Protein quality and utilization of timothy, oat-supplemented timothy, and alfalfa at differing harvest maturities in exercised Arabian horses.
Abstract: To evaluate the protein quality and postgut N utilization of full-bloom timothy hay, oat-supplemented timothy-hay diets, and alfalfa hay harvested at different maturities, apparent whole tract N digestibility, urinary N excretion, and serum AA profiles were determined in light to moderately exercised Arabian horses. Six Arabian geldings (16.0 ± 0.3 yr; 467 ± 11 kg of BW) were randomly allocated to a 6 × 6 Latin square design. Diets included full-bloom timothy grass hay (G), G + 0.2% BW oat (G1), G + 0.4% BW oat (G2), mid-bloom alfalfa (A1), early-bloom alfalfa (A2), and early-bud alfalfa hay (A3). Forages were fed at 1.6% of the BW of the horse (as-fed). Each period consisted of an 11-d adaptation period followed by total collection of feces and urine for 3 d. Blood samples were taken on d 11 for analysis of serum AA concentrations. During the 3-d collection period, urine and feces were collected every 8 h and measured and weighed, respectively. Approximately 10% of the total urine volume and fecal weight per period was retained for N analyses. Fecal DM output was less (P < 0.05) in A1, A2, or A3 compared with G, G1, or G2. Apparent whole tract N digestibility was greater (P < 0.01) in A1, A2, and A3 compared with G, G1, or G2, and was greater (P 0.05) in N retention among diets. Urinary N excretion and total N excretion were greater (P < 0.05) in A1, A2, and A3 compared with G, G1, or G2. Plasma concentrations for the majority of AA increased curvilinearly in response to feeding G, A1, A2, and A3 (quadratic, P < 0.05), with values appearing to maximize 2-h postfeeding. Although alfalfa N digestibility increased with decreasing harvest maturity, N retention did not differ and urinary volume and N excretion increased, indicating that postabsorptive N utilization decreased. In contrast, inclusion of oats at either 0.2 or 0.4% of the BW of the horse to timothy hay markedly enhanced N digestibility without increasing N excretion, indicating improvement in postgut N utilization. These findings indicate that feeding oat-supplemented timothy hay is more environmentally sustainable than feeding alfalfa to the horse at maintenance or under light to moderate exercise.
Publication Date: 2011-07-25 PubMed ID: 21788427DOI: 10.2527/jas.2010-3825Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Controlled Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article investigates the protein quality and utilization of different horse feeds, noting that oat-supplemented timothy hay seems most effective and environmentally sustainable for horses under light to moderate exercise.
Study Design
- The study chose Arabian geldings as its subjects. These were assigned to a Latin square design to ensure a balanced comparison across all feeds.
- The feeds compared were full-bloom timothy grass hay (G), oat-supplemented timothy hay at two levels (G1 and G2), and alfalfa hay harvested at three different maturities (A1, A2, A3).
- The diets incorporated forages fed at the rate of 1.6% of the horse’s body weight.
- Each diet trial period lasted for 14 days, with the first 11 days for adaptation and the last three for data collection.
Method of Measurement
- Blood samples were taken from the horses on the 11th day of each trial period to analyze serum amino acid concentrations.
- Urine and feces were collected and measured every 8 hours for the last three days of trial periods. Ten percent of the total urine volume and fecal weight were retained for nitrogen analyses.
Findings
- The research showed that alfalfa resulted in lesser fecal dry matter output and greater nitrogen digestibility, but also increased urinary excretion of nitrogen, indicating decreased postabsorptive nitrogen utilization.
- Despite the better digestibility of alfalfa, there were no differences in nitrogen retention among the diets, meaning the alfalfa did not result in improved nitrogen utilization by the horses.
- Timothy hay, when supplemented with oats, markedly increased nitrogen digestibility without increasing nitrogen excretion, suggesting improved post-gut nitrogen utilization compared to alfalfa.
Implications
- The study concluded that, for horses under light to moderate exercise, oat-supplemented timothy hay provides a more effective and environmentally sustainable diet than alfalfa.
- While alfalfa had high digestibility, it did not improve nitrogen retention and led to higher nitrogen waste, making it less efficient overall.
Cite This Article
APA
Woodward AD, Nielsen BD, Liesman J, Lavin T, Trottier NL.
(2011).
Protein quality and utilization of timothy, oat-supplemented timothy, and alfalfa at differing harvest maturities in exercised Arabian horses.
J Anim Sci, 89(12), 4081-4092.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2010-3825 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Feed / standards
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Arginine / blood
- Cross-Over Studies
- Diet / veterinary
- Dietary Proteins / analysis
- Dietary Proteins / metabolism
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Medicago sativa / chemistry
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Poaceae / chemistry
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Lindroth KM, Lindberg JE, Johansen A, Müller CE. Feeding and Management of Horses with and without Free Faecal Liquid: A Case-Control Study.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 30;11(9).
- Grev AM, Hathaway MR, Sheaffer CC, Wells MS, Reiter AS, Martinson KL. Apparent digestibility, fecal particle size, and mean retention time of reduced lignin alfalfa hay fed to horses.. J Anim Sci 2021 Jul 1;99(7).
- Caunii A, Pribac G, Grozea I, Gaitin D, Samfira I. Design of optimal solvent for extraction of bio-active ingredients from six varieties of Medicago sativa.. Chem Cent J 2012 Oct 26;6(1):123.
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