Changes in cecal environment and forage intake of horses fed increasing amounts of starch

Ochonski, P.; Douthit, Teresa L.; Drouillard, James S.; Vahl, Christopher I.; Lattimer, James M

doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2019.03.081

Cited by 1 publication

(5 citation statements)

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“…Treatments in the current trial were fed at a rate of 0.25% BW, with the M treatment providing on average 0.92 g starch·kg BW ‐1 ·meal ‐1 and caecal pH ranged from 6.81 to 7.37. These values are similar to those reported by Ochonski et al 17 where average daily caecal pH for horses consuming 0.5 and 1.0 g starch·kg BW ‐1 ·meal ‐1 were 7.04 and 6.85 respectively. Limited changes in caecal acetate and propionate concentrations indicate that majority of M was digested precaecally.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Regardless of treatment or hour, caecal pH remained well within normal limits 18,19 . Consistent with previous work, pH nadir occurred 4 to 8 h following meal consumption for all treatments, 14,16,17 corresponding to typical transit time of digesta 20 . Presumably, after the majority of digesta was fermented in the caecum, caecal pH began to increase and stabilises by h 12 post‐prandially.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Researchers in our laboratory have observed depressed caecal pH and increased VFA concentration in horses consuming 2.0 g starch·kg BW ‐1 ·meal ‐1 . Feeding ≥ 2.0 g starch·kg BW ‐1 ·meal ‐1 resulted in impaired production of VFAs 17 . Treatments in the current trial were fed at a rate of 0.25% BW, with the M treatment providing on average 0.92 g starch·kg BW ‐1 ·meal ‐1 and caecal pH ranged from 6.81 to 7.37.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At least 50 mL of digesta was collected from each horse by removing the cannula plug and allowing digesta to flow into a sample cup (Specimen Storage Containers, #14955117A, Dairy One). Digesta was immediately analysed for pH using a portable pH probe (Thermo Scientific TM Orion Star TM A121 Portable pH Meter, Dairy One) then strained through 4 layers of cheesecloth, as previously validated in our laboratory 7,14‐17 . One millilitre of caecal fluid was then transferred in quadruplicate into microcentrifuge tubes and mixed with 0.25 mL 25% meta‐phosphoric acid for deproteinisation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Methods for analysis of VFA in caecal fluid follow protocols previously established in our laboratory 7,14‐17 . Aliquots of caecal fluid were thawed and centrifuged at 20,000 x g for 20 min.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Caecal fermentation characteristics of commonly used feed ingredients

Ochonski

Drouillard

Douthit

et al. 2020

Equine Veterinary Journal

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Background Commercial horse feeds use cereal grains and by‐products; however, their effects on the caecal environment remain poorly characterised. Objective Characterise the effect of commonly used feed ingredients on caecal pH and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration. Study design 6 × 6 Latin square. Methods Two days prior to the start of the study, 6 caecally cannulated Quarter horses were moved into individual stalls where Smooth bromegrass hay (brome) was offered at 2.0% BW/d split between 2 feedings (0600 and 1800). On day 0, caecal digesta was collected every 2 h for 12 h relative to the 0600 feeding to establish control values for horses consuming only brome (HAY). On day 1, horses began consuming their respective treatments which consisted of beet pulp (BP), maize (M), dehydrated alfalfa (A), oats (OAT), soybean hulls (SBH), or wheat middlings (WM) at 0.25% BW/d split into 2 feedings. On day 7 of each treatment period, caecal digesta was collected every 2 h for 12 h and analysed for pH and VFA. Data were analysed using mixed ANOVA with repeated measures, fixed effects of treatment and time and random effects of horse and period. Results There was a main effect of hour (P ≤ .05) indicative of post‐prandial shifts in caecal metabolites. There were no main effects of treatment on pH or VFA concentration (P ≥ .3). Effects of hour × treatment (P ≤ .04) were observed for all response variables. Regardless of treatment or hour, caecal pH remained well within normal limits. Three horses exhibited signs of lower oesophageal choke immediately after consumption of BP pellets. Limitations Interactions between ingredients when mixed for formulation of a concentrate warrant further research. Furthermore, a short adaptation period was chosen to mimic common management practices. Conclusion Minimal differences in caecal fermentation parameters were detected when ingredients were fed at a common inclusion level.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%