Summary: Equine gastric mucosal ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a well-known disease entity in equine medicine. Many studies have evaluated this disorder, by investigating prevalence, etiology and treatment. The effect of feeding different roughage-based diets to weanling foals has not been examined to date. In this study, 89 weanlings aged between 172 -174 days were randomly allocated to two feeding trials. Trial 1 consisted of three groups: Group 1 alfalfa chaff (group 1), hay (Group 2) and Group 3: a total mixed ration (TMR). There were 20 foals in each group. Trial 2 consisted of two groups: Group 4: molassed alfalfa chaff and Group 5: hay. There were 19 foals in each group. Gastroscopic examination was performed immediately before weaning and after a feeding period of 15 -16 days. In the first part of the study (or trial 1) the prevalence of gastric mucosal lesion was 44 % with a low severity score (median 0; 25/75 % percentile: 0/0) before weaning. There was a significant increase in the number of lesions in the Pars nonglandularis of the Curvatura minor in all groups of trial 1 post weaning. The group 1 (alfalfa chaff) exhibited significantly more mucosal lesions at the pylorus compared to group 2 (hay) and 3 (TMR). Significant healing of gastric ulcers was seen in the hay and TMR group. Results of the second part of the study (trial 2) indicated a prevalence of 86 % before weaning increasing to 97 % after the feeding period. There was an increase in the number of lesions at the Curvatura major and minor of both Pars nonglandularis and Pars glandularis in both groups (hay and alfalfa chaff). A significantly higher number of lesions at the pylorus were seen in the molassed alfalfa chaff group only. Despite the high number and severity score of the lesions none of the weanlings showed clinical signs associated with a gastric disorder.Keywords: EGUS / feeding / alfalfa chaff / weaning / foal / nutrition Citation: Fedtke A., Pfaff M., Volquardsen J., Venner M., Vervuert I. (2015) Effects of feeding different roughage-based diets on gastric mucosa after weaning in warmblood foals. Pferdeheilkunde 31, 596-602

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Summary: Weaning can be a stressful period in foal's life resulting in increased prevalence of gastric ulcers which may lead to impaired rearing performance and economical losses. Beside medical treatment and optimizing housing and feeding conditions, dietary supplements have been proposed to reduce gastric mucosal lesions. Sixty-one warmblood weanlings from one stud farm, aged between 6 and 8 months were included in the study. During the experimental period, all foals were fed a total mixed ration (TMR) and hay ad libitum. After weaning, all foals were randomly and blindly allocated to one of three supplementation groups: group 1, control foals with no supplements; group 2, supplemented with MgO; and group 3, supplemented with a fermented preparation of herbs. Gastroscopy was performed prior to weaning and again after 16 days of feeding. Before weaning, the prevalence of gastric mucosal lesions was 82 % mainly found in the Curvatura minor of the Pars nonglandularis. After weaning, the prevalence was 96.7 %. The Antrum pyloricum and the Curvatura minor of the Pars nonglandularis showed a significant increase in gastric mucosa lesions after weaning in all groups. In both treatment groups, weaning resulted in a significantly higher lesion score in the Pars nonglandularis of the Curvatura major and on the pylorus and did not reduce the gastric lesion scores.

Summary: Horses that are in good health sometimes reveal in routine blood screenings increased serum activities of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), glutamate-dehydrogenase (GLDH) as well as aspartate-aminotransferase (AST) without any corresponding clinical signs. For that reason, the aim of this study was to assess physiological changes of standard serum liver parameters in a population of normal warmblood horses in training over a period of 24 months. The study was conducted between March 2012 and February 2014. The study population consisted of 14 clinically healthy warmblood horses that were used as police horses. Body weight, body condition score and nutrition history were assessed monthly. The nutrient supply was calculated by ration formulation. Throughout the study feed samples of hay, straw, oats and complementary feeds were obtained on a monthly basis as well as blood samples (n = 334). A complete blood count was performed. The clinical chemistry panel consisted of serum hepatic enzyme activity evaluation including GGT, GLDH, AST as well as the analysis of total bilirubin, bile acids, total protein and albumin. The median hematological parameter as the median serum concentrations of bilirubin, bile acids, total protein and albumin were within the upper reference ranges. In certain months the median activities of AST, GGT and GLDH exceeded the upper reference limits. Furthermore, significant seasonal fluctuations (p < 0.05) of bile acids, AST, GGT and GLDH were assessed.