Soybean hulls as an alternative feed for horses.
Abstract: Soybean hulls have been successfully fed to ruminant animals as an economical substitute for hay. This feedstuff is a source of highly digestible fiber that does not contain starch. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate soybean hulls as a replacement fiber in horse diets. Four cecally cannulated Quarter Horse geldings, aged 6 to 10 yr and averaging 502 kg, were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Diets consisted of alfalfa/bromegrass hay (14.4% CP, 58.1% NDF, 39.1% ADF; DM basis) with the replacement of either 0, 25, 50, or 75% (as-fed basis) unpelleted soybean hulls (13.1% CP, 60.6% NDF, 43.7% ADF; DM basis). Diets were offered at 1.8% of BW (DM) daily and body weights were measured weekly. Cecal samples (90 min after feeding) and total fecal collections (3 d) were taken at the end of each treatment period. Fecal collection bags were emptied every 6 h and 10% of the total amount was frozen for later analysis. Total cecal VFA production increased linearly (P = 0.02) from 70 mM to 109 mM as proportions of soybean hulls in diets increased. Proportions of propionate increased linearly (P < 0.01) with means of 15.7, 18.0, 16.6, and 21.9 mol/100 mol total VFA for the 0, 25, 50, and 75% soybean hulls diets respectively. Proportions of butyrate decreased linearly (P < 0.01) from 5.3 to 3.9 mol/100 mol total VFA. The acetate:propionate ratio decreased linearly (P = 0.02) and cubically (P = 0.03) with means of 4.9, 4.2, 4.9, and 3.3. Apparent digestibility of DM (P = 0.95), OM (P = 0.70), NDF (P = 0.34), ADF (P = 0.31), cellulose (P = 0.93), and hemicellulose (P = 0.25) did not differ among treatments. Apparent digestibility of N decreased linearly (P < 0.01) as concentrations of soybean hulls increased in the diet, and this response was associated with increased cecal fermentation and microbial biomass production. Cecal pH decreased linearly (P = 0.01) from 7.00 to 6.45 as the level of soybean hulls increased, but there was no change (P = 0.68 for the linear effect) for cecal ammonia (mean concentration of 3.85 mM). Soybean hulls stimulate cecal fermentation and are a suitable replacement for hay in equine diets.
Publication Date: 2004-06-26 PubMed ID: 15216992DOI: 10.2527/2004.8261663xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article discusses a trial using soybean hulls as a replacement for hay in horse diets, speaking on its effect on the horses’ digestion, body weight and cecal fermentation.
Objective and Design of the Study
- The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of soybean hulls as a substitute for hay in horse diets. Soybean hulls act as a source of highly digestible fiber and do not contain starch.
- The experimental design was a 4 x 4 Latin square setup over 21-day periods, involving four Quarter Horse geldings aged between 6 to 10 years, with an average weight of 502 kg.
Feeding and Data Collection
- The horses’ diets were made up of alfalfa/bromegrass hay and varying proportions (0, 25, 50, or 75%) of unpelleted soybean hulls. The feed was offered at 1.8% of the horse’s body weight (dry matter) daily.
- Body weights were recorded weekly. To monitor the effects of the dietary changes, cecal samples were taken 90 minutes after feeding and total fecal collections were made at the end of each treatment period.
- Data on cecal Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA) production, proportions of propionate, and butyrate, acetate:propionate ratio, and apparent digestibility of several dietary components were collected and analyzed.
Results and Conclusion
- Total cecal VFA production increased linearly from 70 mM to 109 mM as the proportion of soybean hulls in the diet increased. This indicates a stimulation in cecal fermentation.
- The proportions of propionate and the acetate:propionate ratio also increased with an increase in the soybean hulls in the diet, while the proportions of butyrate decreased linearly.
- Apparent digestibility of Dry Matter (DM), Organic Matter (OM), Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), cellulose, and hemicellulose was not significantly affected by the treatment. However, the apparent digestibility of Nitrogen decreased linearly as concentrations of soybean hulls increased in the diet.
- The cecal pH of the horses decreased from 7.00 to 6.45 as the level of soybean hulls in the diet increased, although there was no significant change for cecal ammonia.
- In conclusion, the research suggests that soybean hulls stimulate cecal fermentation and could serve as a suitable replacement for hay in equine diets.
Cite This Article
APA
Coverdale JA, Moore JA, Tyler HD, Miller-Auwerda PA.
(2004).
Soybean hulls as an alternative feed for horses.
J Anim Sci, 82(6), 1663-1668.
https://doi.org/10.2527/2004.8261663x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames 50011, USA. jcover@uga.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Cecum / metabolism
- Dietary Fiber / administration & dosage
- Dietary Fiber / metabolism
- Digestion
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Fatty Acids, Volatile / biosynthesis
- Feces / chemistry
- Fermentation
- Horses / growth & development
- Horses / metabolism
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
- Male
- Random Allocation
- Soybeans
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Mullins E, Bresson JL, Dalmay T, Dewhurst IC, Epstein MM, Firbank LG, Guerche P, Hejatko J, Moreno FJ, Naegeli H, Nogué F, Rostoks N, Sánchez Serrano JJ, Savoini G, Veromann E, Veronesi F, Dumont AF, Ardizzone M. Animal dietary exposure in the risk assessment of feed derived from genetically modified plants. EFSA J 2023 Jan;21(1):e07732.
- Krusinski L, Maciel ICF, Sergin S, Jambunathan V, Garg E, Garmyn AJ, Singh S, Bitler CA, Rowntree JE, Fenton JI. Effects of Hay, Baleage, and Soybean Hulls Waste Used as Supplemental Feeds on the Nutritional Profile of Grass-Finished Beef. Foods 2022 Nov 29;11(23).
- Potter SJ, Bamford NJ, Baskerville CL, Harris PA, Bailey SR. Comparison of Feed Digestibility between Ponies, Standardbreds and Andalusian Horses Fed Three Different Diets. Vet Sci 2021 Dec 31;9(1).
- Sorensen RJ, Drouillard JS, Douthit TL, Ran Q, Marthaler DG, Kang Q, Vahl CI, Lattimer JM. Effect of hay type on cecal and fecal microbiome and fermentation parameters in horses. J Anim Sci 2021 Jan 1;99(1).
- Krusinski L, Maciel ICF, van Vliet S, Ahsin M, Adams J, Lu G, Bitler CA, Rowntree JE, Fenton JI. Fatty acids and secondary metabolites can predict grass-finished beef and supplemental cattle feeds. NPJ Sci Food 2024 Oct 4;8(1):73.
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