Abstract: Calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFAs) frequently are fed to ruminants, but their fate in the equine digestive system is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare Enertia s/f, a proprietary CSFAs, and soybean (SB) oil with respect to impact on apparent total tract nutrient digestion and cecal fermentation parameters in horses. Eight cecally cannulated Quarter Horses were used in a crossover design in which horses consumed a diet for 32 d consisting of 1.5% body weight (BW) (as-fed) smooth bromegrass hay and 0.5% BW (as-fed) pelleted concentrate containing 4.9% CSFAs or 4.1% SB oil. Fecal samples were collected every 4 h from day 30 to 32 of each period and analyzed for apparent total tract digestibilities of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), and gross energy (GE) using acid detergent insoluble ash as an internal marker. Cecal digesta was obtained at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h following the morning meal on day 29 of each period and analyzed for pH and concentrations of volatile fatty acid (VFA) and long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs). Serum was collected on day 33 of each period following a 16-h fast and analyzed for triglycerides and cholesterol. Apparent total tract digestibilities of DM, NDF, ADF, CP, CF, and GE were unaffected by lipid source ( > 0.10). Serum triglycerides tended to be greater in horses consuming CSFAs compared to SB ( = 0.10); however, serum cholesterol was not different ( = 0.45). In horses consuming SB, cecal pH decreased below baseline (hour 0) at hours 2, 4, and 6 ( < 0.01), whereas cecal pH in horses consuming CSFAs was below baseline at hours 4 and 6 ( < 0.01). There were no treatment or time effects on cecal pH ( > 0.10). Cecal concentrations of total VFAs were greater in horses consuming SB compared to CSFAs at hour 2 ( = 0.01). Cecal concentrations of acetate, propionate, acetate:propionate (A:P), and butyrate were affected by time ( < 0.01). Propionate was less at hour 2 in horses fed CSFAs compared to horses fed SB ( = 0.04). A treatment × time interaction was detected for total cecal LCFAs concentration ( < 0.01); LCFAs concentration was greater at hour 2 for horses consuming CSFAs compared to horses fed SB ( = 0.02). SB oil and CSFAs have similar effects on the digestion of DM, NDF, ADF, GE, CF, and CP.
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This research article investigates the digestibility of diets containing calcium salts of fatty acids or soybean oil in horses. The study aimed to determine the impact of these diets on nutrient digestion and cecal fermentation in horses.
Research Methodology
Eight cecally cannulated Quarter Horses were selected for the study and were put on a diet of smooth bromegrass hay and pelleted concentrate containing either calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFAs) or soybean oil for a period of 32 days.
Fecal samples were collected over the last three days of the experiment for analysis of apparent total tract digestibilities of various nutrients and energy.
The nutrients analyzed were dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, crude protein, crude fat, and gross energy, with an internal marker used for the analysis being acid detergent insoluble ash.
On the 29th day, samples of the cecal digesta were taken and analyzed for pH and concentrations of volatile fatty acids and long-chain fatty acids.
At the end of the trial, after a 16-hour fast, serum samples were collected and analyzed for triglycerides and cholesterol levels.
Results
The study found that the lipid source, whether CSFAs or soybean oil, had no influence on the total tract digestibilities of the nutrients and energy analyzed.
Serum triglyceride levels were somewhat higher in horses fed CSFAs, but this difference was not statistically significant. Serum cholesterol levels were not influenced by the diet.
Cecal pH was observed to decrease below the baseline value at distinct times for horses fed the two diets. However, no significant treatment or time effects on cecal pH were noted.
Horses on the soybean oil diet showed higher cecal concentrations of total volatile fatty acids two hours after the meal, as compared to horses on the CSFA diet.
Cecal concentrations of four specific types of acid were variable over the time period considered. The concentration of propionate was found to be lower at hour two in horses fed CSFAs, while the concentration of long-chain fatty acids was higher in these horses at the same time point.
Conclusion
Both diets, those with CSFAs and those with soybean oil, were seen to have similar effects on the digestion of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, gross energy, crude fat, and crude protein.
Cite This Article
APA
Fehlberg LK, Lattimer JM, Vahl CI, Drouillard JS, Douthit TL.
(2020).
Digestibility of diets containing calcium salts of fatty acids or soybean oil in horses.
Transl Anim Sci, 4(2), txaa001.
https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaa001
Department of Animal Sciences & Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Lattimer, James M
Department of Animal Sciences & Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Vahl, Christopher I
Department of Statistics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Drouillard, James S
Department of Animal Sciences & Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Douthit, Teresa L
Department of Animal Sciences & Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
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