The most obvious effect breeding season has on the nutritional requirements of a stallion is the need for additional energy. Freeman suggests the best method to monitor nutrient needs is to keep track of a stallion's body condition. Generally accepted recommendations call for most stallions to enter the breeding season in a body condition score of six. This means the stallion should possess a fleshy condition that shows some fat cover along the ribs, tailhead, croup, neck and shoulder. A sound nutritional plan begins with ensuring adequate amounts of forage intake.
Most stallions rely on hay to meet forage needs because breeding studs are housed individually.
The general recommendation is to plan on a minimal intake of long-stem forage at a rate of one percent of body weight per day. Thus, a 1,200-pound stallion should consume about 12 pounds of hay. A stallion's body condition dictates the amount of grain that needs to be added to the base forage diet. On average, stallions can be expected to consume 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent of their body weight in total feed per day. Thus, a 1,200-pound stallion might consume a maximum of 24 pounds of hay and grain combined per day.