Archives of animal nutrition2010; 64(5); 343-356; doi: 10.1080/1745039X.2010.504606

A comparative study of the apparent total tract digestibility of carbohydrates in Icelandic and Danish warmblood horses fed two different haylages and a concentrate consisting of sugar beet pulp and black oats.

Abstract: Four Icelandic (ICE) and four Danish Warmblood (DW) horses were used in a crossover study with two treatments to investigate the effect of breed and the effect of stage of maturity of haylage on the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of a diet consisting of sugar beet pulp, black oats and haylage early or late cut. Fibre was analysed as crude fibre (CF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and dietary fibre (DF = non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) plus lignin). In haylage all analysed fibre fractions increased with advancing stage of maturity, with the cell wall components cellulose, non-cellulosic residue, xylose and lignin causing this increase. Crude protein (CP) and sugars decreased with advancing stage of maturity. Feeding early cut haylage resulted in a significantly (p < 0.05) higher ATTD of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), energy, NDF, total NSP, DF and CP compared to feeding late cut haylage. There was a significantly (p < 0.05) higher ATTD of CF, DF and starch in ICE than in DW. Diet affected several faecal parameters with a significantly (p < 0.05) lower pH in faeces when horses were fed the early cut haylage. Concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in faeces from horses fed early cut haylage, reflecting the higher fermentability (higher ATTD) of this diet. There was no marked effect of breed on faecal parameters. The DF analysis method gave the most appropriate differentiation of the fibre fractions and their digestibility, compared to the traditional CF, ADF and NDF analyses. A major advantage of the DF analysis is the capacity of recovering soluble fibres. The results suggested that ICE had higher ATTD of DF than DW, and this was caused by a tendency for a higher ATTD of cellulose, but further studies are required to verify that in general.
Publication Date: 2010-12-01 PubMed ID: 21114231DOI: 10.1080/1745039X.2010.504606Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Journal Article

Summary

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This study compared the digestion of carbohydrates in Icelandic and Danish Warmblood horses eating different diets. The diets were composed of sugar beet pulp, black oats and haylage (either early or late cut). The results indicated that the maturity of the haylage and the type of horse breed both influenced the ability of these horses to extract nutrients from their diets.

Study Design and Methods

  • The researchers used eight horses, four Icelandic (ICE) and four Danish Warmblood (DW), in a crossover study. This type of study design is when participants receive different treatments in random order, making it possible to compare the effects of multiple treatments in the same animals.
  • The horses were given two treatment diets composed of sugar beet pulp, black oats, and either early cut or late cut haylage. Haylage is a type of horse feed similar to hay, but with more moisture.
  • They analyzed the fibre content of the feed in terms of crude fibre (CF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and dietary fibre (DF, which comprises non-starch polysaccharides and lignin).

Results and Findings

  • The study found that as haylage matured, the levels of all types of fibre increased, while the amount of crude protein and sugars decreased.
  • The maturity of the haylage (early vs. late cut) influenced the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of various components of the horse diet. The early cut haylage led to a higher ATTD of dry matter, organic matter, energy, NDF, total NSP, DF, and CP.
  • The breed of the horse also had an impact on ATTD, with Icelandic horses showing higher ATTD of CF, DF, and starch compared to Danish Warmblood horses.
  • The diet also significantly affected several faecal parameters. Horses fed earlier cut haylage had more acidic faeces and higher concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, indicating higher fermentability of the diet.

Implications and Conclusions

  • The research indicates that the time of haylage cut and the horse breed can both affect how well the horse can digest its food and extract nutrients.
  • The study also validates the use of dietary fibre analysis method as a way to differentiate various fibre fractions and their digestibility in horse feeds over other traditional analysis methods.
  • The results suggested that Icelandic horses may have a higher ATTD than Danish Warmbloods, but it was suggested that further research is needed to confirm this finding.

Cite This Article

APA
Jensen RB, Brokner C, Knudsen KE, Tauson AH. (2010). A comparative study of the apparent total tract digestibility of carbohydrates in Icelandic and Danish warmblood horses fed two different haylages and a concentrate consisting of sugar beet pulp and black oats. Arch Anim Nutr, 64(5), 343-356. https://doi.org/10.1080/1745039X.2010.504606

Publication

ISSN: 1745-039X
NlmUniqueID: 101222433
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 64
Issue: 5
Pages: 343-356

Researcher Affiliations

Jensen, Rasmus Bovbjerg
  • Department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Brokner, Christine
    Knudsen, Knud Erik Bach
      Tauson, Anne-Helene

        MeSH Terms

        • Animal Feed / analysis
        • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
        • Animals
        • Avena / chemistry
        • Beta vulgaris / chemistry
        • Cross-Over Studies
        • Diet / veterinary
        • Dietary Carbohydrates / metabolism
        • Dietary Fiber
        • Digestion / physiology
        • Fatty Acids, Volatile
        • Feces / chemistry
        • Horses / physiology
        • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
        • Silage

        Citations

        This article has been cited 3 times.
        1. Potter SJ, Bamford NJ, Baskerville CL, Harris PA, Bailey SR. Comparison of Feed Digestibility between Ponies, Standardbreds and Andalusian Horses Fed Three Different Diets.. Vet Sci 2021 Dec 31;9(1).
          doi: 10.3390/vetsci9010015pubmed: 35051099google scholar: lookup
        2. Garcia-Vaquero M, Rajauria G, Miranda M, Sweeney T, Lopez-Alonso M, O'Doherty J. Seasonal Variation of the Proximate Composition, Mineral Content, Fatty Acid Profiles and Other Phytochemical Constituents of Selected Brown Macroalgae.. Mar Drugs 2021 Apr 4;19(4).
          doi: 10.3390/md19040204pubmed: 33916596google scholar: lookup
        3. Langner K, Blaue D, Schedlbauer C, Starzonek J, Julliand V, Vervuert I. Changes in the faecal microbiota of horses and ponies during a two-year body weight gain programme.. PLoS One 2020;15(3):e0230015.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230015pubmed: 32191712google scholar: lookup