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Veterinary sciences2022; 9(5); doi: 10.3390/vetsci9050226

The Hygienic Status of Different Forage Types for Horses-A Retrospective Study on Influencing Factors and Associations with Anamnestic Reports.

Abstract: The hygienic quality of forage for horses is discussed as a potential health hazard, especially regarding respiratory diseases, colic, and hepatopathies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relations between microbiological counts, as well as endotoxin levels and disease symptoms. Data from microbiological examination reports were analyzed retrospectively, including the results of sensory examination, microbiological counts, and lipopolysaccharide contents. Sensory analysis gave an indication of deficiencies in microbiological analysis, but both methods did not give consistently equivalent results regarding the hygienic status of forage. The strongest agreements between sensory and microbiological findings were demonstrated in haylage regarding mold contamination. The influences of dry matter content on microbiological quality could be shown in haylage and hay, whereas this did not apply to straw. Deviations regarding molds and the detection of Aspergillus species occurred, especially in haylage, with values above 70% DM detected (39.6%, p=0.0021 and 47.2%, p = 0.0393). Aspergillus was detected more frequently, and average counts were higher in samples that were suspected to induce coughing in horses (p = 0.0118 and p = 0.0313, respectively). The results of the present study emphasize the importance of feed hygiene for equine respiratory health and the need for the microbiological examination of feedstuffs, since sensory analysis cannot provide an error-free prediction of microbial counts.
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Publication Date: 2022-05-06 PubMed ID: 35622753PubMed Central: PMC9143553DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9050226Google 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.

The research focuses on the potential health risks posed by the hygienic quality of forage for horses, particularly looking at the possible links between the presence of microbes and toxins and symptoms of illness. The study used findings from the sensory examination, microbial counts, and toxin levels of forage to establish these links.

Research Objectives

  • The research aimed to investigate any potential links between the microbiological counts and endotoxin levels detected in horse feed and symptoms of diseases in horses.
  • The sensory analysis of the feed was conducted to identify deficiencies in the microbiological analysis.
  • The researchers sought to compare the results provided by the sensory analysis and microbiological analysis to check for consistency in indicating the hygienic state of the feed.

Key Findings

  • The most significant alignment between results from sensory and microbiological findings was displayed in haylage regarding mold contamination.
  • The dry matter content of the feed was found to influence its microbiological quality in haylage and hay, but not in straw.
  • In haylage, especially when their dry matter content was above 70%, there were specific deviations regarding molds and species detection, indicating higher microbial contamination.
  • The presence of a specific mold species (not mentioned in the summary) was linked to instances of coughing in horses, shedding light on the importance of feed hygiene on equine respiratory health.

Implications

  • The findings of this research emphasize the need for the consistent microbiological examination of feedstuffs for horses.
  • The research shows that sensory analysis alone cannot accurately predict microbial counts, indicating a potential gap in current methods of feed analysis.
  • Understanding the links between the microbiological quality of forage and equine health can significantly impact how feed is managed and prepared for horse health and performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Intemann S, Reckels B, Schubert D, Wolf P, Kamphues J, Visscher C. (2022). The Hygienic Status of Different Forage Types for Horses-A Retrospective Study on Influencing Factors and Associations with Anamnestic Reports. Vet Sci, 9(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9050226

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 5

Researcher Affiliations

Intemann, Sandra
  • Institute for Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hanover, Germany.
Reckels, Bernd
  • Institute for Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hanover, Germany.
Schubert, Dana
  • Institute for Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hanover, Germany.
Wolf, Petra
  • Institute for Nutrition Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg-6, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
Kamphues, Josef
  • Institute for Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hanover, Germany.
Visscher, Christian
  • Institute for Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hanover, Germany.

Grant Funding

  • LE 824/10-1 / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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  4. Pisch C, Wensch-Dorendorf M, Schwarzenbolz U, Henle T, Greef JM, Zeyner A. Effect of Hay Steaming on the Estimated Precaecal Digestibility of Crude Protein and Selected Amino Acids in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 10;12(22).
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  5. Intemann S, Reckels B, Schubert DC, Wolf P, Kamphues J, Visscher C. The Microbiological Quality of Concentrates for Horses-A Retrospective Study on Influencing Factors and Associations with Clinical Symptoms Reported by Owners or Referring Vets. Vet Sci 2022 Aug 5;9(8).
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