The apparent digestibilities and rates of passage of two chop lengths of big bale silage and hay in ponies

Abstract

A wide range of roughage foodstuffs is available for feeding to horses. Considerable variation exists in the quality of these feeds in terms of nutrient composition and freedom from dust, fungal and bacterial contamination and infestation by mites. Many horse-owners are now feeding forages such as haylage and baled silage to horses as opposed to hay. However, limited information is available regarding the effect of chop length on digestibility and thus the feeding value of chopped or long-cut silage to horses. More information on fodder type and preparation could help to provide the basis for improvements in the practical guidelines and recommendations for those involved with the production and feeding of forages to horses.

Passage rate of digesta through the equine gastrointestinal tract: A review

“…When different chopped length of big bale silage (29.5 cm and 6.8 cm) were compared, the shortest MRT was associated with the shortest fibre length (Morrow et al, 1999;MooreColyer et al, 2003). Yet, no difference was found between 18 cm and 5.3 cm of ryegrass/timothy hay on digestibility or MRT (measured by YbCl 3 d 6 H 2 O, hence solid phase) in the same studies.…”

Comportamento e preferência alimentar de éguas da raça Mangalarga Marchador alimentadas com silagens de milho, sorgo e hermártria

“…O consumo diário de silagem (% massa corporal em matéria seca) foi de 1,74%, 1,90% e 3,06% para os animais alimentados com silagem de milho, sorgo e hemártria, respectivamente. Os valores encontrados para as silagens de milho e de sorgo estiveram muito próximos dos encontrados por Morrow et al (1999), Moore-Colyer e Longland (2000) e Bergero et al (2002), os quais avaliaram o consumo de silagens de gramíneas forrageiras por pôneis, e obtiveram valores entre 1,47% e 2,2%. Em revisão apresentada pelo National Research Council -NRC (2007), observa-se que a silagem de milho apresenta menor consumo voluntário, comparativamente a alguns tipos de silagens e de fenos.…”