According to the American Horse Council, there were more than 9 million horses in the United States in 2005 and more than 2 million people involved in horse ownership. The economic impact of the U.S. horse industry is estimated to be more than $100 billion per year. This report, in its sixth edition, provides scientifically based information on the nutrient requirements of domestic horses and ponies. It also provides guidelines for equine feeding management and discusses the nutritional/metabolic ailments that afflict horses. It is based on scientific research, with particular emphasis on the research conducted since 1989 when the last edition of this report was published. The report guides owners in specific needs of horses according to type of use, age, and physiological state. Feeding management of other equids, such as donkeys and wild equids kept in captivity, is also discussed. The report includes a new web-based computer program to assist users in determining the specific nutrient requirements of their horses.
The division produces 60-70 reports per year. These reports are unique, authoritative expert evaluations. Each report is produced by a committee of experts selected by the Academy to address a particular statement of task and is subject to a rigorous, independent peer review. The experts who volunteer their time participating on study committees are vetted to make sure that the committee has the range of expertise needed to address the task, that they have a balance of perspectives, and to identify and eliminate members with conflicts of interest. All reports undergo a rigorous, independent peer review to assure that the statement of task has been addressed, that conclusions are adequately supported, and that all important issues raised by the reviewers are addressed. Thus, while the reports represent views of the committee, they also are endorsed by the Academy.
Primary Board:
Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources