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Effects of sodium caseinate on hindgut fermentation and fiber digestion in horses.
Abstract: Eight cecally cannulated Quarter Horses were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square experiment conducted in four 14-d periods to determine effects of sodium caseinate (casein) on hindgut fermentation and fiber digestion. During each period, horses were assigned to one of four treatments consisting of control (water; CON), 0.125 g casein/kg BW (LOW), 0.25 g casein/kg BW (MED), or 0.5 g casein/kg BW (HI). Casein was solubilized in 800 mL water and dosed directly into the cecum at 0700 and 1900 hours using a metal dosing syringe. Smooth Bromegrass hay (CP 8.50%), water, and salt were provided ad libitum. New hay was fed at 0700 and 1900 hours, and orts were recorded at 1900 daily. During the final 3 d of each period, cecal digesta were collected every 6 h, pH was measured, and samples were frozen for subsequent analyses of VFA and NH3 concentrations. Feed intake during the final 4 d of each period was recorded. Feces were collected during the 3-d sampling period, pooled, subsampled, and frozen. Fecal samples were analyzed for pH and used to determine digestibilities of DM, OM, NDF, and ADF. Statistical analyses were performed via the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS 9.4. Linear and quadratic effects of sodium caseinate on pH, VFA concentrations, and apparent digestibility were assessed by SAS. Digestibilities of DM, OM, ADF, and NDF were unaffected by treatment (P > 0.40). Horses dosed with CON and MED treatments had greater cecal pH than those fed LOW or HI treatments (P < 0.01). Cecal NH3 concentrations increased linearly in response to the amount of casein administered (P < 0.01). Cecal NH3 decreased 6 h after dosing and addition of new hay, regardless of treatment (P < 0.01). Total cecal VFA were unaffected by treatment (P > 0.10), but VFA changed over time with the greatest concentrations observed 6 h after treatments were administered and introduction of new hay (P < 0.01). Treatment did not affect DMI (P ≥ 0.17). In this experiment, cecal infusions of sodium caseinate had minimal to no effect on fermentation parameters or fiber degradation in the horse. A type II error may have occurred due to small population size or the medium quality hay fed to these horses provided sufficient N for microbial fermentation.
Publication Date: 2018-12-14 PubMed ID: 30544162PubMed Central: PMC6358243DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky436Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Clinical Trial
- Veterinary
- Journal Article
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.
The research study is focused on investigating the effects of sodium caseinate on hindgut fermentation and fiber digestion in horses, revealing that sodium caseinate had minimal impact on these parameters.
Research Methodology
- The study was carried out using eight Quarter Horses which were cecally cannulated (implanted with a device to directly access the hindgut). The test was a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square experiment conducted across four 14-day periods.
- Horses were broken into four different treatment groups: control (water; CON), 0.125 g sodium caseinate/kg BW (LOW), 0.25 g sodium caseinate/kg BW (MED), or 0.5 g sodium caseinate/kg BW (HI). These doses were administered directly into the horse’s cecum twice daily.
- Other aspects of the horse’s diet, such as smooth Bromegrass hay, water, and salt, were provided ‘ad libitum’. New hay was provided at each dosing period and any leftovers (‘orts’) were recorded.
- During the last three days of each period, the researchers collected cecal digesta at every 6-hour interval to measure pH and other parameters such as concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and ammonium (NH3).
- Feed and feces were also tracked and collected, with fecal samples being analyzed for attributes like pH and the digestibilities of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF).
Key Findings
- Neither the digestibilities of DM, OM, NDF, nor ADF were impacted by the casein treatments (P > 0.40).
- Horses under the CON and MED treatments exhibited a higher cecal pH than those in the LOW or HI sets (P < 0.01).
- A linear increase was observed in cecal NH3 concentrations, corresponding to the amount of casein administered to the horses (P < 0.01).
- Cecal NH3 decreased 6 hours after dosing and new hay introduction, regardless of treatment (P < 0.01).
- Overall cecal VFA were not impacted by treatment (P > 0.10), but VFA concentration was shown to change over time, peaking 6 hours after dosages and new hay introduction were made (P < 0.01).
- Dry Matter Intake (DMI) was not affected by the treatments (P ≥ 0.17).
Conclusion
The research found that cecal infusions of sodium caseinate do not significantly impact fermentation parameters or fiber degradation in horses. Reason for this could be the small sample size (hence a type II error) or the status of provided hay to the horses which was of medium quality and provided enough N for microbial fermentation.
Cite This Article
APA
Jordan KV, Drouillard JS, Douthit TL, Lattimer JM.
(2018).
Effects of sodium caseinate on hindgut fermentation and fiber digestion in horses.
J Anim Sci, 97(2), 813-819.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/sky436 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Sciences & Industry, College of Agriculture, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
- Department of Animal Sciences & Industry, College of Agriculture, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
- Department of Animal Sciences & Industry, College of Agriculture, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
- Department of Animal Sciences & Industry, College of Agriculture, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animals
- Caseins / pharmacology
- Cecum / metabolism
- Chelating Agents / pharmacology
- Dietary Fiber / metabolism
- Digestion / drug effects
- Digestion / physiology
- Feces
- Fermentation / drug effects
- Horses / physiology
References
This article includes 16 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Sorensen RJ, Drouillard JS, Douthit TL, Ran Q, Marthaler DG, Kang Q, Vahl CI, Lattimer JM. Effect of hay type on cecal and fecal microbiome and fermentation parameters in horses. J Anim Sci 2021 Jan 1;99(1).
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