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Journal of animal science2021; 99(7); skab158; doi: 10.1093/jas/skab158

Apparent digestibility, fecal particle size, and mean retention time of reduced lignin alfalfa hay fed to horses.

Abstract: Reduced lignin alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has the potential to provide a higher-quality forage source for livestock by improving forage digestibility. This study was conducted to evaluate apparent digestibility when feeding reduced lignin and nonreduced lignin alfalfa hay to adult horses, and to examine mean fecal particle size (MFPS) and mean retention time (MRT) between alfalfa forage types. In 2017, reduced lignin ("54HVX41") and nonreduced lignin ("WL355.RR") alfalfa hay was harvested in Minnesota at the late-bud stage. Alfalfa hays were similar in crude protein (CP; 199 g/kg), neutral detergent fiber (NDF; 433 g/kg), and digestible energy (2.4 Mcal/kg). Acid detergent lignin concentrations were lower for reduced lignin alfalfa hay (74 g/kg) compared to nonreduced lignin alfalfa hay (81 g/kg). Dietary treatments were fed to six adult, stock-type horses in a crossover study. Experimental periods consisted of a 9-d dietary adaptation phase followed by a 5-d total fecal collection phase, during which horses were housed in individual boxstalls and manure was removed on a continuous 24-h basis. At 12-h intervals, feces were thoroughly mixed, subsampled in duplicate, and used for apparent digestibility and MFPS analysis. On day 2 of the fecal collection phase, horses were fed two indigestible markers, cobalt (Co) and ytterbium (Yb), which were fed as Co-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and Yb-labeled NDF residue, respectively. Additional fecal samples were taken at 2-h intervals following marker dosing until 96-h post-dosing to evaluate digesta MRT. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS, with statistical significance set at P ≤0.05. Dietary treatment (i.e., alfalfa hay type) was included as a fixed effect, while experimental period and horse were considered random effects. Dietary treatments were similar in dry matter intake (1.6% bodyweight) and time to consumption (7.6 h). Apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD) was greater for reduced lignin alfalfa (64.4%) compared to nonreduced lignin alfalfa (61.7%). Apparent CP and NDF digestibility did not differ between dietary treatments, averaging 78% and 45%, respectively. Dietary treatments were similar in MFPS (0.89 mm) and MRT for both liquid (23.7 h) and solid (27.4 h) phase material. These results indicate an improvement in DMD for reduced lignin alfalfa hay when fed to adult horses, with no change in forage consumption, fecal particle size, or digesta retention time.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-21 PubMed ID: 34013333PubMed Central: PMC8280930DOI: 10.1093/jas/skab158Google 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.

This research investigates the differences in digestibility between two types of alfalfa hay – one with normal lignin, a fibrous plant material, and the other with reduced lignin – when fed to horses. It was found that reduced lignin alfalfa hay significantly improved digestibility of dry matter in horses without changing food consumption, feces particle size or how long the feed remained in the digestive system.

Methodology

  • The research was carried out using two types of alfalfa hay: “54HVX41” which had reduced lignin content and “WL355.RR” with normal lignin content. Both were harvested at the same stage of maturity.
  • Concentrations of crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, and digestible energy were similar in both types of hay while acid detergent lignin concentrations were lower in the reduced lignin type.
  • Six adult horses were fed on both types of hay in a crossover study consisting of an adaptation phase and a total faecal collection phase. During this, manure was continuously collected and thoroughly mixed at 12-hour intervals to be used in analysing digestibility and fecal particle size.
  • To assess the mean retention time (the time the feed spends in the digestive system), horses were given cobalt and ytterbium, two indigestible markers. Faecal samples were collected at two hour intervals after marker dosing for up to 96 hours post-dosing.

Results

  • There was no significant difference in dry matter intake and consumption time between the two dietary treatments.
  • The apparent digestibility of dry matter was significantly improved in the reduced lignin alfalfa hay, with 64.4% being digested compared to 61.7% in the normal lignin hay.
  • However, the apparent digestibility of crude protein and neutral detergent fibre did not differ notably between the two types of hays, averaging 78% and 45%, respectively.
  • No changes were observed in the fecal particle size or in the mean retention time, with averages for dietary treatments being similar.

Conclusions

  • This study demonstrates that reduced lignin alfalfa hay can result in an improvement in digestibility of dry matter when fed to horses, indicating potential for increased nutritional availability.
  • However, it does not seem to affect the digestibility of protein or fibre, or impact food consumption, fecal particle size or mean retention time. Further research may be needed to understand why only dry matter digestibility is affected by reducing lignin content.

Cite This Article

APA
Grev AM, Hathaway MR, Sheaffer CC, Wells MS, Reiter AS, Martinson KL. (2021). Apparent digestibility, fecal particle size, and mean retention time of reduced lignin alfalfa hay fed to horses. J Anim Sci, 99(7), skab158. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab158

Publication

Journal of animal science
ISSN: 1525-3163
NlmUniqueID: 8003002
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 99
Issue: 7
PII: skab158

Researcher Affiliations

Grev, Amanda M
  • Western Maryland Research and Education Center, University of Maryland Extension, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756, USA.
Hathaway, Marcia R
  • Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, 1364 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Sheaffer, Craig C
  • Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, 1991 Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Wells, M Scott
  • Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, 1991 Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Reiter, Amanda S
  • Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, 17 Manter Road, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
Martinson, Krishona L
  • Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, 1364 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animals
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Digestion
  • Feces
  • Horses
  • Lignin
  • Medicago sativa
  • Minnesota
  • Particle Size

Grant Funding

  • Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Cui W, Zhuang Z, Jiang P, Pan J, Zhao G, Xu S, Shen W. Characterization, Expression Profiling, and Biochemical Analyses of the Cinnamoyl-CoA Reductase Gene Family for Lignin Synthesis in Alfalfa Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Jul 14;23(14).
    doi: 10.3390/ijms23147762pubmed: 35887111google scholar: lookup
  2. Springer RW, Cherry NM, Raub RH, Wellmann KB, Jones TN. Estimation of In Vitro True Digestibility and Fiber Degradation from Feedstuff Fiber Composition When Incubated in Equine Fecal Inoculum. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 29;13(23).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13233699pubmed: 38067050google scholar: lookup
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