Review by Kathy Lyon 
(Click on stars for an explanation) |
This book is Out of Print. |
This is a substantial revision from the second (1998) edition. Because of an increased understanding of gastrointestinal tract function, skeletal growth, and vitamins and minerals, several chapters have been revised and expanded. Even the role of calcium in bone formation, a topic generally considered to have been understood for many years, has had some revisions.
The book opens with a list of abbreviations used in the text, which is useful. Following that is: The Digestive System; Utilization of the Products of Dietary Energy and Protein; The Roles of Major Minerals and Trace Elements; Vitamin and Water Requirements; Ingredients of Horse Feeds; Estimating Nutrient Requirements; Feeding the Breeding Mare, Foal and Stallion; Growth; Feeding for Performance and the Metabolism of Nutrients During Exercise; Grassland and Pasture Management; Pests and Ailments Related to Grazing Area, Diet and Housing; Laboratory Methods for Assessing Nutritional Status and Some Dietary Options; Appendices; Glossary; References and Bibliography; Conclusion; and Index.
The book is an excellent reference for both for the equine practitioner and the horse owner. The information is of utmost importance, and owners should be aware of some of the nutritional pitfalls -- before they have to call in the veterinarian to correct something that may be too late to correct. The book is sparsely illustrated (67 illustrations), and some of the photos would have benefited from being in color.
This is not a book that will be called up on a daily basis, but it is an important part of the equine library. I would recommend it for the clinic library, and suggest you keep a few copies to sell to clients.
Blackwell Publishing (2004).
Paperback.
ISBN-10: 1-4051-0598-4
ISBN-13: 9781405105989.