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Journal of animal science2022; 101; skac422; doi: 10.1093/jas/skac422

The effect of harvest time of forage on carbohydrate digestion in horses quantified by in vitro and mobile bag techniques.

Abstract: Carbohydrates in forages constitute an important part of the feed ration for all horses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of harvest time on carbohydrate composition and digestion of various grass species. The experiment was divided into three parts 1) characterization of the chemical composition of experimental feeds (6 grass species: meadow fescue [MF], cocksfoot [CF], perennial ryegrass [PR], smooth bromegrass [SB], tall fescue [TF], and timothy [TI], and 3 harvest times: early, medium, and late first cut), 2) measurements of the in vitro digestion of selected experimental feeds (the 6 grass species, and 2 harvest times [early and late]) measured by in vitro gas production, and 3) in vivo digestion of selected experimental feeds (2 grass species: CF and PR, 2 harvest times [early and late]) measured by the mobile bag technique using caecum cannulated horses. An experimental field was established with plots containing each of the grass species in three replicate blocks. Grass samples were cut between 1200 and 1400 h at 4th of June (early first cut), 17th of June (medium first cut), and 1st of July (late first cut) and analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber with heat stable amylase and free of residual ash (aNDFom) and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC). The in vitro fermentation was investigated using the ANKOM RF gas production technique, where feeds were incubated for 48 h using horse caecal fluid as an inoculum. Gas production was modeled, and maximum gas production (MGP) was used to evaluate the potential digestibility of the feeds. Based on the chemical analyses and the in vitro experiment, early and late harvested CF and PR were selected for the in vivo experiment, which was conducted as a randomized 4 × 4 Latin square design including four periods, four horses and four feeds. In general, the CP content decreased whereas the aNDFom content increased as the grasses matured. The content of WSC increased in SB and TI, but decreased in CF, and fructans increased in SB, TI, PR, and TF as they matured. The in vitro MGP showed a clearer difference between harvest times than between grass species. Harvest time had larger effect on digestibility than grass species, and a high precaecal disappearance of the WSC fraction was measured by the mobile bag technique. Cocksfoot was identified as a grass species with potentially low digestibility and low WSC content and could potentially be used more for horses. Feedstuffs contain different carbohydrate fractions that are digested in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract of horses. Grass for grazing or harvesting contains variable amounts of structural carbohydrates such as cellulose and hemi-cellulose (named fibres) and nonstructural carbohydrates which in temperate grass species include sugars and fructans (named water soluble carbohydrates (WSC)). This study quantified carbohydrate composition and digestion of six grass species (perennial ryegrass, timothy, smooth bromegrass, tall fescue, cocksfoot, and meadow fescue) harvested at three different times (early, medium, and late) and preserved as hay. In general, fiber content increased as the grasses matured, whereas WSC content varied to a large extent. In vitro fermentation using horse caecal fluid was used to quantify digestion of early and late cut grass samples of all species. Harvest time (early vs. late) had a larger effect on in vitro fermentation compared to the effect of grass species. Early and late harvested perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot were further selected for detailed studies of precaecal digestion in vivo as these species had highest and lowest WSC content. In general, cocksfoot was identified as grass species with low digestibility and low WSC concentration compared to the other species investigated.
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.
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Publication Date: 2022-12-29 PubMed ID: 36576899PubMed Central: PMC9904184DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac422Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research explores how the harvest times of forage will affect carbohydrate digestion in horses by reviewing the composition and digestion of various grass species.

Chemical Composition of Feeds

  • A variety of thin grass species were chosen for the experiment, including meadow fescue, cocksfoot, perennial ryegrass, smooth bromegrass, tall fescue, and timothy.
  • These grasses were harvested at three different times to compare differences in nutritional composition among early, medium, and late first cuts.
  • The composition was analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (aNDFom), and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC).
  • Results showed the CP content generally decreased, while aNDFom content increased as the grass matured. The WSC content varied, decreasing in cocksfoot but increasing in smooth bromegrass and timothy.

In Vitro Digestion

  • Selected feeds were subjected to in vitro gas production by using horse caecal fluid as an inoculum, incubated for 48 hours.
  • Maximum gas production (MGP) indicated potential digestibility.
  • The data showed a resemblance in their in vitro MGP, with the harvest times showing more difference than the grass species.

In Vivo Digestion

  • An in vivo experiment was carried out using caecum-cannulated horses to study the digestion of selected feeds that included cocksfoot and perennial ryegrass.
  • The research adopted a randomized 4 x 4 Latin square design, involving four periods, four horses, and four types of feeds.
  • This section of the study registered high precaecal disappearance of the WSC fraction measured through the mobile bag technique.

Findings and Recommendations

  • The research found harvest times greatly influence the digestibility of the feed as opposed to the type of grass species used.
  • Cocksfoot was identified as a potential feed option for horses due to its low digestibility and WSC content.

Overall, the study provided an insight into how carbohydrate composition and digestion can be manipulated by adjusting the harvest times, which could potentially have significant implications for dietary practices in horse care.

Cite This Article

APA
Stang FL, Bjerregaard R, Müller CE, Ergon Å, Halling M, Thorringer NW, Kidane A, Jensen RB. (2022). The effect of harvest time of forage on carbohydrate digestion in horses quantified by in vitro and mobile bag techniques. J Anim Sci, 101, skac422. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac422

Publication

Journal of animal science
ISSN: 1525-3163
NlmUniqueID: 8003002
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 101
PII: skac422

Researcher Affiliations

Stang, Frida Lindskov
  • Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Bjerregaard, Rikke
  • Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Müller, Cecilia Elisabeth
  • Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
Ergon, Åshild
  • Department of Plant Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NO-1430 Ås, Norway.
Halling, Magnus
  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
Thorringer, Nana Wentzel
  • Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NO-1430 Ås, Norway.
Kidane, Alemayehu
  • Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NO-1430 Ås, Norway.
Jensen, Rasmus Bovbjerg
  • Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NO-1430 Ås, Norway.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Digestion
  • Carbohydrates
  • Poaceae / chemistry
  • Lolium
  • Phleum
  • Dactylis
  • Festuca
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Rumen / metabolism

Grant Funding

  • H-17-47-287 / The Swedish-Norwegian Foundation for Equine Research

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. 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
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