Feeding trials in horses are controlled studies designed to evaluate the effects of different diets or nutritional strategies on equine health and performance. These trials systematically assess various dietary components, such as protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, to determine their impact on parameters like weight gain, digestive efficiency, and overall well-being. Participants in these studies may include horses of different breeds, ages, and activity levels to provide comprehensive insights. The data collected from feeding trials contribute to the development of evidence-based dietary recommendations and nutritional guidelines. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that investigate the methodologies, outcomes, and implications of feeding trials in equine nutrition.
Meng C, Wang J, Zeng Y, Yao X, Meng J.This study investigated the effects of varying proline supplementation doses in weaned foals. Twenty-eight weaned foals (approximately 5 months of age; body weight: 54.45 ± 11.33 kg; with an equal number of males and females) were randomly assigned to one of four groups-a control group, a low-dose group (20 mg/kg·d), a medium-dose group (40 mg/kg·d), and a high-dose group (60 mg/kg·d)- receiving continuous supplementation for 60 days. Blood samples were collected periodically for the analysis of hormones, antioxidants, immune parameters, and plasma amino acids. Concurrently, fecal 16S rRNA...
Mańkowska A, Dobraczyńska BM, Szewczak J, Chodup Z, Radzanowski B, Matychyn I, Witkowska D.Cultivated carrot ( subsp. ) is a valuable component of equine diets due to its high β-carotene content (a precursor of vitamin A) and desirable sensory properties. However, its use may be limited by short shelf life, susceptibility to spoilage, and firm texture, which can be challenging for horses with dental problems. This study aimed to evaluate horses' preferences for different physical forms of carrots. Twenty-one leisure horses aged 3-22 years were individually evaluated in a free-choice test. Each horse was simultaneously offered equal portions (150 g) of five carrot forms: raw, grated...
Wang C, Wang J, Ma B, Liu T, Yuan X, Meng J, Zeng Y.: This study investigated the effects of dietary bamboo leaf extract (BLE) on milk parameters and intestinal microbiota in lactating mares. : Twenty-four mares of similar age (10 ± 2 years), weight (360.62 ± 15.23 kg) and body condition were selected for this study and randomly divided into four groups of six mares each: an untreated control group (CG) and three experimental groups (EG1, EG2, EG3) were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 10, 20, or 30 g/day of BLE, respectively, for 60 days. Then, horse milk composition, antioxidant activity, and immunoglobulin levels along with the rela...
Villa RE, Azimonti G, Bonos E, Christensen H, Durjava M, Dusemund B, Gehring R, Glandorf B, Kouba M, López-Alonso M, Marcon F, Nebbia C, Pechová A....Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the efficacy of feed additives obtained from the leaves of L.: ginkgo tinctures as sensory additives for all animal species and ginkgo extract as a sensory additive for horses, dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs. In previous assessments, a sensory analysis of ginkgo extract was performed, which showed that aqueous solutions of ginkgo extract have an intense aroma, significantly different from plain water. No evidence was provided to show that the additives would impart flavour to a food or fee...
