Effects of Differences in Fibre Composition and Maturity of Forage-Based Diets on the Microbial Ecosystem and Its Activity in Equine Caecum and Colon Digesta and Faeces
Fibrous feeds are essential for horses. When developing feeding regimens promoting health and performance, we need to understand the digestion of plant cell walls and the functioning of the hindgut microbial ecosystem. Our objective was to investigate the effect of grass fibre maturity and legume fo...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2337 |
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| author | Sara Muhonen Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau Véronique Julliand |
| author_facet | Sara Muhonen Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau Véronique Julliand |
| author_sort | Sara Muhonen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fibrous feeds are essential for horses. When developing feeding regimens promoting health and performance, we need to understand the digestion of plant cell walls and the functioning of the hindgut microbial ecosystem. Our objective was to investigate the effect of grass fibre maturity and legume forage on the hindgut microbiota and its activity. Six caecum and colon fistulated geldings were fed three diets differing in fibre composition: concentrate and late harvested grass haylage (35:65 energy ratio) (C); early and late harvested grass haylage (80:20) (G); lucerne and late harvested grass haylage (80:20) (L) for 28 days in a Latin-square design. No differences were measured in total bacteria concentrations, fungi and protozoa numbers nor in cellulolytic bacteria concentrations between the diets. Short-chain fatty acid concentrations did not differ between diets, but a lower (acetate + butyrate)/propionate ratio when the horses were fed Diet C, compared to G and L, was observed, suggesting lower fibrolytic and higher amylolytic activity. The pH increased when the horses were fed Diet L and decreased when fed C and G from caecum to faeces. The buffering capacity (BC) of hindgut digesta was five to fifteen-fold higher than that of the feeds, suggesting a decreased effect of feed BC as digesta travelled through the digestive tract. In conclusion, an early harvested forage opens up the possibility for forage-only diets, providing high energy without the negative effects of concentrate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:04:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8798d0e6d2c8411a84b1fc73c08e688a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:04:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-8798d0e6d2c8411a84b1fc73c08e688a2023-11-22T06:30:40ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-08-01118233710.3390/ani11082337Effects of Differences in Fibre Composition and Maturity of Forage-Based Diets on the Microbial Ecosystem and Its Activity in Equine Caecum and Colon Digesta and FaecesSara Muhonen0Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau1Véronique Julliand2AgroSup Dijon, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, PAM UMR A 02.102, 21000 Dijon, FranceAgroSup Dijon, INRAE, UMR AgroEcologie, BP 87999, CEDEX, 21079 Dijon, FranceAgroSup Dijon, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, PAM UMR A 02.102, 21000 Dijon, FranceFibrous feeds are essential for horses. When developing feeding regimens promoting health and performance, we need to understand the digestion of plant cell walls and the functioning of the hindgut microbial ecosystem. Our objective was to investigate the effect of grass fibre maturity and legume forage on the hindgut microbiota and its activity. Six caecum and colon fistulated geldings were fed three diets differing in fibre composition: concentrate and late harvested grass haylage (35:65 energy ratio) (C); early and late harvested grass haylage (80:20) (G); lucerne and late harvested grass haylage (80:20) (L) for 28 days in a Latin-square design. No differences were measured in total bacteria concentrations, fungi and protozoa numbers nor in cellulolytic bacteria concentrations between the diets. Short-chain fatty acid concentrations did not differ between diets, but a lower (acetate + butyrate)/propionate ratio when the horses were fed Diet C, compared to G and L, was observed, suggesting lower fibrolytic and higher amylolytic activity. The pH increased when the horses were fed Diet L and decreased when fed C and G from caecum to faeces. The buffering capacity (BC) of hindgut digesta was five to fifteen-fold higher than that of the feeds, suggesting a decreased effect of feed BC as digesta travelled through the digestive tract. In conclusion, an early harvested forage opens up the possibility for forage-only diets, providing high energy without the negative effects of concentrate.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2337forage fibrehindgut microbiotagrasslucernedigestion |
| spellingShingle | Sara Muhonen Sophie Sadet-Bourgeteau Véronique Julliand Effects of Differences in Fibre Composition and Maturity of Forage-Based Diets on the Microbial Ecosystem and Its Activity in Equine Caecum and Colon Digesta and Faeces Animals forage fibre hindgut microbiota grass lucerne digestion |
| title | Effects of Differences in Fibre Composition and Maturity of Forage-Based Diets on the Microbial Ecosystem and Its Activity in Equine Caecum and Colon Digesta and Faeces |
| title_full | Effects of Differences in Fibre Composition and Maturity of Forage-Based Diets on the Microbial Ecosystem and Its Activity in Equine Caecum and Colon Digesta and Faeces |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Differences in Fibre Composition and Maturity of Forage-Based Diets on the Microbial Ecosystem and Its Activity in Equine Caecum and Colon Digesta and Faeces |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Differences in Fibre Composition and Maturity of Forage-Based Diets on the Microbial Ecosystem and Its Activity in Equine Caecum and Colon Digesta and Faeces |
| title_short | Effects of Differences in Fibre Composition and Maturity of Forage-Based Diets on the Microbial Ecosystem and Its Activity in Equine Caecum and Colon Digesta and Faeces |
| title_sort | effects of differences in fibre composition and maturity of forage based diets on the microbial ecosystem and its activity in equine caecum and colon digesta and faeces |
| topic | forage fibre hindgut microbiota grass lucerne digestion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/8/2337 |
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