Effects of two alfalfa preparations with different particle sizes on the gastric mucosa in weanlings: alfalfa chaff versus alfalfa pellets

Vondran, Sarah; Venner, Monica; Vervuert, Ingrid

doi:10.1186/s12917-016-0733-5

Cited by 23 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…Furthermore, feeding a coarse ground feed reduced mucosa lesions of the pars oesophagea in growing pigs (Millet et al 1990). In accordance to the results from Fedtke et al (2015) and the present findings, Vondran et al (2016) observed higher lesion scores at the pylorus in weanlings fed alfalfa chaff (91% of particles over 2 mm) than in weanlings fed alfalfa pellets (60 % of particles under 0.25 mm). In the study from Vondran et al (2016) the nutrient intake such as protein and calcium were similar between the different diets in the weanlings.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…The results of the recent study are in accordance to the results already seen in weanlings. Similar to the results obtained in weanlings (Fedtke et al 2015, Vondran et al 2016), adult horses under maintenance conditions fed alfalfa chaff showed numerical more and severe Mucosa lesion grades for the antrum before and after weaning for the different feeding protocols (white plots before feeding; black plots after feeding; grey plots after washout). Unlike letters indicate a significant difference with p<0.05.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…Conversely, feeding a coarse ground feed reduced mucosal lesions of the squamous mucosa in growing pigs (Millet et al 2012). Recently, we found significant higher lesion scores when feeding alfalfa chaff to weanlings, particularly at the pylorus than when feeding grass hay (Vondran et al 2016). As about 91% of the particles of the alfalfa chaff were sized over 2 mm, we hypothesized that the harsh, acanthous structure of alfalfa chaff may cause mechanical irritation at the pylorus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of alfalfa chaff on the gastric mucosa in adult horses

Vondran¹,

Venner²,

Coenen³

et al. 2017

PHK

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Summary: Feeding alfalfa hay is often recommended because of its buffering properties associated with substances, like protein and calcium, to prevent lesions. However, the particle size of the alfalfa preparations seems to have an influence on gastric mucosa in weanlings. We hypothesized that feeding alfalfa chaff with harsh particles would negatively impact glandular gastric mucosa in adult horses under maintenance conditions. The study was performed as a cross-over 2 × 2 Latin square design with 16-days washout intervals over 8 weeks. Six geldings (19 to 21 years of age) were kept in individual boxes (10.85 m 2 ). The horses were fed 1.5 kg per 100 kg BW of alfalfa chaff or grass hay, offered twice a day. Horses were subjected to a gastroscopy immediately before the feeding period (T= 0), after the first feeding period of 12 days (T =12), after the first washout period (T = 28), after the second feeding period of 12 days (T = 40) and after the second washout period (T = 56). When horses were fed alfalfa chaff the median score of the antrum raised from 0 to 2 (p = 0.07). And after the washout period the median score of the antrum decreased to 0.5 (p = 0.04). In conclusion feeding alfalfa chaff induced glandular mucosal lesions at the antrum. Lesions of the antrum induced by feeding alfalfa chaff seem to be reversible and to heal within 16 days. Keywords: alfalfa, particle size, gastric lesions, gastroscopy, EGGD, nutrition Citation: Vondran S., Venner M. , Coenen M., Vervuert I. (2017) Effects of alfalfa chaff on the gastric mucosa in adult horses. Pferdeheilkunde 33, 66-71;

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of alfalfa chaff on the gastric mucosa in adult horses

Vondran¹,

Venner²,

Coenen³

et al. 2017

PHK

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“…Mechanical injury due to alfalfa chaff was suspected as an initiator of gastric glandular lesions in young horses (Fedtke et al 2015). Vondran et al (2016) observed higher pyloric ulcer scores in weanlings during the weaning process after feeding more coarse alfalfa chaff compared to alfalfa pellets with a smaller particle size. Because both alfalfa preparations contained similar protein and calcium values, these authors also concluded that the harsh stem might cause mechanical injury (Vondran et al 2016).…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Previous studies concluded that alfalfa may be useful for control and prevention of squamous gastric ulcers (Nadeau et al 2000, Lybbert et al 2007, Vondran et al 2017). In contrast, alfalfa chaff has been shown to induce gastric mucosal lesions at the pylorus and/or antrum pyloricum in different age groups probably due to mechanical injury (Fedtke et al 2015, Vondran et al 2017) and particle size (Vondran et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Effects of feeding alfalfa hay in comparison to meadow hay on the gastric mucosa in adult Warmblood horses

Bäuerlein¹,

Sabban²,

Venner³

et al. 2020

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Effects of feeding alfalfa hay in comparison to meadow hay on the gastric mucosa in adult Warmblood horses V. Bäuerlein et al. Pferdeheilkunde -Equine MedicineSummary: Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a common health problem in horses and foals. Beside the importance of forage feeding for the gastric mucosa, results of studies targeting the specific effect of alfalfa on different gastric mucosal regions are controversial. The objectives of this study were to determine the influence of the two forage types (1) meadow hay and (2) alfalfa hay with similar fiber length on different gastric mucosal regions in order to further clarify the effect of alfalfa hay on the equine gastric mucosa. It was hypothesized that feeding alfalfa hay will impair mucosal integrity of the pylorus and antrum pyloricum but may be a benefit for the squamous regions. In a randomized blinded prospective study with a cross-over design, 10 healthy adult warmblood horses were separated randomly into two groups each with five horses. Both groups were fed with 2 kg/100 kg BW/animal/day alfalfa hay or meadow hay in two feeding periods each 21 days long. A wash out period of 21 days was conducted between the feeding periods. Before and after feeding periods body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), clinical health status, feces pH and particle size and gastroscopic findings were determined. Each region of the gastric mucosa was assessed and scored separately. Data such as BW, fecal pH and fecal particle size were analyzed for normal distribution by the Shapiro-Wilks test. BCS, gastroscopic findings and fecal pH were subjected to non-parametric statistical tests. Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and Wilcoxon test were performed to compare the findings in gastric mucosal scores, BCS and fecal pH. The relative change in BW and fecal particle size were analyzed by one-factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA). Data are presented as medians, 25th and 75th percentiles. Relative BW changes and fecal particle size are given as means ± standard deviation (SD). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Before starting the feeding trial, the prevalence of overall gastric mucosal lesions was 100 % with a median severity score of 1. After the feeding period, the median lesion score of the lesser curvature of the squamous region decreased significantly from a median of 1 to a median of 0 in the alfalfa group. The median score of 0 remained constant before and after feeding the meadow hay. Findings in the pyloric region did not differ significantly between the two feeding groups. We concluded that feeding alfalfa hay seems to have no detrimental effects on the mucosal integrity at the squamous gastric region in healthy adult horses. With respect to the glandular area, feeding alfalfa hay appears to be noncritical in healthy adult horses. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of feeding alfalfa hay in horses suffering from severe mucosal lesions at the antrum pyloricum or pylorus. Furthermore, the longer fecal particle size in horses fed alfalfa hay...

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Comparison of forages’ digestion levels for different in vitro digestion techniques in horses

Kara,

Altınsoy

2024

Veterinary Medicine & Sci

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BackgroundForages are widely used in horse diets. Different in vitro techniques are being tried to determine the fermentation levels of forages in the horse digestive tract.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the digestion levels of four dry forages commonly used in horse nutrition: alfalfa herbage, meadow hay, wheat straw, and Italian ryegrass. In vitro total digestion (TDT), in vitro Sunvold–large intestine digestion (SDT) and in vitro Menke–large intestine digestion (MDT) techniques were compared.MethodsThe study determined in vitro true dry matter digestion (T‐DMD), in vitro true organic matter digestion (T‐OMD) and in vitro true neutral detergent fibre digestion (T‐NDFD). Additionally, concentrations of straight short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs; acetic acid – AA, propionic acid , butyric acid, and valeric acid ) and branched short‐chain fatty acids (BSCFA) were assessed.ResultsThe highest in vitro T‐DMD, T‐OMD and T‐NDFD values were determined by the in vitro TDT for the four forages (p < 0.05). In vitro T‐DMD and T‐OMD values of alfalfa herbage were higher than those of Italian ryegrass, meadow hay and wheat straw in the in vitro TDT (p < 0.001). In addition, in vitro T‐DMD and T‐OMD values of alfalfa herbage in the in vitro SDT were higher than those of meadow hay and wheat straw (p < 0.001). In the in vitro TDT, the molarity of AA, total SCFA and BSCFA in the digestion fluid of alfalfa herbage was higher than those of other forages (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe in vitro total enzymatic + fermentative digestion technique for horse forages revealed higher values than the in vitro fermentative digestion techniques. In general, the higher the non‐structural carbohydrate and crude protein contents in the forage, the higher the results of the in vitro TDT compared to the other techniques.

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Effects of two alfalfa preparations with different particle sizes on the gastric mucosa in weanlings: alfalfa chaff versus alfalfa pellets

Cited by 23 publications

References 20 publications

Effects of alfalfa chaff on the gastric mucosa in adult horses

Effects of alfalfa chaff on the gastric mucosa in adult horses

Effects of feeding alfalfa hay in comparison to meadow hay on the gastric mucosa in adult Warmblood horses

Comparison of forages’ digestion levels for different in vitro digestion techniques in horses

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