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The effect of supplementing pony diets with yeast on 1. In vivo and in vitro digestibility, faecal pH and particle size.
Abstract: Fibre is essential to maintain healthy gut; however, energy demands of performance horses can be too high to be met by forages alone. Yeast may support the function of cellulolytic bacteria to digest fibre. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of an oral supplement (VistaEQ) containing 4% live yeast on the in vitro and in vivo digestibility of high-starch (HS) and high-fibre diets (HF). Eight ponies were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design consisting of 4- × 19-day periods and four diets: HF, HF + yeast (HFY), HS and HS + yeast (HSY). In vivo apparent digestibility (AD) was estimated using total collection technique, and faecal particle size was measured using NASCO digestive analyser. Faeces from the ponies were subsequently used as an inoculum in ANKOM RF gas production system to assess fermentation kinetics in vitro. Each module contained 1 g of feed substrate DM in the following combinations: 50% grass hay and 50% alfalfa (HF_50 : 50) or concentrate (HS_50 : 50), and 75% grass hay and 25% alfalfa (HF_75 : 25) or concentrate (HS_75 : 25) with or without yeast. Yeast was able to induce more gas production from HF_75 : 25, HS_75 : 25 and HF_50 : 50 feed substrates incubated with respective faecal inoculum base. Yeast did not affect pH in vitro when the substrates were incubated in 50 : 50 ratio, while the pH was higher for HF_75 : 25 incubated with correspondent faecal inoculum compared to HS_75 : 25 and HSY_75 : 25. Yeast had no effects on ADF and CP AD of either diet. Yeast addition increased DM (HF: 0.2%, HS: 0.4%), organic matter (HF: 0.7%, HS: 1.3%), NDF (HF: 0.5%, HS: 1.5%), total detergent fibre (HF: 0.7%; HS: 0.4%) (P < 0.05) and also tended to increase hemicellulose AD (HF: 0.9%, HS: 1.2%) (P < 0.10). Faecal pH in vivo was higher for both HF diets compared to HS diet without yeast supplementation (P 0.05). Yeast increased in vitro gas production, suggesting more energy could be extracted from the feed, and the in vivo AD of some of the nutrients when HF and HS diets were fed.
Publication Date: 2020-06-25 PubMed ID: 32580794DOI: 10.1017/S1751731120001524Google 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.
- 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.
This research seeks to understand the effects of supplementing pony diets with an oral agent, VistaEQ, which contains 4% live yeast, on the digestibility of high-starch and high-fiber diets. It found that the yeast supplement increased the extraction of energy from the feed and the digestibility of some nutrients.
Methodology
- The study adopted a quasi-experimental approach involving 8 ponies who were placed in a 4 x 4 Latin Square design consisting of 4 x 19-day periods and four diets: High fibre (HF), High Fibre + yeast (HFY), High Starch (HS), and High Starch + yeast (HSY).
- The in vivo apparent digestibility (AD) was determined by using the total collection technique, and the faecal particle size measured using the NASCO digestive analyser.
- To assess the fermentation kinetics in vitro, faeces from the ponies was used as inoculum in the ANKOM RF gas production system. The study also used different feed substrate combinations with or without yeast.
Key Findings
- The results revealed that yeast induced more gas production from high fibre and high starch feed substrates incubated with respective faecal inoculum base.
- There was no significant change in pH in vitro when substrates were incubated in a 50:50 ratio with yeast. However, a higher pH was recorded for the high fibre feed incubated with the corresponding faecal inoculum as compared to high starch feeds.
- Yeast’s presence did not significantly influence the in vivo apparent digestibility (AD) of all detergent fibres and crude proteins of either type of diet.
- Yeast supplementation increased the digestibility of some nutrients, dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fibre, and total detergent fibre. Moreover, it tended to increase the apparent digestibility of hemicellulose.
- Regarding faecal pH, the high fibre diets yielded a higher pH in comparison to the high starch diet without yeast supplementation. Yeast, however, did not impact the size of the faecal particles.
Conclusion
- From this study, yeast supplementation appears to have promising potential in enhancing the digestibility of nutrients, particularly when high fibre and high starch diets are fed.
- This finding suggests that the use of yeast supplements could enhance the energy extraction from feed, which would be beneficial for improving the health and performance of ponies.
Cite This Article
APA
Garber A, Hastie PM, Farci V, Bulmer L, Alzahal O, Murray JMD.
(2020).
The effect of supplementing pony diets with yeast on 1. In vivo and in vitro digestibility, faecal pH and particle size.
Animal, 14(12), 2481-2492.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731120001524 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, McCall Building, Bearsden, GlasgowG61 1QH, UK.
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, McCall Building, Bearsden, GlasgowG61 1QH, UK.
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, McCall Building, Bearsden, GlasgowG61 1QH, UK.
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, McCall Building, Bearsden, GlasgowG61 1QH, UK.
- AB Vista, Woodstock Court, Blenheim Road, Marlborough Business Park, Marlborough, WiltshireSN8 4AN, UK.
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, McCall Building, Bearsden, GlasgowG61 1QH, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animals
- Diet / veterinary
- Dietary Fiber / metabolism
- Digestion
- Fermentation
- Horses
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
- Particle Size
- Rumen / metabolism
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Chaucheyras-Durand F, Sacy A, Karges K, Apper E. Gastro-Intestinal Microbiota in Equines and Its Role in Health and Disease: The Black Box Opens. Microorganisms 2022 Dec 19;10(12).
- Perricone V, Sandrini S, Irshad N, Comi M, Lecchi C, Savoini G, Agazzi A. The Role of Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Supporting Gut Health in Horses: An Updated Review on Its Effects on Digestibility and Intestinal and Fecal Microbiota. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 9;12(24).
- Dhanoa MS, López S, Powell CD, Sanderson R, Ellis JL, Murray JMD, Garber A, Williams BA, France J. An Illustrative Analysis of Atypical Gas Production Profiles Obtained from In Vitro Digestibility Studies Using Fecal Inoculum. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 9;11(4).
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