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BMC veterinary research2022; 18(1); 187; doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03289-2

A high-starch vs. high-fibre diet: effects on the gut environment of the different intestinal compartments of the horse digestive tract.

Abstract: Horses are often fed high amounts of starch in their diets despite the well-established benefits of a fibre-based diet to promote gut health and animal welfare. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of two different diets - one based on high amounts of starch (HS) vs. one base on high amounts of fibre (HF) - on specific parameters of the gut environment across different intestinal compartments of the horse digestive tract. To this end differences in the gastrointestinal environment between HS vs. HF fed horses were assessed in terms of dry matter, organic matter and ash content; the particle size distribution and volatile fatty acid composition were also investigated. Results: Nineteen Bardigiano horses of 14.3 ± 0.7 months of age and destined to slaughter were divided into two group pens - one fed with high amounts of starch (HS; n = 9; 43% hay plus 57% starch-rich pelleted feed); vs. fed with high amounts of fibre (HF; n = 10; 70% hay plus 30% fibre-rich pelleted feed). Horses fed HS diet presented a higher dry matter content in the right dorsal colon. Moreover, they showed a higher organic matter and ash content in the sternal flexure, pelvic flexure, right dorsal colon and rectum. In these latter intestinal compartments, horses fed a HS diet also showed a higher proportion of particles retained on an 8 mm sieve and a higher proportion of particles that washed through the finest sieve (< 1 mm). Moreover, the total amounts of volatile fatty acids as well as valeric acid were found to be significantly higher in horses fed the HS vs. HF diet. Conclusions: A high-starch diet causes significant changes in the horse gut environment. We observed an increase in the dry matter content in the right dorsal colon, as well as reduced particle sizes and an increase in the production of valeric acid in all the gut compartments studied. High-starch diets should be avoided in favour of fibre-based diets with the goal of safeguarding gut health in horses.
© 2022. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2022-05-19 PubMed ID: 35590319PubMed Central: PMC9118577DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03289-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research focuses on studying the effects of two different types of diet on the gut health of horses – a high-starch diet and a high-fiber diet. The study found that a high-starch diet can cause significant changes in the gut environment of horses.

Research Methodology:

  • Nineteen Bardigiano horses with an average age of 14.3 months were involved in the study.
  • The horses were divided into two groups. One group was fed a high-starch diet (43% hay plus 57% starch-rich pelleted feed), while the other was provided with a high-fiber diet (70% hay plus 30% fibre-rich pelleted feed).
  • Parameters such as dry matter, organic matter, ash content and particle size distribution were evaluated in different compartments of the horse’s digestive tract, namely the sternal flexure, pelvic flexure, right dorsal colon, and rectum.
  • The concentration of volatile fatty acids including valeric acid, which are by-products of fermentation in the gut, were also examined.

Research Findings:

  • The study found that the dry matter content was higher in the right dorsal colon of horses fed a high-starch diet.
  • The organic matter and ash content were also higher in the sternal flexure, pelvic flexure, right dorsal colon and rectum of horses on a high-starch diet.
  • These horses also had a higher proportion of larger particles (retained on an 8 mm sieve) and a higher proportion of very small particles (those that washed through a <1 mm sieve) in the gut compartments studied.
  • The total amounts of volatile fatty acids and valeric acid were significantly higher in the horses fed the high-starch diet as compared to those on a high-fiber diet.

Conclusions:

  • Providing a high-starch diet significantly alters the gut environment in horses. The alterations manifest in terms of increased dry matter content, changes in particle size distribution and increased production of valeric acid.
  • The research strongly supports the use of fibre-based diets as they better safeguard gut health in horses as opposed to high-starch diets.

Cite This Article

APA
Raspa F, Vervuert I, Capucchio MT, Colombino E, Bergero D, Forte C, Greppi M, Cavallarin L, Giribaldi M, Antoniazzi S, Cavallini D, Valvassori E, Valle E. (2022). A high-starch vs. high-fibre diet: effects on the gut environment of the different intestinal compartments of the horse digestive tract. BMC Vet Res, 18(1), 187. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03289-2

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Pages: 187
PII: 187

Researcher Affiliations

Raspa, Federica
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy.
Vervuert, Ingrid
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
Capucchio, Maria Teresa
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy.
Colombino, Elena
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy.
Bergero, Domenico
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy.
Forte, Claudio
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy.
Greppi, Martina
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy.
Cavallarin, Laura
  • ISPA-CNR, Institute of Sciences of Food Production, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy.
Giribaldi, Marzia
  • ISPA-CNR, Institute of Sciences of Food Production, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy.
Antoniazzi, Sara
  • ISPA-CNR, Institute of Sciences of Food Production, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy.
Cavallini, Damiano
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.
Valvassori, Ermenegildo
  • Public veterinary service, ASL TO5, 10023, Chieri, Italy.
Valle, Emanuela
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy. emanuela.valle@unito.it.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animals
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Digestion
  • Fatty Acids, Volatile
  • Gastrointestinal Tract
  • Horses
  • Starch

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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