The In Vitro Digestion and Fermentation Characteristics of Feedstuffs Inoculated With Cecal or Colic Fluid of Dezhou Donkey.

This study examines how six different types of feed commonly used in large donkey farms in China are digested and fermented when mixed with bacteria found in the guts of donkeys. It was found that wheat bran had the highest nutritional value compared to the other feeds studied, although more research is needed on this subject.

Dry Matter Disappearance and Fermentation Characteristics

• In this study, the researchers measured the in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) of six types of fibrous feed used in Chinese donkey farms. These were corn straw, wheat straw, peanut vine, peanut shell, wheat shell and wheat bran.
• The measurement of IVDMD gives an indication of how effectively the feed can be digested by the donkey’s gut bacteria, with a higher IVDMD suggesting a higher nutritional value.
• After a fermentation period of 48 hours, wheat bran was found to have the highest IVDMD, making it potentially the most nutritious feed on this measure. The least nutritious was the peanut shell.

Nutrient Correlations

• The IVDMD was found to have a positive correlation with the organic matter content, crude protein content and ether extract content of the feed. This suggests that feeds higher in these nutrients would be better digested by the donkeys’ gut bacteria, leading to a higher nutritional value.
• However, IVDMD had a negative correlation with the content of neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre. This indicates that feeds with higher levels of these substances might be less efficiently broken down and therefore less nutritious.

Volatile Fatty Acid Production

• The researchers also measured the production of volatile fatty acids, which are a byproduct of bacterial fermentation and a key source of energy for the donkey.
• Again, wheat bran showed the greatest net volatile fatty acid production, reinforcing its potential as the most nutritious feed tested.
• It was observed that certain volatile fatty acids like acetate and branched-chain volatile fatty acids were produced at higher levels in the gut bacteria from the donkey’s colon, while propionate production was higher in the bacteria from the caecum. This indicates that the composition of the gut bacteria and their location in the donkey’s digestive tract may affect the production of these important nutrients.

Summary & Future Research

• In summary, this study found that wheat bran had the highest nutritive value, as measured by in vitro dry matter disappearance and volatile fatty acid production. This suggests that it may be the most effective feed for donkeys, but additional research needs to be done in order to confirm these findings and further investigate the effects of these feeds on hindgut fermentation and nutrient digestibility.