Born and raised in Indiana, Dr. Ed Ott received three degrees from Purdue University. Having joined the staff of the University of Florida in 1970, Dr. Ott, a UF Professor of Animal Sciences, has been responsible for the initiation and development of the UF Animal Science Department's Horse Research Center near Ocala.

His research program has focused on nutritional factors influencing skeletal development of the growing horse, nutritional needs of the broodmare, ingredient evaluation and the influence of energy sources on energy metabolism of exercising horses.

He has contributed to the literature on amino acid and trace mineral requirements of growing horses, as well as a variety of topics related to nutrition and nutrition management of the breeding herd and the growing horse.

Dr. Ott has supervised more than two dozen graduate students and has written more than 220 articles, most dealing with equine nutrition. Many of his articles appear in ec magazine.

Dr Ott is a member of the Subcommittee on Horse Nutrition that developed the 5th revised edition of the Nutrient Requirements of Horses, published in 1989.
Q: What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment(s) in the field of equine nutrition?

I supervised the research that defined lysine as the first limiting amino acid and threonine as the second limiting amino acid in growing horses.

I also defined the levels of copper, zinc and manganese needed to get maximum bone mineralization in growing horses.

We developed a non-invasive procedure for estimating bone mineral deposition in growing horses.

I served on three National Resource Council subcommittees on the nutrient requirements of horses (1973, 1978, 1989).

Q: In the field of equine nutrition, can you share any new exciting advances/discoveries that you see on the horizon?

A: The area of greatest promise is the defining of the amino acid needs of the growing horse and the working horse. This will allow us to minimize protein intake and maximize performance of the animal. Next to energy, protein is the most expensive nutrient in horse feeding programs, so reducing the protein needs will have an economic impact. It will also help us control nitrogen pollution in our environment.

Q: If you could simplify equine nutrition for horse owners, what would be your main message to help people understand how to feed their horses?

Provide the animal with all of the high-quality forage the animal will consume. This includes both night and day. Select or formulate an appropriate concentrate or supplement to balance the forage to provide all of the nutrients the animal requires. Adjust the concentrate intake to achieve and maintain desired body condition.

Q: Has our understanding of equine nutrition changed much in the past 10 years?

It has certainly changed in the last 30 years. We now have a pretty good appreciation for the nutrient needs of most groups of horses. We also have become much better at providing nutrients in a form that is highly available to the animal, thus increasing efficiency. We also have a better understanding of the physiology of exercise and thus a better understanding of the nutrients needed for performance.

Q: Now that you are officially retired from the University of Florida, what will you be working on?

I will do some consulting, attend some scientific meetings, do some traveling, some fishing, some golfing, some gardening and will breed a few mares. If I have any extra time I am going to mow grass and cut weeds.

Editor’s Note:
Dr. Ed Ott, a longtime consulting nutritionist for Seminole Feed, will continue to work with the company as equine nutrition continues to advance in the 21st century.