Digestibility and nutrient retention of perennial peanut and bermudagrass hays for mature horses.
Abstract: Mature horses were used to determine apparent DM, OM, NDF, and CP digestibility values of 2 bermudagrass (BG; Cynodon dactylon) hays, Coastal (CB) and Tifton 85 (T85), and Florigraze perennial peanut (PP; Arachis glabrata) hay. In addition, N, Ca, and P balances were determined in horses fed those hays. Five mature Thoroughbred geldings and 1 Quarter Horse gelding (mean initial BW = 542 +/- 37 kg) were used (5 horses for the last period) in a 3 x 3 repeated Latin square design, with 2 horses per hay and 3 adjustment and collection periods. Horses were randomly assigned to pairs and the initial hay to be fed. Each period consisted of a 10-d adjustment phase, followed by a 4-d total fecal and urine collection phase. Horses were fed at 1.5 (period 1), 1.7 (period 2), or 2% (period 3) of their BW daily (DM basis). The 2 BG were grown under similar conditions, with CB and T85 being cut at 4 and 5 wk of regrowth, respectively, and PP being of a late first cutting. The compositions (DM basis) of PP, CB, and T85, respectively, were 93, 94, and 93% DM; 92, 94, and 94% OM; 46, 73, and 77% NDF; 34, 37, and 42% ADF; 11, 10, and 8% CP; 1.10, 0.28, 0.27% Ca; and 0.19, 0.15, and 0.19% P, respectively. Least squares means (pooled SE) for apparent digestibility of PP, CB, and T85, respectively, were 65, 53, and 52% (1) DM digestibility; 67, 53, and 52% (1) OM digestibility; 44, 50, and 46% (4) NDF digestibility; and 66, 60, and 57% (1) CP digestibility. Digestibility values of DM and OM were greater (P < 0.001) for PP than for the BG. Digestibility of CP was greater (P = 0.001) for PP than for CB or T85, with no difference (P = 0.37) between PP and BG hays in NDF digestibility. There were no differences between CB and T85 for DM digestibility (P = 0.67), OM digestibility (P = 0.59), CP digestibility (P = 0.11), and NDF digestibility (P = 0.48). Nitrogen (P = 0.01) and P balances (P = 0.04) were greater for PP than BG hays, whereas N balance of CB was greater (P = 0.01) than that of T85. There were no differences among all hays in Ca balance (P = 0.54) and between the BG in P balance (P = 0.34). Results indicated that PP, CB, and T85 are suitable forages for horses.
Publication Date: 2010-02-12 PubMed ID: 20154163DOI: 10.2527/jas.2009-2092Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study compared the digestibility and nutrient absorption of two types of bermudagrass and perennial peanut hay when fed to mature horses. The findings suggested that all three types of hay are suitable for horse forage, but perennial peanut hay demonstrated a higher digestibility and improved nitrogen and phosphorus balances compared to bermudagrass hay.
Study Design and Experiment Setup
- The study was carried out using a 3 x 3 repeated Latin square design, which involved six mature geldings (five Thoroughbreds and one Quarter Horse) with an average initial body weight of 542 kg.
- The horses were randomly assigned to pairs and given a specific type of hay to eat: perennial peanut (PP), Coastal bermudagrass (CB), or Tifton 85 bermudagrass (T85).
- Each experimental period contained a 10-day adjustment phase where horses acclimated to their assigned hay, followed by a 4-day phase of total fecal and urine collection to measure nutrient absorption.
- The portion of hay fed to horses was gradually increased from 1.5% to 2% of their body weight over three periods.
Composition of Hay Types
- The three types of hay had almost similar dry matter(DM) and organic matter (OM) composition, with small differences in neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P).
- Perennial peanut hay showed a significantly lower NDF value than both types of bermudagrass hay, indicating lesser indigestible plant material.
Digestibility and Nutrient Retention Observations
- Apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and crude protein (CP) were measured across all hay types.
- Statistically, the digestibility values of DM and OM were significantly higher for perennial peanut hay compared to both types of bermudagrass hay.
- Crude protein digestibility was also higher in perennial peanut hay than in both bermudagrass hays.
- Nitrogen and phosphorus balance, which indicates the difference between the consumption and excretion of these nutrients, were greater in horses fed perennial peanut hay compared to bermudagrass hay.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that perennial peanut, Coastal bermudagrass, and Tifton 85 bermudagrass are all suitable forages for horses. Still, perennial peanut hay showed a higher digestibility rate and a better nutrient balance than the bermudagrass hays.
Cite This Article
APA
Eckert JV, Myer RO, Warren LK, Brendemuhl JH.
(2010).
Digestibility and nutrient retention of perennial peanut and bermudagrass hays for mature horses.
J Anim Sci, 88(6), 2055-2061.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2009-2092 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / physiology
- Animals
- Calcium / urine
- Digestion / physiology
- Fabaceae / metabolism
- Feces / chemistry
- Horses / metabolism
- Horses / urine
- Male
- Phosphorus / urine
- Poaceae / metabolism
- Random Allocation
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Saastamoinen M, Särkijärvi S, Suomala H. Protein Source and Intake Effects on Diet Digestibility and N Excretion in Horses-A Risk of Environmental N Load of Horses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Dec 15;11(12).
- Vasco ACCM, Brinkley-Bissinger KJ, Bobel JM, Dubeux JCB, Warren LK, Wickens CL. Digestibility and nitrogen and water balance in horses fed rhizoma peanut hay. J Anim Sci 2021 Nov 1;99(11).
- Spurgin CL, Coverdale JA, Leatherwood JL, Redmon LA, Bradbery AN, Wickersham TA. Effects of crude protein content on intake and digestion of coastal bermudagrass hay by horses. Transl Anim Sci 2021 Jul;5(3):txab073.
- Hansen TL, Chizek EL, Zugay OK, Miller JM, Bobel JM, Chouinard JW, Adkin AM, Skurupey LA, Warren LK. Digestibility and Retention Time of Coastal Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) Hay by Horses. Animals (Basel) 2019 Dec 14;9(12).
- Shepherd ML, Ponder MA, Burk AO, Milton SC, Swecker WS Jr. Fibre digestibility, abundance of faecal bacteria and plasma acetate concentrations in overweight adult mares. J Nutr Sci 2014;3:e10.
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