Effects of forage phosphorous content on faecal phosphorous excretion and possible markers of low phosphorous intake in foals fed forage-only diets.
Abstract: Knowledge of endogenous nutrient losses is important when estimating the nutrient requirements of animals. It has been suggested that faecal endogenous phosphorus (P) losses differ between growing and adult horses, but studies on foals are scarce. In addition, studies on foals on forage-only diets with different P contents are lacking. Thus this study: (1) assessed faecal endogenous P losses in foals fed a grass haylage-only diet close to or below estimated P requirements; (2) evaluated use of serum cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptides of type-I collagen (CTx) as a marker of bone resorption secondary to low-P intake; and (3) examined whether analysis of faecal P concentration on a dry matter (DM) basis could be used as an indicator of P intake. Six foals were fed three grass haylages (fertilised to contain different amounts of P: 1.9, 2.1, 3.0 g/kg DM) for 17-day periods in a Latin square design. Total collection of feaces was performed by the end of each period. Faecal endogenous P losses were estimated using linear regression analysis. There was no difference in the concentration of CTx in plasma between diets in samples collected on the last day of each period. A correlation was found (y = 0.64x - 1.51; r = 0.75, p < 0.0001) between P intake and faecal P content, but regression analysis indicated that underestimation as well as overestimation of intake is likely if faecal P content is used to assess intake. It was concluded that faecal endogenous P losses in foals are low, probably no higher than in adult horses. It was also concluded that plasma CTx cannot be used to assess short-term low-P intake in foals and that faecal P content cannot be used to assess differences in P intake, at least not when P intake is close to or below estimated P requirements.
© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
Publication Date: 2023-02-18 PubMed ID: 36802070DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13809Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research examines the effects of the phosphorous content in foals’ diet on their phosphorous excretion and looks for potential markers of low phosphorous intake. It concluded that faecal phosphorous losses in foals are low, plasma CTx is not a reliable marker for short-term low phosphorous intake, and faecal phosphorous content cannot accurately assess variations in phosphorous intake.
Objective and Methodology
- This study had three primary objectives: to measure faecal endogenous phosphorous losses in foals consuming a diet near or below their estimated phosphorous requirements; to assess the potential use of serum cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptides of type-I collagen (CTx) as an indicator of bone loss due to low phosphorous intake; and to determine whether analysing faecal phosphorous content on a dry matter basis could serve as an intake marker.
- Six foals were given three variations of grass haylages, each fertilised to contain different amounts of phosphorous, for seventeen days using a Latin square design model. Each period ended with a total collection of faeces for analysis.
Findings and Conclusions
- Based on linear regression analysis, the study found that faecal endogenous phosphorous losses in foals were low, and likely not higher than in adult horses.
- There was no substantial difference in the concentration of CTx in plasma among the different diets, indicating that CTx may not be a reliable marker for short-term low phosphorous intake.
- An association was found between phosphorous intake and faecal phosphorous content. However, the study concluded that using faecal phosphorous content as a measure of intake might lead to both under and overestimations, particularly when the intake is near or below the estimated phosphorous requirements.
- Finally, the study emphasizes the need for further research to assist in correctly estimating faecal endogenous phosphorous losses in foals and to find precise and reliable markers for phosphorous intake.
Cite This Article
APA
Ögren G, Ragnarsson S, Jansson A.
(2023).
Effects of forage phosphorous content on faecal phosphorous excretion and possible markers of low phosphorous intake in foals fed forage-only diets.
J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl), 107(4), 1103-1109.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.13809 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Equine Sciences, Hólar University, Sauðárkrókur, Iceland.
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Equine Sciences, Hólar University, Sauðárkrókur, Iceland.
MeSH Terms
- Horses
- Animals
- Diet / veterinary
- Phosphorus
- Feces / chemistry
- Nutritional Status
- Poaceae
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Digestion
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