Are feeding practices associated with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis?

This study investigates the relationship between feeding practices and the development of duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) in horses. It found evidence to suggest that horses fed with a higher amount of concentrate and those allowed to graze pastures were more likely to develop DPJ.

Research Objectives

• The primary objective of this research was to understand the relationship between feeding practices and the development of duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) in horses. Particularly, they wanted to see if the amount of concentrate fed daily to horses and/or their grazing practices influenced the occurrence of DPJ.

Methods and Approach

• To achieve the research objectives, a comparative study was performed between horses diagnosed with DPJ between 1997 and 2003 and two control groups of horses. These control groups included horses admitted to the clinic due to either colic (a common digestive disorder in horses) or lameness during the same period.
• The missing data in their records were managed through multiple imputations, after which comparisons were made among the groups using polytomous logistic regression.

Findings

• The results of the study revealed that horses with DPJ were fed significantly more concentrate and were more likely to have grazed pasture than either control groups. Furthermore, it was found that female horses were significantly more likely to suffer from DPJ than male horses suffering from lameness.
• The observed correlations remained unchanged even after adjusting for the bodyweight of the horses, thus suggesting a direct relationship between feeding practices and the onset of DPJ independent of the size or weight of the horse.

Conclusions

• The study confirmed differences in feeding and grazing practices between horses with DPJ and those belonging to the two control groups, suffering either from other forms of colic or lameness.
• Despite the significant correlations observed, the researchers cautioned against using these relationships for diagnostic or predictive applications due to the correlations not being strong enough. They suggest that if the observations are confirmed by future studies, they could provide important clues towards understanding the root causes of DPJ.