Maintenance

In the "European standard" (French/Dutch system) as implemented in this program, the maintenance requirement of energy is expressed in digestible energy as 0.58 MJ per kg of metabolic body weight. The metabolic body weight is a common way to scale energy requirements for differently sized animals, and is expressed as body weight (BW) exponentiated to a power of 0.75 (i.e. BW^0.75). For example, a horse with a body weight of 500 kg has a metabolic body weight of 103 kg. The maintenance requirement for energy is linearly related to the metabolic body weight. 

In the program we have used the value of 0.58 MJ per kg metabolic body weight as the basic energy requirement for cold-blooded ponies and heavy breeds. Warm blooded horses are given 5% more, and thoroughbred horses 10% more. In addition stallions are given 10% above mares and geldings.

Maintenance requirements for energy (MJ digestible energy/day) for adult horses:

BW=Body weight