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The British journal of nutrition2001; 85(5); 599-606; doi: 10.1079/bjn2001321

The effect of forage quality and level of feeding on digestibility and gastrointestinal transit time of oat straw and alfalfa given to ponies and donkeys.

Abstract: Four donkeys and four ponies were fed molassed dehydrated alfalfa or oat straw, either ad libitum or restricted to about 70% ad libitum intake in a Latin-square design for four periods of 21 d. Measurements of apparent digestibility and gastrointestinal transit time were made on the last 7 d of each period. When the forages were provided ad libitum, all animals ate significantly more of the alfalfa than of the oat straw. Ponies consumed significantly more of both diets per unit live weight than donkeys. Higher apparent digestibilities of dietary DM, energy and fibre fractions were seen in donkeys, at both levels of feeding, compared with the ponies. This partly compensated for the lower intakes by the donkeys when fed ad libitum. When intake of alfalfa was restricted, the apparent digestibility of DM was higher compared with the corresponding values when fed ad libitum, but the reverse was true for straw. This may be because restriction of a low-quality diet reduced selection of the more digestible parts of the forage. Donkeys and ponies consumed more energy and protein than required when fed alfalfa ad libitum. Both oat straw treatments provided insufficient protein to meet the predicted requirements of ponies and donkeys. Straw intakes ad libitum exceeded the estimated energy requirement for ponies by 34-51%, but donkey energy requirements were only just met. When the amount of straw offered was restricted, 78-90% of the estimated energy requirement for donkeys was met compared with 90-105% for the ponies.
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Publication Date: 2001-05-12 PubMed ID: 11348575DOI: 10.1079/bjn2001321Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 study looks at the impact of the quality and quantity of feed on digestibility and gastrointestinal transit time of two types of straw (oat and alfalfa) in ponies and donkeys. The key findings show that donkeys digest feed more effectively than ponies, that the animals consume more alfalfa than oat straw, and that the level of feed restriction impacts the digestibility of the straw.

Research Design and Methodology

  • The study was conducted by feeding four donkeys and four ponies two types of feeds – molassed dehydrated alfalfa and oat straw.
  • The animals were either allowed to feed ad libitum (as much as they wanted) or their intake was restricted to about 70% of ad libitum intake.
  • The feeding was done over four periods of 21 days in a Latin-square design, a research design particularly used for agricultural studies.
  • Apparent digestibility and gastrointestinal transit time were measured for the last 7 days of each period.

Key Findings

  • When provided ad libitum, all animals consumed significantly more alfalfa compared to oat straw. Ponies consumed more per unit of live weight as compared to donkeys.
  • Donkeys generally had a higher apparent digestibility of dietary dry matter (DM), energy and fiber fractions as compared to the ponies. This increased digestibility partly compensated for the lower intake when fed freely.
  • Digestibility was higher when the intake of alfalfa was restricted. This was the opposite for the straw, possibly because the restriction on low-quality diet reduced the selection of the more digestible parts of the forage.

Energy and Protein Consumption

  • Both animals consumed more energy and protein than required when fed alfalfa without restriction.
  • Oat straw did not meet the protein requirements for either of the animals. When the oat straw was given freely, it exceeded the energy requirement for ponies by 34-51%. For donkeys, the energy requirement was barely met.
  • When the intake of straw was restricted, only 78-90% of the estimated energy requirements for donkeys were met which was less compared to 90-105% for the ponies.

Cite This Article

APA
Pearson RA, Archibald RF, Muirhead RH. (2001). The effect of forage quality and level of feeding on digestibility and gastrointestinal transit time of oat straw and alfalfa given to ponies and donkeys. Br J Nutr, 85(5), 599-606. https://doi.org/10.1079/bjn2001321

Publication

The British journal of nutrition
ISSN: 0007-1145
NlmUniqueID: 0372547
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 85
Issue: 5
Pages: 599-606

Researcher Affiliations

Pearson, R A
  • Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK. anne.pearson@ed.ac.uk.
Archibald, R F
    Muirhead, R H

      MeSH Terms

      • Analysis of Variance
      • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
      • Animals
      • Avena
      • Body Weight
      • Digestion
      • Eating
      • Equidae / metabolism
      • Gastrointestinal Transit
      • Horses / metabolism
      • Medicago sativa

      Citations

      This article has been cited 12 times.
      1. Fitts J, Kubasiewicz LM, Norris SL, Worth S, Watson T, Angell RL, Steer MD, Lintott P. Pasture Heterogeneity Improves Donkey Welfare: Effects of Structural Variation, Species Diversity, and Sward Height on Herd Emotional States. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 27;15(23).
        doi: 10.3390/ani15233421pubmed: 41375479google scholar: lookup
      2. Hassan ZM, Manyelo TG, Nemukondeni N, Sebola AN, Selaledi L, Mabelebele M. The Possibility of Including Donkey Meat and Milk in the Food Chain: A Southern African Scenario. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 21;12(9).
        doi: 10.3390/ani12091073pubmed: 35565500google scholar: lookup
      3. 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).
        doi: 10.3390/vetsci9010015pubmed: 35051099google scholar: lookup
      4. 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).
        doi: 10.1093/jas/skab158pubmed: 34013333google scholar: lookup
      5. Tassone S, Fortina R, Valle E, Cavallarin L, Raspa F, Boggero S, Bergero D, Giammarino M, Renna M. Comparison of In Vivo and In Vitro Digestibility in Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 12;10(11).
        doi: 10.3390/ani10112100pubmed: 33198168google scholar: lookup
      6. Liu LL, Zhou XL, Yang HJ, Chen R. Effect of Dietary Forage/Concentrate Ratio on Nutrient Digestion and Energy and Protein Metabolism in Adult Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 12;10(6).
        doi: 10.3390/ani10061025pubmed: 32545612google scholar: lookup
      7. Hansen TL, Chizek EL, Zugay OK, Miller JM, Bobel JM, Chouinard JW, Adkin AM, Skurupey LA, Warren LK. Digestibility and Retention Time of Coastal Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) Hay by Horses. Animals (Basel) 2019 Dec 14;9(12).
        doi: 10.3390/ani9121148pubmed: 31847350google scholar: lookup
      8. Raspa F, Cavallarin L, McLean AK, Bergero D, Valle E. A Review of the Appropriate Nutrition Welfare Criteria of Dairy Donkeys: Nutritional Requirements, Farm Management Requirements and Animal-Based Indicators. Animals (Basel) 2019 Jun 1;9(6).
        doi: 10.3390/ani9060315pubmed: 31159459google scholar: lookup
      9. Zakari FO, Ayo JO, Rekwot PI, Kawu MU. Influence of season on daytime behavioral activities of donkeys in the Northern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria. J Equine Sci 2015;26(4):105-11.
        doi: 10.1294/jes.26.105pubmed: 26858575google scholar: lookup
      10. Colunga GB, Arriaga-Jordán CM, Veláquez Beltran L, González-Ronquillo M, Smith DG, Estrada-Flores J, Rayas-Amor A, Castelán-Ortega OA. Participatory study on feeding strategies for working donkeys used by Campesino farmers in the highlands of central Mexico. Trop Anim Health Prod 2005 Nov;37 Suppl 1:143-57.
        doi: 10.1007/s11250-005-9013-2pubmed: 16335076google scholar: lookup
      11. Carretero-Roque L, Colunga B, Smith DG, González-Ronquillo M, Solis-Mendez A, Castelán-Ortega O. Digestible energy requirements of Mexican donkeys fed oat straw and maize stover. Trop Anim Health Prod 2005 Nov;37 Suppl 1:123-42.
        doi: 10.1007/s11250-005-9012-3pubmed: 16335075google scholar: lookup
      12. Smith DG, Pearson RA. A review of the factors affecting the survival of donkeys in semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Trop Anim Health Prod 2005 Nov;37 Suppl 1:1-19.
        doi: 10.1007/s11250-005-9002-5pubmed: 16335068google scholar: lookup
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