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Physiology & behavior2015; 149; 159-164; doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.05.039

Changes of the hindgut microbiota due to high-starch diet can be associated with behavioral stress response in horses.

Abstract: The digestive system of horses is adapted to a high-fiber diet consumed in small amounts over a long time. However, during training, high-starch and low-fiber diets are usually fed which may induce hindgut microbial disturbances and intestinal pain. These diets can be described as alimentary stress. The aim of the present study was to investigate to what extent changes in behavior are associated with alimentary stress and microbial composition changes of the cecal or colonic ecosystem. Six fistulated horses were used. The alimentary stress was a modification of diet from a high-fiber diet (100% hay) to a progressive low-fiber and high-starch diet (from 90% hay and 10% barley to 57% hay and 43% barley in 5 days). Cecal and colonic total anaerobic, cellulolytic, amylolytic and lactate-utilizing bacteria were enumerated three times (twice on high-fiber diet and once on 57% hay and 43% barley diet). The behavior of horses was assessed from continuous video recording over an 18-h time period. In addition two personality traits were measured: neophobia (assessed from the reaction to the presence of a novel object placed near a feeder in a test arena) and sociability (assessed from the reaction to an unfamiliar horse in a stall). Video recordings were analyzed by scan sampling every 10 min using the following behavioral categories: lying, resting, feeding and being vigilant. In addition, we recorded time spent feeding and time spent in vigilance during the neophobia test, and time spent in vigilance and time spent in interactions with the unfamiliar horse during the sociability test. The alimentary stress induced significant increases of colonic total anaerobic bacteria, lactate-utilizing bacteria and amylolytic bacteria concentrations. When horses were fed the 57% hay–43% barley diet, time spent in vigilance tended to be positively correlated with cecal and colonic amylolytic bacteria concentrations during the sociability test and with cecal lactate-utilizing and colonic amylolytic bacteria concentrations during the neophobia test. These correlations suggested that dietary-induced modulation of the microbiota may affect horse behavior and that behavioral cues may be used as non-invasive indicators of alimentary stress. It might prove useful to prevent intestinal pain of horses on farms.
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Publication Date: 2015-06-03 PubMed ID: 26048306DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.05.039Google 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 articulates that altering the diet of a horse from high-fiber to high-starch can lead to behavioral stress caused by changes in the horse’s gut microbiota. Such shifts can affect the horse’s behavior and may serve as non-invasive indicators of dietary stress.

Research Methodology

  • The study featured 6 fistulated horses, and their diets were modified from a high-fiber diet (100% hay) to a progressive low-fiber and high-starch diet (a blend of hay and barley: 90% to 57% hay with a corresponding rise in barley from 10% to 43%, all within five days).
  • The researchers measured the bacterial composition of the horse’s digestive system (specifically the cecum and the colon) at three intervals: twice when the horses were on a high-fiber diet and once more after they transitioned to the 57% hay and 43% barley diet.
  • Aside from microbiota changes, researchers evaluated horses’ behavior through video recordings over an 18-hour time frame.
  • The horses’ sociability and neophobia (fear of new things) were also measured—adding dimensionality by assessing these two personality traits.

Key Findings

  • The research found a significant increase in various bacterial concentrations in the horses’ colonic regions such as total anaerobic bacteria, lactate-utilizing bacteria, and amylolytic bacteria.
  • The evidence showed a positive correlation between bacterial changes and altered behavior, especially during social interactions and when introduced to new objects.
  • The horses’ vigilance levels were connected with changes in cecal and colonic amylolytic bacteria concentrations and with cecal lactate-utilizing bacteria and colonic amylolytic bacteria concentrations.

Implications and Conclusions

  • The outcomes suggest changes in diet, specifically from high-fiber to high-starch, attributed to the reshaping of the horse’s gut microbiota, leading to changes in the horse’s behavior.
  • Behavioral shifts being tied to microbiota changes indicate that they can serve as non-invasive, early indicators of dietary stress or “alimentary stress.” This information is useful in preventing intestinal discomfort and ensuring better animal welfare on farms.
  • The study demonstrates both the critical role the diet plays in animal behavior and the helpful potential behavioral cues offer in diagnosing alimentary stress in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Destrez A, Grimm P, Cézilly F, Julliand V. (2015). Changes of the hindgut microbiota due to high-starch diet can be associated with behavioral stress response in horses. Physiol Behav, 149, 159-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.05.039

Publication

Physiology & behavior
ISSN: 1873-507X
NlmUniqueID: 0151504
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 149
Pages: 159-164
PII: S0031-9384(15)00333-9

Researcher Affiliations

Destrez, Alexandra
  • AgroSup Dijon, F-21079 Dijon, France; UMR Métafort, INRA de Theix, F-63122 Saint-Genes-Champanelle, France. Electronic address: alexandra.destrez@agrosupdijon.fr.
Grimm, Pauline
  • AgroSup Dijon, F-21079 Dijon, France.
Cézilly, Frank
  • Université de Bourgogne, UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences, F-21079 Dijon, France.
Julliand, Véronique
  • AgroSup Dijon, F-21079 Dijon, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Blood Cell Count
  • Castration
  • Cecum / microbiology
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
  • Exploratory Behavior
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Horses
  • Intestinal Fistula
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Microbiota / physiology
  • Social Behavior
  • Starch / metabolism
  • Stress, Psychological / microbiology
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology
  • Time Factors

Citations

This article has been cited 17 times.
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