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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Equine Vet Sci / Glucose and Insulin Response of Horses Grazing Alfalfa, Pere...
Journal of equine veterinary science2018; 68; 33-38; doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2018.04.008

Glucose and Insulin Response of Horses Grazing Alfalfa, Perennial Cool-Season Grass, and Teff Across Seasons.

Abstract: Elevated nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) values in pasture forages can cause adverse health effects in some horses (Equus caballus L.). The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of different forage species on blood glucose and insulin concentrations of horses throughout the grazing season. Research was conducted in July (summer) and September (fall) in St. Paul, MN. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), mixed perennial cool-season grasses (CSG), and teff (Eragrostis tef [Zucc.] Trotter) pastures were grazed by six horses (24 ± 2 years) that were randomly assigned to one of three forage types in a replicated Latin-square design. Jugular catheters were inserted 1 hour before the start of grazing and horses had access to pasture each day from 08:00 to 16:00 hours. Jugular venous blood samples were collected from each horse before being turned out (0 hours) and then at 2-hour intervals following turnout. Plasma and serum samples were collected and analyzed for glucose and insulin, respectively. Corresponding forage samples were taken by hand harvest. Seasons were analyzed separately and data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure in SAS with P ≤ .05. Teff generally had lower (P ≤ .05) equine digestible energy, crude protein, and NSC compared to the other forages. Differences in peak insulin were observed between horses grazing CSG and teff during the fall grazing (P ≤ .05). These results suggest grazing teff could lower the glucose and insulin response of some horses.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2018-06-02 PubMed ID: 31256885DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2018.04.008Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 paper talks about a study on the effect of different types of forage on the blood glucose and insulin levels of horses. It concludes that a certain type of forage, teff, could potentially decrease the glucose and insulin response in horses.

Study Design and Methodology

  • The study was conducted in the months of July (summer) and September (fall) in St. Paul, MN.
  • The forage species tested were Alfalfa, mixed perennial cool-season grasses (CSG), and teff.
  • The test subjects of the study were six horses, each 24 ± 2 years old. They were randomly assigned to one of the three types of forage following a replicated Latin-square design.
  • Jugular catheters were inserted into the horses an hour before they started grazing. The horses grazed from 08:00 to 16:00 hours daily.
  • Jugular venous blood samples were taken from each horse prior to their turnout and then every 2 hours thereafter.
  • Simultaneously, corresponding forage samples were collected by hand harvest.

Data Collection and Analysis

  • The collected blood samples were analyzed for glucose and insulin levels. The glucose was measured from the plasma samples, while the insulin levels were tested from the serum ones.
  • For the forage samples, corresponding analyses were done to measure the equine digestible energy, crude protein, and nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) in the different types of forages.
  • The collected data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure in SAS with P ≤ .05.
  • Seasons were analyzed separately due to their potential effect on the forage species.

Study Findings

  • The study found that teff generally had lower equine digestible energy, crude protein, and NSC compared to the other types of forage.
  • There was a noticeable difference in peak insulin levels in horses feeding on the CSG and teff during fall.
  • Based on these findings, the research suggests that teff could possibly be used to regulate the glucose and insulin response in horses, which might help in better management of some health conditions.

Cite This Article

APA
DeBoer ML, Hathaway MR, Kuhle KJ, Weber PSD, Reiter AS, Sheaffer CC, Wells MS, Martinson KL. (2018). Glucose and Insulin Response of Horses Grazing Alfalfa, Perennial Cool-Season Grass, and Teff Across Seasons. J Equine Vet Sci, 68, 33-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2018.04.008

Publication

Journal of equine veterinary science
ISSN: 0737-0806
NlmUniqueID: 8216840
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 68
Pages: 33-38

Researcher Affiliations

DeBoer, Michelle L
  • Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Hathaway, Marcia R
  • Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Kuhle, Kerry J
  • Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Weber, Patty Sue D
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
Reiter, Amanda S
  • Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Sheaffer, Craig C
  • Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Wells, M Scott
  • Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Martinson, Krishona L
  • Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. Electronic address: krishona@umn.edu.

Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Loos C, Castelein A, Vanzant E, Adam E, McLeod KR. Nutraceutical Supplement Mitigates Insulin Resistance in Horses with a History of Insulin Dysregulation During a Challenge with a High-Starch Diet. Animals (Basel) 2024 Nov 25;14(23).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14233385pubmed: 39682351google scholar: lookup
  2. Loos CMM, McLeod KR, Vanzant ES, Stratton SA, Bohannan AD, Coleman RJ, van Doorn DA, Urschel KL. Differential effect of two dietary protein sources on time course response of muscle anabolic signaling pathways in normal and insulin dysregulated horses. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:896220.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.896220pubmed: 35978710google scholar: lookup
  3. Demir EG, Tarakçı NG, Samancı RA, Cambaz M, Bilici Ş, Tuygan D, Çalık B, Çiftçi AS. The Effect of Teff Seed on Hematological Findings and Anthropometric Measurements. Ethiop J Health Sci 2022 May;32(3):641-650.
    doi: 10.4314/ejhs.v32i3.21pubmed: 35813674google scholar: lookup
  4. Weinert-Nelson JR, Meyer WA, Williams CA. Crabgrass as an equine pasture forage: impact of establishment method on yield, nutrient composition, and horse preference. Transl Anim Sci 2022 Apr;6(2):txac050.
    doi: 10.1093/tas/txac050pubmed: 35663614google scholar: lookup
  5. Weinert-Nelson JR, Meyer WA, Williams CA. Yield, nutrient composition, and horse condition in integrated crabgrass and cool-season grass rotational grazing pasture systems. Transl Anim Sci 2021 Oct;5(4):txab208.
    doi: 10.1093/tas/txab208pubmed: 34859200google scholar: lookup
  6. Williams CA, Kenny LB, Burk AO. Effects of grazing system, season, and forage carbohydrates on glucose and insulin dynamics of the grazing horse. J Anim Sci 2019 May 30;97(6):2541-2554.
    doi: 10.1093/jas/skz103pubmed: 30911753google scholar: lookup
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