The Effects of Different Feeding Levels on the Number of Fecal Lactic Acid-producing Bacteria and Fecal pH in Horses
2010
Lee, C.E., Subtropical Animal Exp. Station, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Cheju, Republic of Korea | Kim, N.Y., Subtropical Animal Exp. Station, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Cheju, Republic of Korea | Park, N.G., Subtropical Animal Exp. Station, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Cheju, Republic of Korea | Oh, W.Y., Subtropical Animal Exp. Station, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Cheju, Republic of Korea | Cheong, H.Y., Subtropical Animal Exp. Station, National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Cheju, Republic of Korea | Joa, J.H., National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Suwon, Republic of Korea
This study was conducted to determine the effects of different feeding levels on the number of fecal lactic acid-producing bacteria and fecal pH in horses. In Exp. 1, 6 female cross-bred horses (332.4±50.4 kg, 5 year old) were fed 2% hay or 2% concentrates of BW for 30d, and the number of fecal Lactobacilli and Streptococci was measured. For Exp. 2, 5 castrated Thoroughbred (474.5±64.6 kg, 4 year old) and 5 female cross-bred horses (343.6±56.3 kg, 5 year old) were allotted to high- or low- concentrates diets (5 levels) for 30 d in a 5×5 Latin square design, and the fecal pH was assessed. In Exp. 3, 3 castrated Thoroughbred (482.6±53.3 kg, 4 year old) were fed high- or low-alfalfa hay diets (3 levels) for 30 d in a 3×3 Latin square design, and the fecal pH was measured. Feeding high-concentrates diets increased (P less than 0.05) the number of fecal lactic acid- producing bacteria (Lactobacilli and Streptococci) and decreased (P less than 0.01) the fecal pH. Feeding alfalfa hay with high-concentrates diet (2% alfalfa hay+1% concentrates of BW) decreased (P less than 0.01) the fecal pH. These results showed that feeding high- concentrates diets increased lactic acid-producing bacteria in the large intestine and decreased the intestinal or fecal pH causing colic or laminitis, indicating that the proper fiber/concentrates (1:1) should be maintained in horses.
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