19.8 g
Estimated
Magnesium
Starting rationSlightly high · 135%
14.4 g
Estimated
Sodium
Starting rationToo low · 7%
1.35 g
Estimated
Below requirementWithin target rangeSlightly highClearly high
View values as a table
| Nutrient | Model requirement | Starting ration | Data basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy (ME) (MJ) | 56.6 | 46.8 MJ | Too low · Estimated |
| Digestible crude protein (DCP) (g) | 327 | 351 g | Within target range · Estimated |
| Calcium (g) | 17.9 | 40.5 g | Clearly high · Estimated |
| Phosphorus (g) | 12.3 | 19.8 g | Clearly high · Estimated |
| Magnesium (g) | 10.7 | 14.4 g | Slightly high · Estimated |
| Sodium (g) | 20.4 | 1.35 g | Too low · Estimated |
| Chloride (g) | 25.6 | 54 g | Slightly high · Estimated |
| Potassium (g) | 22.1 | 162 g | Clearly high · Estimated |
| Zinc (mg) | 436 | 225 mg | Too low · Estimated |
| Copper (mg) | 109 | 36 mg | Too low · Estimated |
| Manganese (mg) | 436 | 495 mg | Within target range · Estimated |
| Iron (mg) | 436 | 1,620 mg | Clearly high · Estimated |
| Iodine (mg) | 1.6 | 0.45 mg | Too low · Estimated |
| Selenium (mg) | 1.1 | 0.27 mg | Too low · Estimated |
| Lysine (g) | 13.6 | 13.5 g | Within target range · Estimated |
| pcd methionine + cystine (g) | 9.4 | 9 g | Within target range · Estimated |
| Threonine (g) | 16.9 | 14.4 g | Within target range · Estimated |
| Vitamin E (IU) | 544 | Unknown | Unknown No usable intake known. Vitamin E: content for Hay is missing. Missing data does not mean a proven deficiency. |
| Vitamin A (IU) | 16,334 | Unknown | Unknown No usable intake known. Vitamin A: content for Hay is missing. Missing data does not mean a proven deficiency. Balance value – no automatic supplementation. |
| Vitamin D (IU) | 3,267 | Unknown | Unknown No usable intake known. Vitamin D: content for Hay is missing. Missing data does not mean a proven deficiency. Balance value – no automatic supplementation. |
Assumptions, methodology and sources
Contents come from tables, declarations or lab values you confirmed. Partial contributions are not a claim of complete coverage; missing values remain open.
- Forage contents from selected table profiles; unconfirmed lab suggestions are not included.
- Known catalogue products with the daily amounts entered. Undeclared contents remain incomplete.
- No mineral lick is included.
engine@2.24.0 · MODELL_V2
The first six values are selected for the overview. All values are based on the same entered details and model assumptions.
Sources
The content is based on the references listed below. It does not replace individual veterinary or feeding advice.
Show list of sources (16)
- Kienzle, Pankratz & Zeyner (2023) – Kompendium zur Rationsberechnung für PferdeAuthor group Pferdewissen (Kienzle/Pankratz, LMU Munich; Zeyner, University of Halle-Wittenberg); self-published, Oberschleißheim, ISBN 978-3-00-075668-9. No link – self-published, not freely accessible.
- GfE (2014) – Empfehlungen zur Energie- und Nährstoffversorgung von PferdenSpecialist reference in German-speaking countries (GfE, German Society of Nutrition Physiology), Committee for Requirement Standards
- NRC – Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 6th ed.International reference for the nutrient requirements of horses (National Research Council)
- Weender Futtermittelanalyse (Weender Analysensystem)Standard method for determining crude nutrients (crude protein, crude fibre, crude fat, crude ash) as the basis of feed and hay analyses
- Maier I, Kienzle E (2024): A Meta-Analysis on Quantitative Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium Metabolism in Horses and Ponies. Animals 14(19):2765 (LMU München)Meta-analysis: sweat losses of Ca, P and Mg are so small that no additional work-related requirement is applied. For Mg it calculates the replacement of endogenous faecal losses and separates by weight (horses > 300 kg: 37, ponies < 300 kg: 11 mg/kg metabolic body mass; a pony that was temporarily heavier remained in the pony group); the comparison factors (horses around 1.9×, ponies around ½) refer to Kienzle & Burger (20 mg/kg), not to the GfE
- Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL): Gruber Tabelle zur PferdefütterungPractical reference table with requirement and feed values based on the GfE recommendations; the basis of many ration calculations in German-speaking countries. Chapter 9.3, Table 39: most common poisonous plants for horses with habitat, toxicity and risk level (after Kamphues et al. 2014)
- Coenen M, Vervuert I (2020): Pferdefütterung. Begründet von H. Meyer. 6., aktualisierte Aufl., Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart. ISBN 978-3-13-241778-6Standard reference work on equine nutrition in German-speaking countries; Table 4.17 mineral recommendations (recommended supply and minimum requirement), Table 4.18 derived sweat volumes per work level and weight class, Table 4.19 electrolyte performance requirement per sweat volume (in addition to maintenance requirement)
- Verein Futtermitteltest (VFT) e.V.: Neuerungen zum Mineralstoff- und Vitaminbedarf und zur Versorgung in der Pferdefütterung (Merkblatt MB 287)Summary of the GfE 2014 changes; contains the mineral requirement per work level (600 kg) according to Coenen/Vervuert 6th ed. and GfE 2014, the sweat electrolyte losses (3.1 g Na and 5.5 g Cl per litre) and the GfE 2014 daily vitamin supply (600 kg warmblood: vitamin E 610–1,220 mg maintenance, 1,220–2,420 mg work), and the note that forage has only low vitamin contents, especially after prolonged storage. Secondary source; primary works are listed separately in the source list.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional Diseases of Horses (Eisen)Iron deficiency is rare in adult horses; forage practically always supplies plenty of iron, and supplementation is only indicated where there is a specific reason
- Durchführungsverordnung (EU) 2015/861Authorisation of potassium iodide, anhydrous calcium iodate and coated granulated calcium iodate (identification numbers 3b201 to 3b203); total maximum content of iodine for equids 4 mg/kg complete feed (12% moisture). Under other provisions, the Annex additionally gives a recommended maximum content of 3 mg/kg (not the binding value). Authorisation expires according to the Annex on 24 June 2025; for the renewal procedure see the EFSA opinion. According to the EU Register of Feed Additives (as of 15 October 2026), an application for renewal under Art. 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 has been submitted; the authorisation remains valid.
- Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1831/2003Feed additives – authorisation and use; “daily ration” based on 12% moisture (Art. 2(2)(f)), renewal of authorisation and automatic continuation (Art. 14(4)), general conditions of use (Annex IV: natural plus added amount; complementary feed, diluted as specified, at most at the level for complete feed). Link to the current EUR-Lex consolidated version (as of 27 March 2021).
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional Requirements of Horses and Other EquidsSummary of the NRC recommendations: water requirement 5 litres per 100 kg body mass per day at maintenance, sweat losses of around 3.1 g sodium, 5.3 g chloride and 1.6 g potassium per litre, salt recommendation 1.6–1.8 g per kg feed dry matter at a maximum of 6% of the ration; from a 50% forage share potassium is adequately covered. Also covers the selenium requirement (0.1 mg/kg feed dry matter or at least 1 mg/day for a 500 kg horse, selenium as a component of glutathione peroxidase together with vitamin E) and the strong location-dependent variation of selenium in forage (grass forage on average 0.194 ppm, range 0–1.2 ppm); some regions are markedly low in selenium and may need supplementation. Also gives the iodine requirement (0.35 mg/kg feed dry matter, mares in late pregnancy 0.4), iodine poisoning of pregnant mares from around 40 mg/day, documented goitre cases in mares and their foals associated with large amounts of dried seaweed (kelp), that iodised salt easily covers the requirement, and that iodine supplementation is usually unnecessary except in severely iodine-deficient regions
- Durchführungsverordnung (EU) 2023/341: Vitamin-E-Zusatzstoffe für alle TierartenPrimary source on the authorisation and labelling of vitamin E additives. States for 3a700 (all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) 1 mg = 1 IU, for RRR-alpha-tocopherol 1 mg = 1.49 IU and for RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate 1 mg = 1.36 IU
- EFSA Journal (2010) 8(6):1635: Vitamin E as a feed additive for all animal speciesEFSA assessment of vitamin E as a feed additive. No robust maximum feed content can be derived from the available hypervitaminosis data; the source does not replace an equine toxicological upper limit.
- Mok CH, Urschel KL (2020): Amino acid requirements in horses (Invited Review). Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 33(5):679–695Review of amino acid requirements: in horses essentially only lysine is quantitatively established; there are no robust requirement figures for methionine/threonine
- Sykes BW, Hewetson M, Hepburn RJ, Luthersson N, Tamzali Y (2015): European College of Equine Internal Medicine Consensus Statement – Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in Adult Horses. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 29(5):1288–1299European specialist guideline: minimum of 1.5 kg forage dry matter per 100 kg body weight per day, avoid breaks in feeding of more than 6 hours, starch below 2 g/kg BW/day and below 1 g/kg BW/meal; gastroscopy as the only reliable diagnosis in the living horse; oral antacids act for ≤ 2 hours
All 22 inputs and safety answers
Fixed details of the fictional case. The source of weight and hay amount set as “Weighed” is also an assumption of this scenario.
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