A new protein evaluation system for horse feed from literature data.
Abstract: Few data on apparent pre-caecal digestibility (APCD) of crude protein (CP) and particularly amino acids (AA) are available from studies with horses. Protein bound in cell walls (i.e. neutral detergent insoluble CP (NDICP)) is unlikely to be decomposed by digestive enzymes in the small intestine. In contrast the corresponding analytical fraction of neutral detergent soluble CP (NDSCP) (NDSCP = CP-NDICP) is likely to be available for auto-enzymatic digestion. A literature analysis on the relationship between NDICP/NDSCP and pre-caecal indigestible/digestible CP was carried out. There was a strong positive relationship between NDICP and pre-caecal indigestible CP, which suggests that NDICP can be used to estimate the part of protein that is not available for digestion in the small intestine. There was also a correlation between NDSCP and pre-caecal digestible protein. The slope of the linear regression line between NDICP and pre-caecal digestible CP was 0·9, suggesting an APCD of NDSCP of 90 %. Thus pre-caecal digestible CP may be predicted by multiplying NDSCP by 0·9. Because the literature identifies a similar AA profile in NDICP and NDSCP within a given feed the presented concept may preliminarily be transferred to AA. The proposed system can at any time be adapted to the scientific progress without altering its structure. Such adaptations would be necessary particularly when new knowledge exist on the distribution of AA onto NDICP/NDSCP, the APCD of individual AA from NDSCP, and the impact of feed processing and chewing on particle sizes and protein digestibility.
Publication Date: 2015-02-04 PubMed ID: 26090101PubMed Central: PMC4463936DOI: 10.1017/jns.2014.66Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper presents the findings of a literature review on valuing horse feed proteins using pre-caecal digestibility, with a focus on how proteins in cell walls impact digestion. The paper also introduces a formula to predict digestible crude protein levels.
Protein Evaluation in Horse Feed
- The researchers conducted a thorough literature study to gather information on the evaluation system of proteins contained in horse feed.
- Their focus was on determining the apparent pre-caecal digestibility (APCD) of crude protein (CP) and specifically of amino acids (AA) in horses. APCD refers to the proportion of a substance that is broken down and absorbed in the section of the gut before the caecum, an area of the horse’s large intestine.
- However, it was noted that there is a scarcity of data on this topic, particularly regarding the digestibility of amino acids.
Importance of Cell Wall Bound Proteins
- The research takes into consideration protein that is bound in cell walls, known as neutral detergent Insoluble crude protein (NDICP), which is unlikely to be broken down by digestive enzymes in a horse’s small intestine.
- In contrast, they found that a comparable analytical portion of neutral detergent Soluble CP (NDSCP) (calculated by subtracting NDICP from CP) is likely to be available for auto-enzymatic digestion, which is digestion performed by an animal’s own enzymes without bacterial assistance.
Findings and Implications
- The research found a strong positive relationship between NDICP and pre-caecal indigestible CP, leading to the proposal that NDICP can be used to estimate the portion of protein not available for digestion in the small intestine.
- They also found a correlation between NDSCP and pre-caecal digestible protein indicating that the majority of NDSCP can be digested before reaching the caecum.
- A new system for calculating pre-caecal digestible CP has been proposed. NDSCP can be multiplied by 0.9 (90%) to predict this value.
- This method could potentially be applied to AAs, given that the literature identifies a similar AA profile in NDICP and NDSCP within a given feed.
- The proposed system is flexible and can adapt to new scientific findings without changing its basic structure. It particularly highlights the potential requirements for modification when new knowledge becomes available about the distribution of AA onto NDICP/NDSCP, the APCD of individual AA from NDSCP, and the effects of feed processing and chewing on particle sizes and protein digestibility.
Cite This Article
APA
Zeyner A, Kirchhof S, Susenbeth A, Südekum KH, Kienzle E.
(2015).
A new protein evaluation system for horse feed from literature data.
J Nutr Sci, 4, e4.
https://doi.org/10.1017/jns.2014.66 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Nutrition , Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg , Halle (Saale) , Germany.
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, University of Hohenheim , Stuttgart-Hohenheim , Germany.
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University , Kiel , Germany.
- Institute of Animal Science, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University , Bonn , Germany.
- Chair for Animal Nutrition and Dietetics , Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich , Munich , Germany.
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Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Bockisch F, Taubert J, Coenen M, Vervuert I. Protein Evaluation of Feedstuffs for Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 14;13(16).
- Pisch C, Wensch-Dorendorf M, Schwarzenbolz U, Henle T, Greef JM, Zeyner A. Effect of Hay Steaming on the Estimated Precaecal Digestibility of Crude Protein and Selected Amino Acids in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 10;12(22).
- Glatter M, Bochnia M, Wensch-Dorendorf M, Greef JM, Zeyner A. Feed Intake Parameters of Horses Fed Soaked or Steamed Hay and Hygienic Quality of Hay Stored following Treatment. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 18;11(9).
- Bachmann M, Bochnia M, Wensch-Dorendorf M, Glatter M, Schäfer S, Simroth K, Greef JM, Zeyner A. Feed intake, digestibility and passage kinetics in grazing horses. Sci Rep 2026 Jan 22;16(1):3052.
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