Effect of Protein Level on Growth in Young Ponies

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Abstract
Self-fed pony diets containing 11, 14 and 17% protein were compared utilizing 41 weanling ponies randomly allotted to the three levels in a 280-day trial. Protein adjustments were made by varying the corn and soybean meal levels in the diets. The average daily gains on the 11, 14 and 17% protein levels were .32, .34 and .29 kg with feed efficiencies of 13.94, 13.60 and 14.60 kg of feed per kilogram of gain, respectively, with no significant differences found among treatments. The feed conversion of females was 16% better than for males. Heart girth measurements showed no protein effects; however, heart girth gains of females averaged 18% larger than heart girth gains of males. Height measurements showed that the 11% protein-fed ponies increased significantly more in height than the 14% or 17% protein level. Although protein intake was highest on the 17% protein diet, the energy intake was lowest on this ration. The protein-to-calorie ratio appeared to be closest to the recommended optimum at the 14% level with 52.30 g crude protein per 1,000 kcal D.E. Plasma urea-nitrogen increased as dietary protein increased. Plasma amino acid values did not show any major difference. Bone calcium, phosphorus and magnesium values did not vary among the treatments. Copyright © 1978. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1978 by American Society of Animal Science