Evaluation of titanium dioxide and chromic oxide as digestibility markers in ponies fed alfalfa hay in relation to marker dosing frequency.

This research investigates the use of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and chromic oxide (Cr2O3) as markers to calculate the digestive efficiency of ponies fed with alfalfa hay. It also studies how the frequency of marker dosing (once versus twice daily) impact the results. The researchers concluded that TiO2, administrated either once or twice daily, provided almost ideal recovery rates, indicating it as a preferable marker over Cr2O3 in digestibility trials in equines.

Background and Purpose

• The study seeks to compare the use of Cr2O3 and TiO2 as digestibility markers in equines.
• Cr2O3 is commonly used, but health concerns revolving its potentially carcinogenic properties remain.
• An alternative marker is TiO2, but a direct comparison with Cr2O3 hasn’t been made in equines, which is the focus of this research.
• The research also aims to find out how the frequency of marker administration affects the measurement of digestibility values.

Methodology and Experimentation

• Six Welsh pony geldings were used in the experiment, all fed with chopped alfalfa hay.
• The horses’ diets also included minerals, vitamins, and daily doses of either TiO2 or Cr2O3.
• The administration frequency of TiO2 and Cr2O3 was varied — once daily doses versus twice daily doses, labeled respectively as DF1 and DF2.
• After a 14-days adaptation period, the researchers collected and analyzed the feces of the horses over 7 days for its moisture, ash, Ti and Cr content.
• The researchers calculated the apparent total tract dry matter digestibility (DMD) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) using both the total faecal collection (TFC) method and the Ti and Cr markers.

Scrolls and Observations

• There was no significant difference in terms of daily faecal recovery between treatments either for Ti or Cr markers.
• There was a significant difference in overall daily faecal recovery of Cr marker when dosed once daily. But Ti marker offered similar overall daily faecal recovery for both once or twice daily administration frequencies.
• Daily faecal recoveries were more consistent for both markers when administered twice a day.
• No significant differences were observed in cumulative DMD and OMD, estimated with Ti, compared to values determined by the TFC method.
• The cumulative DMD and OMD estimated with Cr, however, were overestimated compared to those estimated with the TFC method.

Conclusions

• The study concluded that TiO2 is a more reliable digestibility marker than Cr2O3 in equines when fed with chopped alfalfa hay.
• TiO2 recovery rates were close to 100%, regardless of whether it was dosed once or twice daily, leading the researchers to recommend the use of TiO2 in digestibility trials for equines.