FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / The Effect of Diet Composition on the Digestibility and Feca...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(1); doi: 10.3390/ani10010140

The Effect of Diet Composition on the Digestibility and Fecal Excretion of Phosphorus in Horses: A Potential Risk of P Leaching?

Abstract: The main horse phosphorus excretion pathway is through the dung. Phosphorus originating from animal dung and manure has harmful environmental effects on waters. The number of horses has increased in many countries, and several studies have pointed that leaching of P from horse paddocks and pastures are hotspots for high P leaching losses. The hypothesis was that feeding regimes might influence phosphorus digestibility and excretion in feces, and therefore the environmental impact of horse husbandry. A digestibility experiment was conducted with six horses fed six forage-based diets to study phosphorus utilization and excretion in feces. The study method was a total collection of feces. The experimental design was arranged as an unbalanced 6 × 4 Latin Squares. Phosphorus intake increased with an increasing concentrate intake. All studied diets resulted in a positive P balance and, the P retention differed from zero in all except the only-hay diet, in which the intake was lower compared to the other diets. The digestibility of P varied from 2.7 to 11.1%, and supplementing forage-diets with concentrates slightly improved P digestibility (p = 0.024), as it also improved the digestibilities of crude protein (p = 0.002) and organic matter (p = 0.077). The horses excreted an average of 20.9 ± 1.4 g/d P in feces. Excretion was smallest (20.0 g) in horses on a hay-only diet (p = 0.021). The average daily phosphorus excretion resulted in 7.6 kg P per year. The soluble P part of the total P in feces accounted for about 88% of the P excreted in feces, and is vulnerable to runoff losses and may leach into waters. Thus, horse dung may pose a potential risk of P leaching into the environment if not properly managed, and is not less harmful to the environment than that from other farm animals. Supplementation with inorganic P should be controlled in the diets of mature horses in light work to decrease the excretion of P in feces.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2020-01-15 PubMed ID: 31952257PubMed Central: PMC7022629DOI: 10.3390/ani10010140Google 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
  • 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 investigates how the diet composition of horses influences the digestibility and excretion of phosphorus, identifying a potential risk to the environment due to phosphorus leaching. Specifically, it focuses on how different feeding regimes yield varying degrees of phosphorus intake, and how these differences might increase P runoff from horse manure, which could have harmful consequences to surrounding water bodies.

Research Methodology

  • The study was conducted using six horses, whereby a total collection of their feces was acquired for the experiment.
  • A series of six different forage-based diets were implemented to understand how each diet affects phosphorus consumption, digestion, and excretion in horses.
  • The research made use of an unbalanced 6 × 4 Latin Squares experimental design, a renowned research method for animal studies.

Key Findings

  • Phosphorus intake in horses increased with higher consumption of concentrates in their diet.
  • All diets resulted in positive P balance. However, phosphorus retention varied, with the only-hay diet being the exception where intake was less compared to the other diets.
  • The digestibility of phosphorus ranged between 2.7% and 11.1%. Also, supplementing forage-based diets with concentrates led to a slight improvement in phosphorus digestibility.
  • On average, horses excreted approximately 20.9 ± 1.4 g/d of phosphorus in their feces, but this quantity was smallest (20.0 g/d) in horses exclusively on a hay diet.
  • Such level of excretion accounts for approximately 7.6 kg/year of phosphorus, most of which (about 88%) remained soluble in feces, hence susceptible to losses via runoff or leaching into waters.

Implications of the Study

  • This study highlights how horse dung could pose serious environmental risks due to potential phosphorus leaching, especially if not properly managed.
  • The findings imply that this environmental impact is not lesser compared to that from other farm animals.
  • This study suggests that the supplementation of inorganic phosphorus in horse diet should be controlled, particularly in mature horses in light work, to decrease intestinally excreted phosphorus through manure.

Cite This Article

APA
Saastamoinen M, Särkijärvi S, Valtonen E. (2020). The Effect of Diet Composition on the Digestibility and Fecal Excretion of Phosphorus in Horses: A Potential Risk of P Leaching? Animals (Basel), 10(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10010140

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 1

Researcher Affiliations

Saastamoinen, Markku
  • Production Systems, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland.
Särkijärvi, Susanna
  • Production Systems, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland.
Valtonen, Elisa
  • Department of Animal Science, University of Helsinki, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland.

Grant Funding

  • YM 126/481/2012 / Finnish Ministry of Environment

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

References

This article includes 65 references
  1. NRC. Nutrient Requirements of Horses. 6th ed. National Research Council of the National Academies; Washington, DC, USA: 2007.
  2. Lavin T.E., Nielsen B.D., Zingsheim J.N., O’Connor-Robison C.I., Link J.E., Hill G.M., Shelton J.. Effects of phytase supplementation in mature horses fed alfalfa hay and pelleted concentrate diets. J. Anim. Sci. 2013;91:1719–1727.
    doi: 10.2527/jas.2012-5081pubmed: 23408815google scholar: lookup
  3. McDonald P., Edwards R.A., Greenhalgh J.F.D., Morgan C.A., Sincliar L.A., Wilkinson R.G.. Animal Nutrition. 7th ed. Pearson Education Limited; Harlow, UK: 2011.
  4. Ammermann C.B., Baker D.P., Lewis A.J.. Bioavailability of Nutrients for Animals: Amino Acids, Minerals, Vitamins. Academic Press; San Diego, CA, USA: 1995.
  5. Geor R.J., Harris P.A., Coenen M.. Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition: Health, Welfare and Performance. 1st ed. Saunders/Elsevier; Edinburgh, UK: 2013.
  6. van Doorn D.A., Everts H., Wouterse H., Homan S., Beynen A.C.. Influence of high phosphorus intake on salivary and plasma concentrations, and urinary phosphorus excretion in mature ponies. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr. 2011;95:154–160.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2010.01035.xpubmed: 20666862google scholar: lookup
  7. Fowler A., Hansen T., Strasinger L., Davis B., Harlow B.E., Lawrence L.. Phosphorus digestibility and phytate degredation by yearlings and mature horse. J. Anim. Sci. 2015;93:5735–5742.
    doi: 10.2527/jas.2015-9139pubmed: 26641183google scholar: lookup
  8. Schryver H.F., Hintz H.F., Craig P.H., Hogue D.E., Lowe J.E.. Site of phosphorus absorption from intestine of the horse. J. Nutr. 1972;102:143–147.
    doi: 10.1093/jn/102.1.143pubmed: 5007109google scholar: lookup
  9. Schryver H.F., Hintz H.F., Lowe J.E.. Calcium and phosphorus in the nutrition of the horse. Cornell Vet. 1974;64:493–514.
    pubmed: 4609686
  10. Schryver H.F., Hintz H.F., Craig P.H.. Phosphorus metabolism in ponies fed varying levels of phosphorus. J. Nutr. 1971;101:1257–1263.
    doi: 10.1093/jn/101.9.1257pubmed: 5096144google scholar: lookup
  11. Fowler A., Strasinger L., Hansen T., Davis B., Hayes S., Lawrence L.. The availability of dietary phosphorus to long yearlings and mature horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2013;33:342–343.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2013.03.055google scholar: lookup
  12. Ögren G., Holtenius K., Jansson A.. Phosphorus balance and fecal losses in growing Standardbred horses in training fed forage-only diets. J. Anim. Sci. 2013;91:2749–2755.
    doi: 10.2527/jas.2012-6048pubmed: 23478825google scholar: lookup
  13. Cehak A.. In vitro studies on intestinal calcium and phosphate transport in horses. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Part A 2012;161:259–264.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2011.11.005pubmed: 22119207google scholar: lookup
  14. Pagan J.D.. Nutrient digestibility in horses. In: Pagan J., editor. Advances in Equine Nutrition. Nottingham University Press; Nottingham, UK: 1998. pp. 77–83.
  15. Wilson J.A., Babb C.W., Prince R.H.. Protein and mineral digestibility of three pelleted equine feeds and subsequent nitrogen and phosphorus waste excretion. Prof. Anim. Sci. 2006;22:341–345.
    doi: 10.15232/S1080-7446(15)31117-7google scholar: lookup
  16. Warren L., Weir J., Harris P., Kivipelto J.. Effect of total phosphorus and phytate –phosphorus intake on phosphorus digestibility in horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2013;33:352.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2013.03.075google scholar: lookup
  17. Hainze M.T.M., Muntifering R.B., Wood C.W., McCall C.A., Wood B.H.. Faecal phosphorus excretion from horses fed typical diets with and without added phytase. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 2004;117:265–279.
    doi: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2004.08.010google scholar: lookup
  18. van Doorn D., Everts H., Wouterse H., Beynen A.C.. The apparent digestibility of phytate phosphorus and the influence of supplemental phytase in horses. J. Anim. Sci. 2004;82:1756–1763.
    doi: 10.2527/2004.8261756xpubmed: 15217003google scholar: lookup
  19. Luke. Finnish Feed Tables and Feeding Recommendations. Natural Resources Institute Finland; [(accessed on 21 November 2019)]. Available online: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-326-054-2.
  20. Zhao X., Müller C.E.. Macro and micromineral content of wrapped forages for horses. Grass For. Sci. 2015;71:195–207.
    doi: 10.1111/gfs.12178google scholar: lookup
  21. Knowlton K.F., Radcliffe J.S., Novak C.L., Emmerson D.A.. Animal management to reduce phosphorus losses to the environment. J. Anim. Sci. 2004;82:E173–E195.
    doi: 10.2527/2004.8213_supplE173xpubmed: 15471797google scholar: lookup
  22. Uusi-Kämppä J., Närvänen A., Kaseva J., Jansson H.. Phosphorus and faecal bacteria in runoff from horse paddocks and their mitigation by the addition of P-sorbing materials. Agr. Food Sci. 2012;21:247–259.
    doi: 10.23986/afsci.6510google scholar: lookup
  23. Parvage M.M., Kirchmann H., Kynkäänniemi P., Ulén B.. Impact of horse grazing and feeding on phosphorus concentrations in soil and drainage water. Soil Use Manag. 2011;27:367–375.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2011.00351.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  24. Parvage M.M., Ulén B., Kirchmann H.. A survey of soil phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) in Swedish horse paddocks. Agric. Ecos. Environ. 2013;178:1–9.
    doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2013.06.009google scholar: lookup
  25. Parvage M.M., Ulén B., Kirchmann H.. Are horse paddocks threating water quality through exess loading of nutrients. J. Environ. Manag. 2015;147:306–313.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.09.019pubmed: 25284798google scholar: lookup
  26. Henneke R.R., Potter G.D., Kreider J.L., Yeates B.F.. Relationship between condition score, physical measurements and body fat percentage in mares. Equine Vet. J. 1983;14:371–372.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1983.tb01826.xpubmed: 6641685google scholar: lookup
  27. Särkijärvi S., Saastamoinen M.. Feeding value of various processed oat grains in equine diets. Livest. Sci. 2006;100:3–9.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livprodsci.2005.11.005google scholar: lookup
  28. Huang C.Y.L., Schulte E.E.. Digestion of plant tissue for analysis by ICP Emission Spectroscopy. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 1985;16:943–958.
    doi: 10.1080/00103628509367657google scholar: lookup
  29. Robertson J., Van Soest P.. The detergent system of analysis and its application to human foods. Anal. Diet. Fiber Food. 1981;3:123.
  30. Van Soest P.J., Robertson J.B., Lewis B.A.. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J. Dairy Sci. 1991;74:3583–3597.
    doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2pubmed: 1660498google scholar: lookup
  31. Keskinen R., Saastamoinen M., Nikama J., Särkijärvi S., Myllymäki M., Salo T., Uusi-Kämppä J.. Recycling nutrients from horse manure: effects of bedding type and its compostability. Agric. Food Sci. 2017;26:68–79.
    doi: 10.23986/afsci.60443google scholar: lookup
  32. Saastamoinen M.T., Hellämäki M.. Forage analyses as a base of feeding of horses. In: Saastamoinen M., Fradinho M.J., Santos A.S., Miraglia N., editors. Forages and Grazing in Horse Nutrition. Wageningen Academic Publishers; Cambridge, MA, USA: 2012. pp. 304–314.
  33. Pösö A.R., Soveri T., Oksanen H.E.. The effect of exercise on blood parameters in Standardbred and Finnish-bred horses. Acta Vet. Scand. 1983;24:170–184.
    pmc: PMC8291260pubmed: 6613781
  34. Patterson D.P., Cooper S.R., Freeman D.W., Teeter R.G.. Effects of varying levels of phytase supplementation on dry matter and phosphorus digestibility in horses fed common textured ration. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2002;22:456–459.
    doi: 10.1016/S0737-0806(02)70164-0google scholar: lookup
  35. van Doorn D., van der Spek M.E., Everts H., Wouterse H., Beynen A.C.. The influence of calcium intake on phosphorus digestibility in mature ponies. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr. 2004;88:412.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2004.00503.xpubmed: 15584950google scholar: lookup
  36. Elzinga S., Nielsen B.D., Schott H.C., Rapson J., Robinson C.I., McCutcheon J., Harris P.A., Geor R.. Comparison of nutrient digestibilitys between adult and aged horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2014;34:1164–1169.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2014.06.021google scholar: lookup
  37. Buchholz-Bryant M.A., Baker L.A., Pipkin J.L., Mansell B.J., Haliburton J.C., Bachman R.C.. The effect of calcium and phosphorus supplementation, inactivity, and subsequent aerobic training on mineral balance in young, mature, and aged horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2001;21:71–77.
    doi: 10.1016/S0737-0806(01)70096-2google scholar: lookup
  38. Böswald L.F., Dobenecker B., Clauss M., Kienzle E.. A comparative meta-analysis on the relationship of faecal calcium and phosphorus excretion in mammals. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr. 2018;102:370–379.
    doi: 10.1111/jpn.12844pubmed: 29178376google scholar: lookup
  39. Schryver H.F., Craig P.H., Hintz H.F.. Calcium metabolism in ponies fed varying levels of calcium. J. Nutr. 1970;100:955–964.
    doi: 10.1093/jn/100.8.955pubmed: 5495848google scholar: lookup
  40. Hintz H.F., Schryver H.F.. magnesium metabolism in the horse. J. Anim. Sci. 1972;35:755–759.
    doi: 10.2527/jas1972.354755xpubmed: 5075819google scholar: lookup
  41. Meyer H., Heilemann M., Perez Noriega H., Gomda Y.. Advances in Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. Springer; Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany: 1990. Postprandiale renale Ausscheidung von Calcium, Magnesium und Phosphorus bei ruhenden und arbeitenden Pferden; pp. 78–85. Contributions to water and mineral metabolism of the horse.
  42. Meyer H., Stadermann B., Schnurpel B., Nehring T.. The influence of type of diet (roughage or concentrate) on the plasma level, renal excretion, and apparent digestibility of calcium and magnesium in resting and exercising horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 1992;12:233–239.
    doi: 10.1016/S0737-0806(06)81452-8google scholar: lookup
  43. Ragnarsson S., Lindberg J.E.. Nutritional value of timothy haylage in Icelandic horses. Livest. Sci. 2008;113:202–208.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2007.03.010google scholar: lookup
  44. Ragnarsson S., Lindberg J.E.. Nutritional value of mixed grass haylage in Icelandic horses. Livest. Sci. 2010;131:83–87.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2010.03.003google scholar: lookup
  45. Martin Rosset W., Vermorel M., Doreau M., Tisserand J.L., Andrieu J.. The French horse feed evaluation systems and recommended allowances for energy and protein. Livest. Prod. Sci. 1994;40:37–56.
    doi: 10.1016/0301-6226(94)90264-Xgoogle scholar: lookup
  46. Palmgren Karlsson C., Lindberg J.E., Rundgren M.. Associative effects on total tract digestibility in horses fed different ratios of grass hay and whole oats. Livest. Prod. Sci. 2000;65:143–153.
    doi: 10.1016/S0301-6226(99)00178-5google scholar: lookup
  47. Särkijärvi S., Sormunen-Cristian R., Heikkilä T., Rinne M., Saastamoinen M.. Effect of grass species and cutting time on in vivo digestibility of silage by horses and sheep. Livest. Sci. 2012;144:230–239.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2011.11.019google scholar: lookup
  48. Breidenbach A., Schlumbohm C., Harmeyr J.. Pecularities of vitamin D andof the calcium and phosphate homeostatic system in horses. Vet. Res. 1998;29:173–186.
    pubmed: 9601149
  49. van Doorn D.A., Schaafstra F.J., Wouterse H., Everts H., Estepa J.C., Aguilera-Tejero E., Beynen A.C.. Repeated measurements of P retention in ponies fed rations with various Ca: P ratios. J. Anim. Sci. 2014;92:4981–4990.
    doi: 10.2527/jas.2014-7632pubmed: 25349347google scholar: lookup
  50. Greiwe-Crandell K.M., Morrow G.A., Kronfeld D.S.. Phosphorus and selenium depletion in Thoroughbred mares and weanlings. Pferdeheilkunde, Sonderausgabe 1. Europäissche Konferenz über die Ernährung des Pferdes 1992:77–80.
  51. Jansson A., Dahlborn K.. Effects of feeding frequency and voluntary salt intake on fluid and electrolyte regulation in athletic horses. J. Appl. Physiol. 1999;86:1610–1616.
    doi: 10.1152/jappl.1999.86.5.1610pubmed: 10233125google scholar: lookup
  52. Wartell B.A., Krumins J.A., Kang K., Schwab B.J., Fennell D.. Methane production from horse manure and stall waste with softwood bedding. Bioresour. Technol. 2012;112:42–50.
    doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.012pubmed: 22418082google scholar: lookup
  53. Chapuis-Lardy L., Fiorini J., Toth J., Dou Z.. Phosphorus concentration and solubility in dairy feces: Variability and affecting factors. J. Dairy Sci. 2004;87:4334–4341.
    doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(04)73579-1pubmed: 15545398google scholar: lookup
  54. Dougherty W.J., Nicholls P.J., Milham P.J., Havilah E.J., Lawrie R.A.. Phosphorus Fertilizer and Grazing Management Effects on Phosphorus in Runoff from Dairy Pastures. J. Environ. Qual. 2008;37:417–428.
    doi: 10.2134/jeq2007.0049pubmed: 18268305google scholar: lookup
  55. Keskinen R., Nikama J., Närvänen A., Uusi-Kämppä J., Särkijärvi S., Saastamoinen M.. Reducing nutrient runoff from horse paddocks by removal of dung. Proceedings of the Equi-Meeting Infrastructures Horses and Equestrian Facilities; Le Lion d´ Angers, France. 6–7 October 2014; pp. 60–65.
  56. Kebreab E., Shah M.A., Beever D.E., Humphries D.J., Sutton J.D., France J., Mueller-Harvey I.. Effects of contrasting forage diets on phosphorus utilisation in lactating dairy cows. Livest. Prod. Sci. 2005;93:125–135.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livprodsci.2004.09.008google scholar: lookup
  57. Maguire R.O., Dou Z., Sims T., Brake J., Joern B.C.. Dietary strategies for reduced phosphorus excretion and improved water quality. J. Environ. Qual. 2005;34:2093–2103.
    doi: 10.2134/jeq2004.0410pubmed: 16275709google scholar: lookup
  58. Dou Z., Knowlton K.F., Kohn R.A., Wu Z., Satter L.D., Zhang G., Toth J.D., Ferguson J.D.. Phosphorus characteristics of dairy feces affected by diets. J. Environ. Qual. 2002;31:2058–2065.
    doi: 10.2134/jeq2002.2058pubmed: 12469857google scholar: lookup
  59. Närvänen A., Jansson H., Uusi-Kämppä J., Jansson H., Perälä P.. Phosphorus load from equine critical source areas and its reduction using ferric sulphate. Boreal. Environ. Res. 2008;13:266–274.
  60. Airaksinen S., Heiskanen M.-L., Heinonen H.. Contamination of surface run-off water and soil in two horse paddocks. Bioresour. Technol. 2007;98:1762–1766.
    doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2006.07.032pubmed: 16949278google scholar: lookup
  61. von Wachenfelt H.E.. A field test of all-weather surfaces for horse paddocks. J. Food Sci. Eng. 2016;6:197–211.
    doi: 10.17265/2159-5828/2016.04.002google scholar: lookup
  62. Parvage M.M., Ulén B., Kirchmann H.. Can organic materials reduce nutrient leaching from manure-rich paddock soils?. J. Eneviron. Qual. 2017;46:105–112.
    doi: 10.2134/jeq2016.06.0223pubmed: 28177400google scholar: lookup
  63. Kebreab E., Odongo B.W., McBride B.W., Hanigan M.D., France J.. Phosphorus Utilization and Environmental and Economic Implications of Reducing Phosphorus Pollution from Ontario Dairy Cows. J. Dairy Sci. 2008;91:241–246.
    doi: 10.3168/jds.2007-0432pubmed: 18096946google scholar: lookup
  64. Uotila R., Thuneberg T., Saastamoinen M.. The usage of forage analyses in optimizing horse nutrition in Finland. In: Saastamoinen M., Fradinho M.J., Santos A.S., Miraglia N., editors. Forages and Grazing in Horse Nutrition. Wageningen Academic Publishers; Cambridge, MA, USA: 2012. pp. 331–334.
  65. Julliand V., Grimm P.. The impact of diet on the hindgut microbiome. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2017;52:23–28.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2017.03.002google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Maier I, Kienzle E. A Meta-Analysis on Quantitative Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium Metabolism in Horses and Ponies. Animals (Basel) 2024 Sep 25;14(19).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14192765pubmed: 39409714google scholar: lookup
  2. Saastamoinen M, Särkijärvi S, Suomala H. Protein Source and Intake Effects on Diet Digestibility and N Excretion in Horses-A Risk of Environmental N Load of Horses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Dec 15;11(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11123568pubmed: 34944342google scholar: lookup
  3. Saastamoinen M, Särkijärvi S, Valtonen E. Erratum: Saastamoinen, M.; Särkijärvi, S.; Valtonen, E. The Effect of Diet Composition on the Digestibility and Fecal Excretion of Phosphorus in Horses: A Potential Risk of P Leaching? Animals 2020, 10, 140. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 12;10(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10020285pubmed: 32059580google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.