Comparison of gastrointestinal transit times in stabled Thoroughbred horses fed freshly cut pasture and three conserved forage-based diets

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dc.citation.issue12
dc.citation.volume62
dc.contributor.authorFernandes KA
dc.contributor.authorRogers CW
dc.contributor.authorGee EK
dc.contributor.authorFitch G
dc.contributor.authorBolwell CF
dc.contributor.authorKittelmann S
dc.contributor.authorBermingham EN
dc.contributor.authorThomas DG
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-17T00:37:27Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-25T06:37:05Z
dc.date.available2021-12-16
dc.date.available2024-01-17T00:37:27Z
dc.date.available2024-07-25T06:37:05Z
dc.date.issued2022-07
dc.description.abstractContext: The type of forage offered to horses varies in physical form, moisture content and nutrient quality, and these variables could affect the intake, passage rate and digestibility of the forage consumed. Aims: To investigate the changes in passage rate of digesta through the gastrointestinal tract in horses fed four different forage-based diets (diet effect). Methods: Thoroughbred mares (n = 6) were stabled in loose boxes for 6 weeks. During Weeks 1, 3 and 5 (washout periods), all horses were fed freshly cut pasture, either in restricted quantities (Week 1) or ad libitum (Weeks 3 and 5). Using a 3 × 3 Latin square design during Weeks 2, 4 and 6, each pair of horses was abruptly transitioned to one of three conserved forage-based diets (chopped ensiled forage fed exclusively or with oats, or perennial ryegrass hay with oats) fed ad libitum. At the beginning of each week, indigestible polyethylene markers (n = 200) were administered to the horses via a nasogastric tube, followed immediately by transition to the new diet. Key results: There was a significant diet effect on the daily dry-matter intake of feed (P < 0.0001), percentage of time spent eating (P < 0.001), frequency of voiding faeces (P < 0.05) and quantity of faeces voided (P < 0.0001). There was a significant horse effect on the daily dry-matter intake of feed (P < 0.0001) and quantity of faeces voided (P < 0.0001), but no differences in the percentage of time spent eating or the frequency of voiding faeces. There were significant diet and horse effects on the time to recovery of the first marker in the faeces (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01 respectively) and the mean retention time of markers in the gastrointestinal tract (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively). Mean retention time was negatively correlated with feed intake and quantity of faeces voided (r2 =-0.51 and r2 =-0.64 respectively). Conclusions: Longer mean retention time was associated with a greater fibre content in the diet and a restricted feed supply, thus supporting the hypothesis that horses alter mean retention time on the basis of a nutrient absorption optimisation model. Implications: Feed composition, but also the quantities offered, may alter measurement of apparent feed digestibility in horses.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.format.pagination1192-1202
dc.identifier.author-urlhttp://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000730542400001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=c5bb3b2499afac691c2e3c1a83ef6fef
dc.identifier.citationFernandes KA, Rogers CW, Gee EK, Fitch G, Bolwell CF, Kittelmann S, Bermingham EN, Thomas DG. (2022). Comparison of gastrointestinal transit times in stabled Thoroughbred horses fed freshly cut pasture and three conserved forage-based diets. Animal Production Science. 62. 12. (pp. 1192-1202).
dc.identifier.doi10.1071/AN20695
dc.identifier.eissn1836-5787
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn1836-0939
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/70549
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherCSIRO Publishing
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.publish.csiro.au/an/Fulltext/AN20695
dc.relation.isPartOfAnimal Production Science
dc.rights(c) CSIRO 2022
dc.rightsCC BY-NC-ND 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subjectconserved forage
dc.subjectfaeces
dc.subjectfeed intake
dc.subjectgastrointestinal transit time
dc.subjectmean retention time
dc.subjectpasture
dc.subjectpassage rate of digesta
dc.subjectThoroughbred horses
dc.titleComparison of gastrointestinal transit times in stabled Thoroughbred horses fed freshly cut pasture and three conserved forage-based diets
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id450236
pubs.organisational-groupOther
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