Effect of three different forage-based diets on microbial flora, pH and viscosity of the equine hindgut

S. Muhonen; F.C. Wartena; A. Wesker; V. Julliand

Effect of three different forage-based diets on microbial flora, pH and viscosity of the equine hindgut

In: The impact of nutrition on the health and welfare of horses

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S. Muhonen

S. Muhonen ¹AgroSup Dijon, 26 Bd Dr Petitjean, BP87999, 21079 Dijon, France

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F.C. Wartena

F.C. Wartena ²Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands

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A. Wesker

A. Wesker ²Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands

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V. Julliand

V. Julliand ¹AgroSup Dijon, 26 Bd Dr Petitjean, BP87999, 21079 Dijon, France

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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 196–198

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-711-0_035

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The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of feeding various forage based diets differing in fibre composition on the microbial flora, digesta pH and digesta viscosity of the equine caecum, colon and faeces. Five geldings, fistulated in the caecum and right ventral colon, were randomised on three iso-energetic (13 MJ ME/100 kg BW and day) and iso-proteinaceous diets: (1) early harvested:late harvested grass haylage (80:20 ratio) (+small amount soybean meal) (diet G), (2) lucerne:late harvested grass haylage (80:20 ratio) (diet L) and 3) the more conventional diet of late harvested grass haylage:concentrate (oats, soybean meal) (65:35 ratio) (diet C) in a Latin-square design. Samples for microbial culturing, volatile fatty acids and pH measurements were taken from the caecum, colon and rectum after three weeks on each diet. Viscosity was measured on centrifuged caecal and colon fluid. Analysis of variance was performed. Total anaerobic and cellulolytic bacteria did not differ between diets. However, there was an effect of diet for pectinolytic (P=0.022) and xylanolytic (P=0.011) bacteria that had lower counts on diet G than diet C in both the caecum and colon. Lactate-utilizing bacteria were consistently higher (P=0.007) on diet C, which may be expected as this diet contained more starch, but amylolytic bacteria did not differ. The VFA ratio ((acetate+butyrate)/propionate) was lower on diet C compared to diet L (P=0.005) in the caecum and it was lower for diet C compared to diet L (P=0.013) and diet G (P=0.018) in the colon. Faecal pH was higher (P=0.012) on diet L. Viscosity did not differ between diets, but the colon data for one horse were very different from the other four horses which requires further investigation. In conclusion, the microbial flora in the equine hindgut was altered when feeding diets differing in fibre composition and maturity.

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The impact of nutrition on the health and welfare of horses

Series: EAAP Scientific Series, Volume: 128

E-Book ISBN:: 9789086867110

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 30 Oct 2010

Subjects
- Life Sciences
  - General
  - Animal & Veterinary

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Effect of three different forage-based diets on microbial flora, pH and viscosity of the equine hindgut

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The impact of nutrition on the health and welfare of horses

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