Alkanes as internal markers to estimate digestibility of hay or hay plus concentrate diets in horses.
Abstract: Dry matter intake (DMI), dry matter digestibility (DMD), and fecal output (FO) are difficult to measure directly in the field, and indirect methods using external and internal markers have thus been developed. An experiment was conducted consisting of two digestion trials with two periods in each trial to examine the use of five odd-chain alkanes (C25 to C33) of plant cuticular wax as internal markers to estimate DMD of hay or hay plus concentrate diets in horses. Eight mature Thoroughbred geldings were housed in 4- x 4-m stalls and randomly assigned to one of two mixed grass/legume hays (Diets 1 and 2) in Trial 1 and to mixed grass/legume hay plus one of two concentrates (Diets 3 and 4) in Trial 2. After the first 12-d period was conducted, dietary assignments for each group were switched for the second period in each trial. Each period consisted of a dietary accommodation from d 1 to 7 and total fecal collection from d 8 to 11. Results indicated that fecal recoveries of odd-chain alkanes were 88 to 90% for Diet 1, 75 to 92% for Diet 2, 71 to 81% for Diet 3, and 71 to 82% for Diet 4. Alkane recoveries were not related to alkane chain lengths. Digestibilities calculated from alkane concentration data adjusted using the mean fecal recovery of individual odd-chain alkanes (DA1) were not significantly different from the digestibilities estimated from total collection (DTC) for Diets 1 and 2 in Trial 1 and Diets 3 and 4 in Trial 2. When adjustment was based on the mean recovery of all alkanes (DA2; estimated by linear regression), all DA2 estimates for horses offered all diets were similar to DTC. Results indicate that accurate mean estimates of DMD can be obtained by using plant wax alkane markers and adjusting for the mean recovery of five odd-chain alkanes in a diet.
Publication Date: 2001-06-27 PubMed ID: 11424689DOI: 10.2527/2001.7961516xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 paper delves into the use of alkanes as markers to estimate the digestibility of hay or hay plus concentrate diets in horses. The study found that using plant wax alkane markers and adjusting for the mean recovery of five odd-chain alkanes in a diet can provide accurate measurements of dry matter intake, dry matter digestibility, and fecal output.
The Experiment
- The experiment involved two digestion trials with two periods in each trial. The trials were designed to learn about the use of five odd-chain alkanes of plant cuticular wax as markers to estimate the digestive efficiency of hay and hay plus concentrate diets in horses.
- Eight mature Thoroughbred geldings were randomly assigned different diets. In Trial 1, they were fed two types of mixed grass/legume hays (Diets 1 and 2). In Trial 2, they were given these hays plus one of two kinds of concentrates (Diets 3 and 4).
- Each trial period included a dietary adjustment phase from day 1 to 7 and a total fecal collection period from day 8 to 11.
Findings and Results
- Fecal recoveries of odd-chain alkanes ranged from 88 to 90% for Diet 1, 75 to 92% for Diet 2, 71 to 81% for Diet 3, and 71 to 82% for Diet 4. The horse’s ability to recover these alkanes was not tied to the length of the alkane chains.
- Digestibilities calculated from the alkane concentration data (adjusted using the average fecal recovery of individual odd-chain alkanes) were not significantly different from the digestibilities calculated from total fecal collection for all four diets in Trials 1 and 2.
- When adjustments were made based on the average recovery of all alkanes (DA2; estimated by linear regression), all DA2 estimates for horses given all diets were similar to those derived from total collection (DTC).
Conclusion
- The study concluded that plant wax alkane markers yield accurate estimates of dry matter digestibility (DMD) when adjustments are made for the mean recovery of five odd-chain alkanes in a diet. This indicates that the traditional and more direct methods of measuring DMI, DMD, and FO may be complemented or even replaced with this indirect approach using internal markers.
Cite This Article
APA
Ordakowski AL, Kronfeld DS, Holland JL, Hargreaves BJ, Gay LS, Harris PA, Dove H, Sklan D.
(2001).
Alkanes as internal markers to estimate digestibility of hay or hay plus concentrate diets in horses.
J Anim Sci, 79(6), 1516-1522.
https://doi.org/10.2527/2001.7961516x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061, USA. aordakow@vt.edu
MeSH Terms
- Alkanes / metabolism
- Animals
- Biomarkers
- Diet / veterinary
- Digestion
- Feces / chemistry
- Horses / metabolism
- Poaceae
- Random Allocation
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Grev AM, Hathaway MR, Sheaffer CC, Wells MS, Reiter AS, Martinson KL. Apparent digestibility, fecal particle size, and mean retention time of reduced lignin alfalfa hay fed to horses. J Anim Sci 2021 Jul 1;99(7).
- Schäfers S, Bulang M, Meyer U, Lindwedel A, Hüther L, Dänicke S. Suitability of n-alkanes and chromium (III) oxide as digestibility markers in calves at the end of the milk feeding period supplemented with a prebiotic. Anim Nutr 2018 Mar;4(1):84-89.
- 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.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
