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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / Total mixed ration enhances nutrient digestibility, blood bi...
BMC veterinary research2025; 21(1); 483; doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04937-z

Total mixed ration enhances nutrient digestibility, blood biochemical parameters and faecal microbial diversity in horses.

Abstract: Total Mixed Ration (TMR) is recognized for its balanced nutritional composition, improved feed efficiency, enhanced animal production, and stabilization of the gastrointestinal microbiome. It has been extensively implemented in intensive ruminant farming, particularly for cattle and sheep, with demonstrated positive outcomes. However, its effects on the nutritional health of non-ruminant herbivores, such as horses, remain insufficiently investigated. This study aims to evaluate the comparative effects of TMR feeding versus conventional feeding practices in Akhal-Teke horses while maintaining identical dietary compositions and nutritional levels. By analyzing body weight, growth in body measurements, nutrient metabolism, and faecal microbiome diversity, the study aims to determine the potential advantages of TMR feeding for monogastric herbivores. Compared The TMR group (S) demonstrated a significant increase in total weight gain and average daily weight gain, surpassing the control group (C) by 47.53% ( < 0.05) and 48.28% ( < 0.05), respectively. Moreover, the S group showed substantial improvements in DM (Dry Matter ), DE (Digestible Energy), CP (Crude Protein), ADF (Acid Detergent Fiber), and P (Phosphorus), with increases of 8.27% ( < 0.01), 11.97% ( < 0.01), 14.30% ( < 0.01), 39.52% ( < 0.01), and 38.35% ( < 0.01), respectively, compared to the C group. No significant differences were observed in serum parameters, including TP (Total Protein), ALB (Albumin), Cre (Creatinine), UA (Uric Acid), UREA (Urea), Glu (Glucose), T-Bil (Total Bilirubin), D-Bil (Direct Bilirubin), TC (Total Cholesterol), ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase), AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase), AST/ALT, ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase), CK (Creatine Kinase), Ca (Calcium), Mg (Magnesium), and Inorganic Phosphorus ( > 0.05). However, UREA was significantly reduced by 14.90% ( < 0.01). While faecal pH and VFA were unaffected ( > 0.05), the abundance of Spirochaetota, , , and was significantly elevated ( < 0.05). However, abundance was significantly reduced ( < 0.05). In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, TMR feeding notably improved body weight, nutrient digestibility, gut microbiota composition, and fiber degradation in Akhal-Teke horses when compared to traditional feeding methods.
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Publication Date: 2025-07-23 PubMed ID: 40696370PubMed Central: PMC12285169DOI: 10.1186/s12917-025-04937-zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research focuses on how Total Mixed Ration (TMR) feeding, compared to conventional methods, positively impacts nutrient digestion, blood parameters, and fecal microbiome diversity in horses.

About TMR

  • TMR or Total Mixed Ration is a feeding method prevalent in intensive farming for ruminant animals like cattle and sheep.
  • It has numerous benefits such as balanced nutritional composition, increased feed efficiency, and ensured overall animal production.
  • Another significant advantage is the stabilization of the gastrointestinal microbiome, which is the diverse community of microorganisms in the animal’s digestive tract.

Research Aim and Methodology

  • The research aimed to evaluate how TMR impacts non-ruminant herbivores’ nutritional health, focusing specifically on horses.
  • By comparing conventional feeding practices with TMR within the same diet composition and nutritional levels, the study made observations on body weight changes, nutrient metabolism, and fecal microbiome diversity.

Results from the TMR Feeding

  • The horses that were part of the TMR group showed a significant increase in total weight gain and average daily weight gain by 47.53% and 48.28% respectively, compared to the control group.
  • The TMR group also exhibited significant improvements in several nutritional parameters like dry matter, digestible energy, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, and phosphorus.
  • However, no significant difference occurred in serum parameters such as total protein, albumin, creatinine, and other biochemically relevant markers.
  • Interestingly, a significant reduction of 14.90% was noticed in urea levels in the TMR group.
  • While faecal pH and Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) remained the same for both groups, an increased abundance of a few specific bacterial families was observed in the TMR group.

The research concluded that under TMR, horses showed marked improvements in body weight, nutrient digestibility, and gut microbiota composition, when compared to traditional feeding practices. This method also improved fiber degradation in these horses. Overall, the study suggests the possible benefits of implementing TMR in the dietary regiment of horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Jing H, Liu P, Zheng S, Cao K, Li X. (2025). Total mixed ration enhances nutrient digestibility, blood biochemical parameters and faecal microbial diversity in horses. BMC Vet Res, 21(1), 483. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04937-z

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 21
Issue: 1
Pages: 483
PII: 483

Researcher Affiliations

Jing, Hongxin
  • Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk Production, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Xinjiang Agricultural University, 830052, Xinjiang Urumqi, China.
Liu, Pengshun
  • Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk Production, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Xinjiang Agricultural University, 830052, Xinjiang Urumqi, China.
Zheng, Shengchen
  • Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk Production, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Xinjiang Agricultural University, 830052, Xinjiang Urumqi, China.
Cao, Ketao
  • Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk Production, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Xinjiang Agricultural University, 830052, Xinjiang Urumqi, China.
Li, Xiaobin
  • Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk Production, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Xinjiang Agricultural University, 830052, Xinjiang Urumqi, China. 172387243@qq.com.

Grant Funding

  • 2022A02013-2-3 / Major Science and Technology Special Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
  • 2022A02013-2-3 / Major Science and Technology Special Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
  • 2022A02013-2-3 / Major Science and Technology Special Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
  • 2022A02013-2-3 / Major Science and Technology Special Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
  • 2022A02013-2-3 / Major Science and Technology Special Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All protocols were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Xinjiang Agricultural University (permission number 2018012). Informed consent - Owners gave informed consent for their animals’ inclusion in the study. All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations for the use of animal subjects. The study was carried out in compliance with the ARRIVE guidelines. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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