A high-starch vs. high-fibre diet: effects on the gut environment of the different intestinal compartments of the horse digestive tract

Raspa, Federica; Vervuert, Ingrid; Capucchio, Maria Teresa; Colombino, Elena; Bergero, Domenico; Forte, Claudio; Greppi, Martina; Cavallarin, Laura; Giribaldi, Marzia; Antoniazzi, Sara; Cavallini, Damiano; Valvassori, Ermenegildo; Valle, Emanuela

doi:10.1186/s12917-022-03289-2

Cited by 31 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…However, the VFA ratio, which is a relevant marker of fibrolytic activity [ 16 ], was about 3.473 in the presented study, which is near the normal value in the hindgut of horses fed a high-fiber diet (4.3 to 6.0) [ 16 ]. The VFA ratio correlates positively with C5 ( p = 0.04, r = 0.61), which is in opposition to the results of Raspa et al, where a low level of valeric acid was associated with a fiber-rich diet [ 41 ]. However, in the presented study, the C5 value was very low in all horses.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 82%

Homeostasis of the Intestinal Mucosa in Healthy Horses—Correlation between the Fecal Microbiome, Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Fecal Egg Count

Żak

Bajzert

Sambor

et al. 2022

Animals

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The defensive function of the intestinal mucosa depends both on the ability to secrete immunoglobulin A and communication with the mucus microbiome. In horses, the functioning of this system is also influenced by the presence of nematode eggs. Feces collected from healthy horses were examined to determine the fecal egg count, immunoglobulin A level (ELISA), microbiome composition (Next-Generation Sequencing, NGS, V3–V4 and V7–V9 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene analysis and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production ((high-performance liquid chromatography, HPLC). In the taxonomic analysis within the phylum, the following order of dominance was found: Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Verrucomicrobiota and Fibrobacterota. The coefficient of phylogenetic diversity of the microbiome positively correlated with both secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) [μg/g of feces] (p = 0.0354, r = 0.61) and SIgA [μg/mg of fecal protein] (p = 0.0382, r = 0.6) and with the number of Cyathostomum eggs (p = 0.0023, r = 0.79). Important components of the key microbiome in horses, such as phylum Proteobacteria and species Ruminococcus flavefaciens, were positively correlated with the fecal SIgA (p < 0.05). All the obtained results indicate the existence of significant relationships between the host response (SIgA production) and composition and SCFA production in the microbiome as well as the presence of small strongyles in the digestive tract of horses.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 82%

Homeostasis of the Intestinal Mucosa in Healthy Horses—Correlation between the Fecal Microbiome, Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Fecal Egg Count

Żak

Bajzert

Sambor

et al. 2022

Animals

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“…This could indicate that findings in other species (e.g. poultry and piglets) may not be translated directly to the equine species, as this specific hindgut fermenter’s gastrointestinal tract shows unique characteristics [ 21 ]. Moreover, Vh/Cd was greater in the jejunum of colts ( P = 0.037) and Cd depended on the interaction sex and diet, being greater in HS males ( P = 0.029).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gut health of horses: effects of high fibre vs high starch diet on histological and morphometrical parameters

et al. 2022

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Background The conventional feeding management of horses is still characterized by high starch and low fibre diets, which can negatively affect horse’s gastrointestinal health. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of a high-starch (HS) vs. a high-fibre (HF) diet on gut health in horses. A total of 19 Bardigiano horses destined for slaughter and aged 14.3 ± 0.7 months were randomly allotted to two dietary groups: HS (5 fillies and 4 colts,) and HF group (7 fillies and 3 colts). They received the same first-cut meadow hay but different complementary feeds for 72 days: HS group was fed 8 kg/animal/day of a starch-rich complementary feed while HF group was fed 3.5 kg/animal/day of a fibre‐rich complementary feed. At slaughter, stomachs were separated and washed for the evaluation of the glandular and squamous regions. Also, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, apex of the caecum, sternal flexure, pelvic flexure, right dorsal colon, rectum and liver were excised and submitted to histomorphometrical evaluation. Results The glandular region of HS group presented more severe gastric mucosa lesions compared to the HF group (P = 0.006). Moreover, a statistical tendency (P = 0.060) was found for the squamous region, presenting a higher score in HS than HF diet. Regarding morphometry, in jejunum villus height to crypt depth (Cd) ratio was influenced by sex, being greater in males than in females (P = 0.037) while in ileum Cd depended on interaction between sex and diet, being greater in males of HS group (P = 0.029). Moreover, in the duodenum and right dorsal colon the severity of the inflammation depended on sex (P = 0.024 and 0.050), being greater in females than in males. On the contrary, in the jejunum and in the pelvic flexure, inflammation was influenced by diet, being more severe in HS than in HF group (P = 0.024 and 0.052). Conclusions These results suggested that HS diet provoked more severe mucosa lesions in the glandular region of the stomach and a higher inflammation both in the jejunum and pelvic flexure. The present study can represent a starting point for further investigations on gut health in horses.

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“…It is well known that a diet based on high amounts of concentrates causes important changes in the gastrointestinal environment of the horse, and represents a risk factor for the onset of gastric ulcerations [ 24 ] and colic [ 7 ]. Among the induced changes, the increased production of total volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and specifically that of valeric acid caused by a high starch diet, has been shown to reduce mucosal integrity, leading to inflammation processes in the stomach [ 39 , 40 ], small intestine, and hindgut [ 7 , 41 ]. Moreover, the intensive management condition—i.e., the high stocking density (m 2 /horse), the feeding management based on a starch-rich diet, and the lack of opportunity for free movement—causes stress, a known risk factor for gastric ulceration as well as for the onset of stereotypic behaviours in horses [ 42 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Feeding Management Make a Difference to Behavioural Activities and Welfare of Horses Reared for Meat Production?

Raspa

Tarantola

Muca

et al. 2022

Animals

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Horses reared for meat production are generally fed a diet rich in starch with the aim of maximizing production performances. This study evaluated the effects of two feeding management systems on horse welfare by analysing the relative time spent engaged in different behavioural activities. Nineteen Bardigiano horses aged 14.3 ± 0.7 months were randomly assigned to one of two group pens: one group was fed high amounts of starch-rich concentrates (HCG; n = 10), the other was fed a fibre-based diet (HFG; n = 9). Behavioural activities performed by each horse were video-recorded over a 96-h period. A scan sampling process (n = 144 scans/horse/day; total n of scans sampled = 10,368) was used, and the scans were analysed according to a specific ethogram. The mean frequency (%/24 h) spent exhibiting each behavioural activity was calculated to obtain the time budget. After checking for normality (Shapiro–Wilk test), Student’s t tests (normally distributed data) and Mann–Whitney tests (not normally distributed data) were used to compare the time budgets of the two groups of horses (HCG vs. HFG). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to identify the components explaining the variability in behavioural activities between the two groups. K-means cluster analysis subsequently confirmed the PCA results. The behavioural activities associated with feeding horses a fibre-based diet correlated with better horse welfare compared with feeding horses a starch-based diet. Feeding horses a fibre-based diet resulted advantageous from both the welfare and economic perspective; it allowed horses to spend more time expressing feeding behaviours and reduced energy expenditure in the form of excitable, or “fizzy”, behaviours.

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A high-starch vs. high-fibre diet: effects on the gut environment of the different intestinal compartments of the horse digestive tract

Cited by 31 publications

References 44 publications

Homeostasis of the Intestinal Mucosa in Healthy Horses—Correlation between the Fecal Microbiome, Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Fecal Egg Count

Homeostasis of the Intestinal Mucosa in Healthy Horses—Correlation between the Fecal Microbiome, Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Fecal Egg Count

Gut health of horses: effects of high fibre vs high starch diet on histological and morphometrical parameters

Does Feeding Management Make a Difference to Behavioural Activities and Welfare of Horses Reared for Meat Production?

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