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BMC veterinary research2025; 21(1); 273; doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04716-w

Effects of different grain types on nutrient apparent digestibility, glycemic responses, and fecal VFA content in weaned foals.

Abstract: China's equine industry has shifted from traditional rough grazing to modern intensive farming, expanding the roles of horses into eventing, leisure, tourism, and meat and dairy production. Concurrently, equine nutrition has evolved from a forage-based diet to a more diverse regimen incorporating grain supplements to meet the heightened energy demands of intensive farming. However, nutrient digestibility and glycemic response vary considerably based on grain type, starch content, composition, and structural properties. Optimal grain selection is therefore essential for energy supplementation across developmental stages to sustain growth and performance. This study examines the impact of diets incorporating steam-flaked grains (corn, oats, and barley) on apparent nutrient digestibility, glycemic response, and fecal volatile fatty acid (VFA) composition in the weaned Kazakh foals. Methods: Eighteen male Kazakh foals, weaned at 5 months, were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 6 per group) based on grain type: corn group (CG), oats group (OG), and barley group (BG). The daily starch intake for the foals was set at 2 g starch (DM)/kg body weight per day to determine the amount of concentrate supplements to be fed, based on the principle of equal grain starch intake over a 60-day feeding trial. Results: Results indicated that the apparent nutrient digestibility was lower in OG than in CG and BG (P > 0.05). However, amylose intake and digestibility were significantly higher in OG compared to CG (P < 0.01). Plasma glucose and glucagon levels were elevated in CG relative to OG and BG (P < 0.01), while the insulin/glucose ratio was highest in the BG. Additionally, BG increased fecal lactic acid and total VFA (TVFA) concentrations while reducing fecal pH. Conclusions: For weaned Kazakh foals, steam-flaked corn could be recommended in advance of steam-flaked oats and barley in cereal-based energy supplementation alongside basal forage diets. It may reduce amylose intake, improve glycemic responses, increase plasma glucose levels and reduce fecal lactic acid content.
© 2025. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2025-04-14 PubMed ID: 40229645PubMed Central: PMC11995512DOI: 10.1186/s12917-025-04716-wGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article examines the impact of different types of steam-flaked grains (corn, oats, and barley) on nutrient digestibility, blood sugar responses, and fecal volatile fatty acid composition in weaned Kazakh foals, to inform optimal grain selection for energy supplementation in intensive horse farming.

Background of Study

  • The study arises from the shifting agriculture practices in China’s equine industry from traditional grazing to modern intensive farming, resulting in expanded roles for horses in areas such as eventing, tourism, meat and dairy production.
  • This evolution in practices has necessitated the incorporation of grain supplements into the traditionally forage-based horse diet to meet increased energy demands.
  • Considering that nutrient digestibility and glycemic response vary significantly by grain type, the study seeks to facilitate optimal grain selection for energy supplementation.

    • Methodology

    • The study involved eighteen weaned male Kazakh foals split into three groups, with each group receiving a diet consisting of a different grain: corn, oats, or barley.
    • The experimental diets were constructed so that each foal consumed 2g of starch (in dry matter form) per kilogram of body weight per day over the 60-day feeding trial, with the principle of equal grain starch intake.

      • Findings

      • Results showed that nutrient digestibility was lowest in the oats group as compared to the corn and barley groups.
      • Amylose intake and digestibility were found to be significantly higher in the oats group than the corn group, indicating a potential advantage in reducing the intake of high-amylose grains.
      • Corn group foals displayed higher levels of blood glucose and glucagon, while the barley group had the highest insulin/glucose ratio, suggesting a different glycemic response for each grain.
      • The barley group also exhibited increased fecal lactic acid and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations and a reduced fecal pH, indicating this grain’s impact on the digestive system’s microbiota.

        • Conclusion

        • Based on the observed outcomes, the researchers recommend steam-flaked corn over steam-flaked oats and barley for cereal-based energy supplementation in a basal forage diet for weaned Kazakh foals.
        • The corn-based diet may decrease amylose intake, better regulate blood glucose levels, and reduce fecal lactic acid content.

Cite This Article

APA
Huang X, Li Q, Li X, Li C, Li J, He L, Jing H, Yang F, Li X. (2025). Effects of different grain types on nutrient apparent digestibility, glycemic responses, and fecal VFA content in weaned foals. BMC Vet Res, 21(1), 273. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04716-w

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 21
Issue: 1
Pages: 273
PII: 273

Researcher Affiliations

Huang, Xinxin
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830052, China.
Li, Qian
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830052, China.
Li, Xuanyue
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830052, China.
Li, Chao
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830052, China.
Li, Jiahao
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830052, China.
He, Linjiao
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830052, China.
Jing, Hongxin
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830052, China.
Yang, Fan
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830052, China.
Li, Xiaobin
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830052, China. 172387243@qq.com.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / physiology
  • Feces / chemistry
  • Male
  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Digestion / physiology
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Edible Grain / classification
  • Fatty Acids, Volatile / analysis
  • Blood Glucose
  • Weaning
  • Hordeum
  • Avena
  • Zea mays

Grant Funding

  • 2022A02013-2-3 / Major Science and Technology Special Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
  • 31860649 / National Natural Science Foundation of China
  • PT2311 / The Innovation Environment (Talent, Base ) Construction Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All protocols were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Xinjiang Agricultural University (permission number 2018012). Informed consent—Owners gave informed consent for their animals’ inclusion in the study. All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations for the use of animal subjects. The study was carried out in compliance with the ARRIVE guidelines. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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