Voluntary intake and digestibility of teff hay fed to horses1

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate nutrient composition, voluntary DMI, and apparent DM digestibility of teff hay cut at 3 different stages of maturity to evaluate its potential as a preserved forage for horses. Six mature Quarter Horse mares (12 +/- 3 yr; 553 +/- 39 kg of BW) were used in a replicated balanced Latin square design with 3 periods and 3 maturities of teff hay. Eragrostis tef ('Tiffany' teff) was planted in May and harvested at the boot, early-heading, or late-heading stage of maturity through the summer. Horses were acclimated to a mixture of maturities of teff hay for 8 d before the beginning of the study. After this acclimation period, each period consisted of a 9-d voluntary DMI phase, followed by a 3-d DM digestibility phase. The percentages of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) increased from 5.4% in the boot stage to 8.4% in the late-heading stage, whereas concentrations of CP, K, Fe, and Mn decreased. The Ca:P ratio was 2.0 ± 0.3 for all maturities. Horses had less DMI of late-heading teff hay (1.5% BW) than teff hay of other maturities (1.8% BW; P < 0.05), indicating a preference for the earlier maturities. The intake and nutrient composition of the boot and early-heading maturities was sufficient to meet 90 to 97% of the average DE of the horses and most other nutrient requirements. Digestibility decreased from boot to late-heading teff hay for DM, CP, ADF, and NDF (P < 0.05). Digestibility increased from boot to early-heading to late-heading hay for nonfiber carbohydrates and water-soluble carbohydrates (P < 0.05). For all maturities of teff hay, the NSC intake was below 10% of the total intake. In conclusion, the low NSC and DE of teff hay grown in central Pennsylvania under the conditions in this study make it an appropriate forage source for obese horses and those at risk for laminitis or other metabolic disorders.

Irrigation and Nitrogen Treatments Slightly Affected Teff Yield and Quality in the Southwestern USA

“…Forage nutritive value. Teff crude protein (CP) in this study (Table 3) was consistent with that measured elsewhere (4,6,9,18,19), but greater than that reported by McCown et al (15) and more than sufficient to meet the requirement for maintenance of mature horses when fed a dry matter intake (DMI) of 1.5 to 2.0% of body weight (BW) per day (17). The main effect of irrigation level did not impact CP at any time ( data not shown ) and nitrogen treatment had no effect in the first cutting (Table 3).…”

“…Timing of the first harvest was based on the initiation of heading by the teff, which has been identified as a preferred stage of maturity by horses (19) and had been approximately 50 to 60 days after planting (DAP) in other studies, with subsequent harvests taken at 30‐ to 35‐day intervals (7,9,18). Standing forage of each entire plot (4.67 × 20 ft) was harvested 16 August, 18 September, and 22 October 2007 and 13 August, 15 September, and 20 October 2008 using a John Deere Model 10 forage chopper, leaving 3‐inch stubble (16,18).…”

“…Forage quality of teff harvested at late boot to early heading was similar to full bloom alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.), making it acceptable as horse hay (16) although horses tended to prefer alfalfa or timothy ( Phleum pratense L.) hay when given a choice (15). Feeding studies have demonstrated the value of teff for obese horses and others that require lower levels of digestible energy due to risk for metabolic disorders such as laminitis (19). Interest in teff as hay for horses also has grown in the southwestern USA where the predominant warm‐season annual forages are sorghums [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench and S. bicolor var.…”

Fibre digestibility, abundance of faecal bacteria and plasma acetate concentrations in overweight adult mares

“…DM, ash, ADF and NDF, inclusive of ash, were determined using AOAC procedures ( 62 ) . Apparent digestibility of DM was calculated with the following: DM digestibility = (DMI – faecal output)/DMI ( 63 ) ; calculations were repeated for organic matter, NDF and ADF fractions.…”

Voluntary Intake of Four Hay Types by Horses

“…Staniar et al [6] reported dry matter intakes of teff hay between 1.5% and 1.8% for hay harvested at late-heading and boot stages, respectively. These intakes are greater than those found in this study (1.37% of BW).…”