engleski

Starch in horse diet improves feces microbiota, in vitro digestibility of fiber and dry matter

Higher concentrations of starch in horse diet may shift starch degradation from small intestine further to hindgut and cause undesired alternation of the hindgut microbiota leading to unsatisfied fiber fermentation. The study evaluated the effect of the daily starch intake levels of 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 g/kg body weight (BW) of the animal on the fecal in vitro digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (IVNDFD) and dry matter (IVDMD) and whether changes in fecal amylolytic bacteria, cellulolytic bacteria and lactobacilli number occur. Three horses were fed in three periods with three starch levels in the trial, designed as 3x3 latin square. The main influences were the level of starch in the horse diet and the effect of an individual animal on in vitro digestibility of three forages (straw, clover and meadow hay). The results showed that with increasing daily starch intake the significant increase in average values of IVNDFD 9.46 − 11.49% and IVDMD 3.42 − 8.09% depending the forage type were observed. The individual animal showed an influence on tested digestibility parameters (all P<0.001) except the IVDMD for meadow hay (P=0.126). When the intake starch level was 0.9 g/kg BW in compare to 0.3 g/kg BW, the tenfold higher number of lactobacilli, amylolytic and cellulolytic bacteria in the feces was recorded. It can be concluded that the daily level of starch in the horse diet up to 0.9 g/kg BW has a positive effect on fiber digestibility and feces microbiota.

feces microbiota ; in vitro fiber digestibility ; starch in horse diet

nije evidentirano