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Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition2024; 109(1); 113-123; doi: 10.1111/jpn.14037

The effect of the fat to starch ratio in young horses’ diet on plasma metabolites, muscle endurance and fear responses.

Abstract: High-starch diets may affect equine hindgut microbiota and increase blood glucose levels, which may cause unwanted physiological changes, but may also elicit behavioural changes such as increased fear reactions. The purpose of the current study was to feed a high starch (300) and low fat (43; HS_LF) or a low starch (60) and high fat (85; LS_HF, g/kg of DM) concentrate within the available commercial range and investigate how muscle endurance and fear reactions of horses respond to different diets. Twenty Danish Warmblood stallions (4 years) were randomly allocated to two treatments: LS_HF (n = 10) and HS_LF (n = 10) for 9 weeks. During the two last weeks, a single step exercise test was performed, and plasma metabolites and blood gases were measured before and after exercise in a 2 × 2 factorial design. The effect of two diets on fearfulness was tested by exposing the horses to novel objects test (T1 and T2). Plasma metabolites was not affected by diets. However, plasma level of glucose post-exercise (4.9) was lower than pre-exercise (5.6 mmol/L; p < 0.001). Similarly, plasma level of insulin post-exercise (4.2) was lower than pre-exercise (13.1 pmol/L; p < 0.001). Plasma level of lactate dehydrogenase (p < 0.001), non-esterified fatty acids (p = 0.002), β-hydroxybutyrate (p = 0.001), and fructosamine (p = 0.01) post-exercise was higher than pre-exercise. Regardless of type of diets, RRR-α-tocopherol was the dominance α-tocopherol stereoisomers in plasma. In conclusion, during aerobic exercise, fat to starch ratio in horse diets within the normal range had no significant effect on plasma metabolites. However, horses fed LS_HF tended to show more investigative behaviour than horses fed HS_LF.
© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2024-08-20 PubMed ID: 39163118PubMed Central: PMC11731427DOI: 10.1111/jpn.14037Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

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 study examines how varying the fat-to-starch ratio in the diets of young horses affects their plasma metabolites, muscle endurance, and fear responses. The researchers found no significant impact on plasma metabolites, but did notice a tendency towards more investigative behaviour in horses fed a low-starch, high-fat diet.

Research Methodology

  • The research involved twenty 4-year-old Danish Warmblood stallions, split into two groups of ten. Each group was fed a different diet for nine weeks. One group consumed a high-starch, low-fat meal (HS_LF), while the other was given a low-starch, high-fat diet (LS_HF).
  • During the final two weeks of this period, the horses underwent a single step exercise test.
  • Researchers measured the horses’ plasma metabolites and blood gases before and after exercising, in a 2 × 2 factorial design.
  • The effect of the different diets on fearfulness was examined by exposing the horses to unknown objects (a novel objects test).

Research Findings

  • There was no significant impact of dietary composition on plasma metabolites.
  • Post-exercise, plasma glucose levels decreased from 5.6 mmol/L pre-exercise to 4.9 mmol/L. Similarly, plasma insulin levels after exercise were lower (4.2) than before (13.1 pmol/L), with both changes being statistically significant (p < 0.001).
  • After exercise, levels of lactate dehydrogenase, non-esterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, and fructosamine in the plasma were higher than before. These changes were also statistically significant.
  • Regardless of the diet, RRR-α-tocopherol was the dominant α-tocopherol stereoisomer in the plasma.
  • The dietary variation did not have a noticeable impact on plasma metabolites during aerobic exercise. However, the horses consuming the LS_HF diet displayed more investigative behaviour than those fed the HS_LF diet.

Cite This Article

APA
Lashkari S, Beblein C, Christensen JW, Jensen SK. (2024). The effect of the fat to starch ratio in young horses’ diet on plasma metabolites, muscle endurance and fear responses. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl), 109(1), 113-123. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.14037

Publication

Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
ISSN: 1439-0396
NlmUniqueID: 101126979
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 109
Issue: 1
Pages: 113-123

Researcher Affiliations

Lashkari, Saman
  • Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, AU Viborg, Research Centre Foulum, Tjele, Denmark.
Beblein, Carina
  • Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, AU Viborg, Research Centre Foulum, Tjele, Denmark.
  • Marketing Department, Pavo Horse feed, Vojens, Denmark.
Christensen, Janne W
  • Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, AU Viborg, Research Centre Foulum, Tjele, Denmark.
Jensen, Søren K
  • Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, AU Viborg, Research Centre Foulum, Tjele, Denmark.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / physiology
  • Horses / blood
  • Starch / administration & dosage
  • Starch / pharmacology
  • Starch / chemistry
  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Male
  • Fear
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fats / pharmacology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Physical Endurance / drug effects

Grant Funding

  • St. Hippolyt and the Toosbuy foundation
  • Aarhus Universitet

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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