FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
BMC veterinary research2022; 18(1); 338; doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03433-y

Gut health of horses: effects of high fibre vs high starch diet on histological and morphometrical parameters.

Abstract: The conventional feeding management of horses is still characterized by high starch and low fibre diets, which can negatively affect horse's gastrointestinal health. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of a high-starch (HS) vs. a high-fibre (HF) diet on gut health in horses. A total of 19 Bardigiano horses destined for slaughter and aged 14.3 ± 0.7 months were randomly allotted to two dietary groups: HS (5 fillies and 4 colts,) and HF group (7 fillies and 3 colts). They received the same first-cut meadow hay but different complementary feeds for 72 days: HS group was fed 8 kg/animal/day of a starch-rich complementary feed while HF group was fed 3.5 kg/animal/day of a fibre-rich complementary feed. At slaughter, stomachs were separated and washed for the evaluation of the glandular and squamous regions. Also, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, apex of the caecum, sternal flexure, pelvic flexure, right dorsal colon, rectum and liver were excised and submitted to histomorphometrical evaluation. Results: The glandular region of HS group presented more severe gastric mucosa lesions compared to the HF group (P = 0.006). Moreover, a statistical tendency (P = 0.060) was found for the squamous region, presenting a higher score in HS than HF diet. Regarding morphometry, in jejunum villus height to crypt depth (Cd) ratio was influenced by sex, being greater in males than in females (P = 0.037) while in ileum Cd depended on interaction between sex and diet, being greater in males of HS group (P = 0.029). Moreover, in the duodenum and right dorsal colon the severity of the inflammation depended on sex (P = 0.024 and 0.050), being greater in females than in males. On the contrary, in the jejunum and in the pelvic flexure, inflammation was influenced by diet, being more severe in HS than in HF group (P = 0.024 and 0.052). Conclusions: These results suggested that HS diet provoked more severe mucosa lesions in the glandular region of the stomach and a higher inflammation both in the jejunum and pelvic flexure. The present study can represent a starting point for further investigations on gut health in horses.
© 2022. The Author(s).
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2022-09-08 PubMed ID: 36076239PubMed Central: PMC9454146DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03433-yGoogle 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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 compared the impact of high-starch and high-fibre diets on the gut health of horses. It concluded that a high-starch diet resulted in more severe gastric mucosa lesions and inflammation in the jejunum and pelvic flexure compared to a high-fibre diet.

Methodology

  • The study involved 19 Bardigiano horses that were arbitrarily divided into two groups: one subjected to a high-starch (HS) diet, and the other a high-fibre (HF) diet. The HS group comprised 5 fillies and 4 colts, while the HF group had 7 fillies and 3 colts.
  • For 72 days, each group of horses was given the same first-cut meadow hay but different supplementary feeds. The HS group received a starch-rich supplement at 8kg per animal per day, while the HF group had a fibre-rich supplement at 3.5kg per animal per day.
  • After the feeding period, the animals were euthanised for investigative purposes. Parts of the gut, liver, and other relevant sections were separated for assessment.

Findings

  • The horse group on the high-starch diet had more severe lesions in the glandular area of their stomachs when compared to those on the high-fibre diet.
  • There was also a statistical inclination for more damage in the squamous region of the stomachs of horses on the starch-rich diet.
  • In terms of the jejunum morphometry, the villus height to the crypt depth ratio was different according to sex, with male horses having higher ratios than females.
  • In the ileum, the crypt depth was influenced by an interplay between diet and sex, with male horses from the high-starch diet group presenting larger numbers.
  • Regarding inflammation, distinctions were noted based on sex and diet for different parts of the gut. In the duodenum and the right dorsal colon, inflammation was more pronounced in females. In contrast, the jejunum and the pelvic flexure showed more severe inflammation in horses on the starch-heavy diet.

Conclusion

  • These outcomes suggest that a high-starch diet could be detrimental to horses’ gut health, leading to more severe mucosal lesions and inflammation in certain gastrointestinal tract parts.
  • The findings can act as a base for further research into horse gut health and the influence certain nutrients or feeding strategies might have.

Cite This Article

APA
Colombino E, Raspa F, Perotti M, Bergero D, Vervuert I, Valle E, Capucchio MT. (2022). Gut health of horses: effects of high fibre vs high starch diet on histological and morphometrical parameters. BMC Vet Res, 18(1), 338. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03433-y

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Pages: 338
PII: 338

Researcher Affiliations

Colombino, Elena
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095, Turin, Italy. elena.colombino@unito.it.
Raspa, Federica
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095, Turin, Italy.
Perotti, Maria
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095, Turin, Italy.
Bergero, Domenico
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095, Turin, Italy.
Vervuert, Ingrid
  • Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Faculty of Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, 04103, Germany.
Valle, Emanuela
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095, Turin, Italy.
Capucchio, Maria Teresa
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095, Turin, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animals
  • Cadmium
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / veterinary
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Inflammation / veterinary
  • Male
  • Random Allocation
  • Starch

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References

This article includes 34 references
  1. Julliand V, De Fombelle A, Varloud M. Starch digestion in horses: the impact of feed processing. Livest Sci 2006;100:44–52.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livprodsci.2005.11.001google scholar: lookup
  2. Raspa F, Tarantola M, Bergero D, Bellino C, Mastrazzo CM, Visconti A, Valvassori E, Vervuert I, Valle E. Stocking Density Affects Welfare Indicators in Horses Reared for Meat Production.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 26;10(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10061103pmc: PMC7341190pubmed: 32604808google scholar: lookup
  3. Belaunzaran X, Bessa RJ, Lavín P, Mantecón AR, Kramer JK, Aldai N. Horse-meat for human consumption - Current research and future opportunities.. Meat Sci 2015 Oct;108:74-81.
    doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2015.05.006pubmed: 26047980google scholar: lookup
  4. Raspa F, Dinardo FR, Vervuert I, Bergero D, Bottero MT, Pattono D, Dalmasso A, Vinassa M, Valvassori E, Bruno E, De Palo P, Valle E. A Fibre- vs. cereal grain-based diet: Which is better for horse welfare? Effects on intestinal permeability, muscle characteristics and oxidative status in horses reared for meat production.. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2022 Mar;106(2):313-326.
    doi: 10.1111/jpn.13643pmc: PMC9292821pubmed: 34553422google scholar: lookup
  5. Lorenzo JM, Sarriés MV, Tateo A, Polidori P, Franco D, Lanza M. Carcass characteristics, meat quality and nutritional value of horsemeat: a review.. Meat Sci 2014 Apr;96(4):1478-88.
    doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2013.12.006pubmed: 24423453google scholar: lookup
  6. Harris PA, Coenen M, Frape D, Jeffcott LB, Meyer H. Equine nutrition and metabolic diseases. 2nd ed. Elsevier Ltd; 2006.
    doi: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-2769-7.50008-3google scholar: lookup
  7. Lester GD, Robinson I, Secombe C. Risk Factors for Gastric Ulceration in Thoroughbred Racehorses. Wagga Wagga: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation; 2008. p. 1–42.
  8. Geor RJ, Harris PA. How to minimize Gastrointest Dis Assoc with Carbohydr Nutr horses. AAEP Proceedings 2007; vol 53; pp. 178–85.
  9. Colombino E, Prieto-Botella D, Capucchio MT. Gut Health in Veterinary Medicine: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Literature.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 3;11(7).
    pmc: PMC8300269pubmed: 34359125doi: 10.3390/ani11071997google scholar: lookup
  10. Bischoff SC. 'Gut health': a new objective in medicine?. BMC Med 2011 Mar 14;9:24.
    doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-9-24pmc: PMC3065426pubmed: 21401922google scholar: lookup
  11. Kogut MH, Arsenault RJ. Editorial: Gut Health: The New Paradigm in Food Animal Production.. Front Vet Sci 2016;3:71.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2016.00071pmc: PMC5005397pubmed: 27630994google scholar: lookup
  12. Stewart AS, Pratt-Phillips S, Gonzalez LM. Alterations in Intestinal Permeability: The Role of the "Leaky Gut" in Health and Disease.. J Equine Vet Sci 2017 May;52:10-22.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2017.02.009pmc: PMC6467570pubmed: 31000910google scholar: lookup
  13. Bell RJ, Mogg TD, Kingston JK. Equine gastric ulcer syndrome in adult horses: a review.. N Z Vet J 2007 Feb;55(1):1-12.
    doi: 10.1080/00480169.2007.36728pubmed: 17339910google scholar: lookup
  14. Luthersson N, Nielsen KH, Harris P, Parkin TD. Risk factors associated with equine gastric ulceration syndrome (EGUS) in 201 horses in Denmark.. Equine Vet J 2009 Sep;41(7):625-30.
    doi: 10.2746/042516409X441929pubmed: 19927579google scholar: lookup
  15. Daly K, Proudman CJ, Duncan SH, Flint HJ, Dyer J, Shirazi-Beechey SP. Alterations in microbiota and fermentation products in equine large intestine in response to dietary variation and intestinal disease.. Br J Nutr 2012 Apr;107(7):989-95.
    doi: 10.1017/S0007114511003825pubmed: 21816118google scholar: lookup
  16. Blikslager A, Gonzalez L. Equine Intestinal Mucosal Pathobiology.. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2018 Feb 15;6:157-175.
    doi: 10.1146/annurev-animal-030117-014748pmc: PMC7769316pubmed: 29144770google scholar: lookup
  17. Luthersson N, Nadeau JA. Gastric ulceration. Elsevier Ltd; 2013.
    doi: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-3422-0.00034-1google scholar: lookup
  18. Wambacq WA, van Doorn DA, Rovers-Paap PM, Ducatelle R, Vlaminck L, Lourenço M, Hesta M. Dietary supplementation of micro-encapsulated sodium butyrate in healthy horses: effect on gut histology and immunohistochemistry parameters.. BMC Vet Res 2020 Apr 28;16(1):121.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02332-4pmc: PMC7189644pubmed: 32345290google scholar: lookup
  19. Biasato I, Gasco L, De Marco M, Renna M, Rotolo L, Dabbou S, Capucchio MT, Biasibetti E, Tarantola M, Sterpone L, Cavallarin L, Gai F, Pozzo L, Bergagna S, Dezzutto D, Zoccarato I, Schiavone A. Yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) inclusion in diets for male broiler chickens: effects on growth performance, gut morphology, and histological findings.. Poult Sci 2018 Feb 1;97(2):540-548.
    doi: 10.3382/ps/pex308pubmed: 29121342google scholar: lookup
  20. Świȩch E, Barszcz M, Tuśnio A, Taciak M. Gut morphology of young pigs fed diets differing in standardized ileal digestible threonine and wheat gluten used as a source of non-essential amino acids. J Anim Feed Sci 2016;25:226–234.
    doi: 10.22358/jafs/65556/2016google scholar: lookup
  21. Raspa F, Vervuert I, Capucchio MT, Colombino E, Bergero D, Forte C, Greppi M, Cavallarin L, Giribaldi M, Antoniazzi S, Cavallini D, Valvassori E, Valle E. A high-starch vs. high-fibre diet: effects on the gut environment of the different intestinal compartments of the horse digestive tract.. BMC Vet Res 2022 May 19;18(1):187.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03289-2pmc: PMC9118577pubmed: 35590319google scholar: lookup
  22. Mach N, Ruet A, Clark A, Bars-Cortina D, Ramayo-Caldas Y, Crisci E, Pennarun S, Dhorne-Pollet S, Foury A, Moisan MP, Lansade L. Priming for welfare: gut microbiota is associated with equitation conditions and behavior in horse athletes.. Sci Rep 2020 May 20;10(1):8311.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-65444-9pmc: PMC7239938pubmed: 32433513google scholar: lookup
  23. Mach N, Foury A, Kittelmann S, Reigner F, Moroldo M, Ballester M, Esquerré D, Rivière J, Sallé G, Gérard P, Moisan MP, Lansade L. The Effects of Weaning Methods on Gut Microbiota Composition and Horse Physiology.. Front Physiol 2017;8:535.
    doi: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00535pmc: PMC5524898pubmed: 28790932google scholar: lookup
  24. Durham AE. The role of nutrition in colic.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2009 Apr;25(1):67-78, vi.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2008.11.003pubmed: 19303551google scholar: lookup
  25. Iacob S, Iacob DG. Infectious Threats, the Intestinal Barrier, and Its Trojan Horse: Dysbiosis.. Front Microbiol 2019;10:1676.
    pmc: PMC6692454pubmed: 31447793doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01676google scholar: lookup
  26. Moore-Colyer M, Tuthill P, Bannister I, Daniels S. Growth Rates of Thoroughbred Foals and In Vitro Gut Health Parameters When Fed a Cereal or an All-Fiber Creep Feed.. J Equine Vet Sci 2020 Oct;93:103191.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103191pubmed: 32972676google scholar: lookup
  27. Kim YS, Unno T, Kim BY, Park MS. Sex Differences in Gut Microbiota.. World J Mens Health 2020 Jan;38(1):48-60.
    doi: 10.5534/wjmh.190009pmc: PMC6920072pubmed: 30929328google scholar: lookup
  28. Kauter A, Epping L, Semmler T, Antao EM, Kannapin D, Stoeckle SD, Gehlen H, Lübke-Becker A, Günther S, Wieler LH, Walther B. The gut microbiome of horses: current research on equine enteral microbiota and future perspectives.. Anim Microbiome 2019 Nov 13;1(1):14.
    pmc: PMC7807895pubmed: 33499951doi: 10.1186/s42523-019-0013-3google scholar: lookup
  29. Cullen J, MacLachlan J. Liver, Biliary System and Exocrine Pancreas. In: McGavin D, Carlon W, Zachary J, editors. Pathologic basis of veterinary disease. 5th ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier Ltd; 2011. p. 123.
  30. Raspa F, Tarantola M, Bergero D, Nery J, Visconti A, Mastrazzo CM, Cavallini D, Valvassori E, Valle E. Time-Budget of Horses Reared for Meat Production: Influence of Stocking Density on Behavioural Activities and Subsequent Welfare.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Aug 1;10(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10081334pmc: PMC7460472pubmed: 32752257google scholar: lookup
  31. Martin-Rosset W. The growing horse. In: Equine Nutrition: INRA nutrient requirements, recommended allowances and feed tables. Wageningen: Wageningen Academic Publishers; 2015. p. 169–215.
  32. Sykes BW, Hewetson M, Hepburn RJ, Luthersson N, Tamzali Y. European College of Equine Internal Medicine Consensus Statement--Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in Adult Horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Sep-Oct;29(5):1288-99.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.13578pmc: PMC4858038pubmed: 26340142google scholar: lookup
  33. Vondran S, Venner M, Coenen M, Vervuert I. Effects of alfalfa chaff on the gastric mucosa in adult horses. Pferdeheilkunde 2017;33:66–71.
    doi: 10.21836/PEM20170109google scholar: lookup
  34. Ząbek K, Szkopek D, Michalczuk M, Konieczka P. Dietary Phytogenic Combination with Hops and a Mixture of a Free Butyrate Acidifier and Gluconic Acid Maintaining the Health Status of the Gut and Performance in Chickens.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Aug 2;10(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10081335pmc: PMC7459994pubmed: 32748807google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 13 times.
  1. Zhao Y, Ren X, Wu H, Hu H, Cheng C, Du M, Huang Y, Zhao X, Wang L, Yi L, Tao J, Li Y, Lin Y, Su S, Dugarjaviin M. Diversity and functional prediction of fungal communities in different segments of mongolian horse gastrointestinal tracts. BMC Microbiol 2023 Sep 9;23(1):253.
    doi: 10.1186/s12866-023-03001-wpubmed: 37689675google scholar: lookup
  2. Zicarelli F, Tudisco R, Lotito D, Musco N, Iommelli P, Ferrara M, Calabrò S, Infascelli F, Lombardi P. Forage:Concentrate Ratio Effects on In Vivo Digestibility and In Vitro Degradability of Horse's Diet. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 11;13(16).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13162589pubmed: 37627380google scholar: lookup
  3. Julliand S, Buttet M, Hermange T, Hillon P, Julliand V. Effect of diet composition on glandular gastric disease in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jul-Aug;37(4):1528-1536.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.16747pubmed: 37264707google scholar: lookup
  4. Kranenburg LC, van der Poel SH, Warmelink TS, van Doorn DA, van den Boom R. Changes in Management Lead to Improvement and Healing of Equine Squamous Gastric Disease. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 28;13(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13091498pubmed: 37174535google scholar: lookup
  5. Silva CJFL, Trindade KLG, Cruz RKS, Manso HECCC, Coelho CS, Filho JDR, Nogueira CEW, Aragona F, Fazio F, Manso Filho HC. Effects of the Ingestion of Ripe Mangoes on the Squamous Gastric Region in the Horse. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 9;12(22).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12223084pubmed: 36428312google scholar: lookup
  6. Irving J, Pineau V, Shultz S, Ter Woort F, Julien F, Lambey S, van Erck-Westergren E. Impact of Low-Starch Dietary Modifications on Faecal Microbiota Composition and Gastric Disease Scores in Performance Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 28;15(13).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15131908pubmed: 40646806google scholar: lookup
  7. Zhou K, Dong Z, Zhou X, Zhai B, Li B, Zhang J, Cheng F. The Prevalence of Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in 395 Horses in Jiangyin City, China, Jiangsu Province. Animals (Basel) 2024 Dec 17;14(24).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14243636pubmed: 39765539google scholar: lookup
  8. Souza LA, Hunka MM, Rezende Júnior SF, Silva CJFLD, Manso HECDCC, Simões J, Coelho CS, Fazio F, Aragona F, Manso Filho HC. Potential use of beet-pulp concentrate supplementation in athletic horse. Heliyon 2025 Jan 15;11(1):e40961.
    doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40961pubmed: 39758378google scholar: lookup
  9. Kranenburg LC, Bouwmeester BF, van den Boom R. Findings and Prognosis in 149 Horses with Histological Changes Compatible with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 30;14(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14111638pubmed: 38891685google scholar: lookup
  10. Raspa F, Chessa S, Bergero D, Sacchi P, Ferrocino I, Cocolin L, Corvaglia MR, Moretti R, Cavallini D, Valle E. Microbiota characterization throughout the digestive tract of horses fed a high-fiber vs. a high-starch diet. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1386135.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1386135pubmed: 38807937google scholar: lookup
  11. Bordin C, Raspa F, Greppi M, Harris P, Ellis AD, Roggero A, Palestrini C, Cavallini D, Bergero D, Valle E. Pony feeding management: the role of morphology and hay feeding methods on intake rate, ingestive behaviors and mouth shaping. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1332207.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1332207pubmed: 38681853google scholar: lookup
  12. Laroche N, Grimm P, Julliand S, Sorci G. Diet modulates strongyle infection and microbiota in the large intestine of horses. PLoS One 2024;19(4):e0301920.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301920pubmed: 38593129google scholar: lookup
  13. Kara K, Altınsoy A. Comparison of forages’ digestion levels for different in vitro digestion techniques in horses. Vet Med Sci 2024 Mar;10(2):e31373.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.1373pubmed: 38369823google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,658 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.