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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Changes in faecal bacteria associated with concentrate and f...
Equine veterinary journal2010; 41(9); 908-914; doi: 10.2746/042516409x447806

Changes in faecal bacteria associated with concentrate and forage-only diets fed to horses in training.

Abstract: Diets rich in readily fermentable carbohydrates, fed traditionally to meet the increased energy requirements of the performance horse, are associated with a number of gastrointestinal disorders that involve disturbances in the intestinal microbiota, however, these changes are poorly understood. Objective: With the long-term objective of improving intestinal health and to increase understanding of the relationship between diet and microbiota, the effect of feeding Standardbred horses a high-energy forage-only (F) diet was studied compared to a more traditional forage-concentrate (C) diet on faecal microbiota. Methods: Diets were fed in a cross-over design to 6 mature geldings on a scheduled training regime, both periods consisting of 29 days. DNA was extracted from faecal samples collected at 4 time points from each period, bacterial 16S rRNA genes were amplified and community composition assessed by terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism, cloning and sequencing. Faecal pH and cultivable lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and enterobacteria were also assessed on the final collection day of each period. Results: Diet F resulted in a microbial composition that was more stable between sampling periods and had lower counts (P < 0.05) of cultivable LAB and specifically members of the Streptococcus bovislequinus complex. Motile and swarming Lactobacillus ruminis was present in all horses on diet C and not in horses on diet F. Diet C also resulted in the increase (P < 0.05) in members of Clostridiaceae cluster III and a concomitant reduction (P < 0.05) in an unknown group of Bacteroidales. Conclusions: The greater microbial stability and reduction in LAB and members of the Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex on diet F indicate an opportunity to develop feeding strategies that support equine health and welfare. Novel changes identified in the faecal microbiota that resulted from carbohydrate inclusion merit further investigation.
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Publication Date: 2010-04-14 PubMed ID: 20383990DOI: 10.2746/042516409x447806Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Journal Article

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 study explored how high-energy forage-only diets might impact the intestinal health of performance horses when compared to traditional forage-concentrate diets. Results indicate that a forage-only diet provided greater microbial stability and reduction in some harmful bacteria, suggesting potential advantages for equine health and welfare.

Objective and Method

This research was aimed at understanding the changes in intestinal microbiota of horses that happen due to different types of diet:

  • The horses were fed with two different diets – a high-energy forage-only diet [F] and a traditional forage-concentrate diet [C].
  • The experiment applied a cross-over design involving 6 mature geldings undergoing a scheduled training regime – meaning, the horses were first fed one diet, then the other, allowing the researchers to monitor the impacts of each diet on the same horse.
  • Researchers collected faecal samples at four different time points from each diet period to examine bacterial changes. DNA was extracted from the samples for this purpose.
  • Along with the microbial analysis, the fecal pH and counts of certain bacteria types were also measured.

Results from Diet F and C

The results from the study revealed differences in the gut bacteria communities for diets F and C:

  • Diet F showed more stability in the microbial composition throughout various sampling periods and lower counts of certain bacteria (Lactic Acid Bacteria and Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex).
  • In contrast, all horses on diet C had the presence of a particular species of bacteria (Lactobacillus ruminis) that was not found in horses on diet F.
  • Furthermore, diet C resulted in an increase in certain harmful bacterial species (Clostridiaceae cluster III) and a decrease in an unknown group of Bacteroidales.

Conclusions and Further Recommendations

The study concluded that a forage-only diet (diet F) can potentially improve the health and well-being of horses by maintaining a stable microbial community in the gut. This diet also seemed to limit the presence of potentially harmful bacteria, making it a promising feeding strategy for performance horses. However, the research also noted that further investigations are needed, particularly into understanding why the inclusion of carbohydrates (as in diet C) leads to certain microbial changes.

Cite This Article

APA
Willing B, Vörös A, Roos S, Jones C, Jansson A, Lindberg JE. (2010). Changes in faecal bacteria associated with concentrate and forage-only diets fed to horses in training. Equine Vet J, 41(9), 908-914. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409x447806

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 41
Issue: 9
Pages: 908-914

Researcher Affiliations

Willing, B
  • Department of Microbiology, P.O. Box 7025, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
Vörös, A
    Roos, S
      Jones, C
        Jansson, A
          Lindberg, J E

            MeSH Terms

            • Animal Feed
            • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
            • Animals
            • Bacteria / genetics
            • Bacteria / isolation & purification
            • Cross-Over Studies
            • Diet / veterinary
            • Feces / microbiology
            • Horses
            • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
            • Male
            • Phylogeny
            • Physical Conditioning, Animal
            • RNA, Bacterial
            • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

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