Estimating Total-Tract Digestibility of Nutrients and Their Contribution to Digestible Energy Supplies in Equine Diets.
Abstract: Our objectives were to use a quantitative literature review to explore dietary and feed factors influencing apparent total-tract digestibility of dry matter (DMD), crude protein (CPD), neutral detergent fiber (NDFD), ether extract (EED), non-structural carbohydrates (NSCD), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFCD), and residual organic matter (rOMD) in equine diets, and to assess their contributions to digestible energy (DE) supplies. Data from 54 studies were modeled using linear mixed-effect regressions, with publication as a random effect to account for study variability. For each nutrient, five models were derived with explanatory variables including: dry matter intake (DMI; % BW/day) and DM (% as-fed), and dietary components (CP, organic matter, EE, NDF, acid detergent fiber, NSC, starch, and NFC as % of DM), and feed types (forage, non-forage fiber, legumes, cereal, and oil proportions). Model selection was based on concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), sigma hat error, and corrected Akaike Information Criteria, with models chosen based on their performance in simulating digestibility on example diets. Two models, one from measured and one from calculated data, for each nutrient were used to estimate dietary DE content and compared to existing DE estimation methods. Selected models explained variation well, with CCCs ranging from 0.740 to 0.969 (CPD: 0.886; NDFD: 0.775; EED: 0.813; NSCD: 0.969; rOMD: 0.740). The models were evaluated against measured DE from 17 studies. For reference, the DE estimations were also evaluated relative to those from other current DE systems. Overall, this approach offers an additional, practical tool for estimating energy supplies in equine diets.
Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2025-01-23 PubMed ID: 39862999DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105362Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study conducted a quantitative review of multiple research papers to analyze the digestibility of various nutritional factors in horse diets, and to assess their contributions to dietary energy. The researchers arrived at the conclusion that the revised models presented in this study can satisfactorily estimate digestible energy in horse diets.
Research Methodology and Objectives
- The primary aim of the research was to analyze the factors influencing the apparent total-tract digestibility of several nutrients in equine diets, and to assess their contributions to digestible energy supplies.
- The research team conducted a literature review, collating data from 54 studies for their analysis.
- Various dietary components such as dry matter intake, crude protein, organic matter, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, non-structural carbohydrates, non-fiber carbohydrates, residual organic matter, acid detergent fiber, starch, and types of feed were considered in their analysis.
- Linear mixed-effect regressions were used to model the data, with the publication source considered as a random effect to adjust for study variability.
Development of Models and Their Evaluation
- The investigators derived five models for each nutrient, using a set of explanatory variables. These variables included the percentage of dietary components as-fed such as dry matter intake and different types of feed – forage, non-forage fiber, legumes, cereal, and oil.
- Concordance correlation coefficient, sigma hat error, and the corrected Akaike Information Criteria were used for the selection of these models.
- Two models – one from measured and another from calculated data – for each nutrient, were evaluated for their performance in simulating digestibility on example diets. These models were used further to estimate the digestible energy content in the diets.
- The models were also compared to existing methods of estimating digestible energy.
Results and Conclusion
- The chosen models were successful in explaining the variability, with Concordance Correlation Coefficients ranging between 0.740 and 0.969 for different nutrients.
- The findings were cross-verified using measured digestible energy data from 17 additional studies.
- The study concluded that the developed models can offer a practical tool for estimating energy supplies in equine diets.
Cite This Article
APA
Webster AP, Price T, Ingersoll T, Suagee-Bedore JK, White RR.
(2025).
Estimating Total-Tract Digestibility of Nutrients and Their Contribution to Digestible Energy Supplies in Equine Diets.
J Equine Vet Sci, 105362.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105362 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 175 West Campus Dr., Blacksburg, VA, USA, 24061.
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 175 West Campus Dr., Blacksburg, VA, USA, 24061.
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 175 West Campus Dr., Blacksburg, VA, USA, 24061.
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 175 West Campus Dr., Blacksburg, VA, USA, 24061.
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 175 West Campus Dr., Blacksburg, VA, USA, 24061. Electronic address: rrwhite@vt.edu.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of competing interest None of the authors have any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.
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