DIGESTIBILITY OF A DIET WITH OR WITHOUT REED SEDGE PEAT IN EXERCISED HORSES

Date

2022-08-01T05:00:00.000Z

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Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of a diet containing Reed Sedge Peat (RSP) on nutrient digestibility, and serum glucose and insulin concentrations in mature exercised horses. Six stock-type geldings, ranging from 8 to 19 yr of age, were randomly assigned in a replicated 3  3 Latin Square design, and fed a diet consisting coastal Bermudagrass hay and a concentrate with or without RSP. Three dietary treatments consisted of: control with no RSP (CON); 10 lb/ton (4960 mg/kg) RSP (RSP10; Kent Nutrition Group, Muscatine, IA); and 20 lb/ton (9920 mg/kg) RSP (RSP20). The 12-wk study consisted of three 21-d dietary adjustment periods followed by a 3-d fecal collection period. Blood samples were collected via I.V. pre- and post-prandial, and before and immediately following a Standard Exercise Test (SET) on d 21 of each period. Horses were fed hay at a minimum 2% of body weight each day and 2.2 kg/d of each dietary treatment. Feed and feces were analyzed for DM, CP, ether extract (EE), ADF, NDF, ash, and calcium (Ca) and phosphorous (P) concentrations. Serum was analyzed for glucose and insulin concentrations. There was an effect of period on apparent DM (P = 0.02), NDF (P = 0.04), ADF (P = 0.01), Ca (P = 0.03), and P (P = 0.01) digestibility. Horses consuming RSP20 had greater (P = 0.03) overall mean serum glucose concentrations compared to horses consuming RSP10 and CON. Overall mean serum insulin concentrations increased (P < 0.01) after horses consumed the grain and hay diet, then decreased significantly 8 h post-prandial. Analysis of the data recorded during the SET indicated mean serum glucose and insulin concentrations decreased (P < 0.01) after submaximal exercise. Data reported in this study suggests no benefit was observed in nutrient digestibility when RSP was added to horses’ diets. However, greater glucose concentrations after RSP20 diet consumption suggests feeding RSP20 alters glucose metabolism and increases energy availability for performance horses, but the mode of action is not clearly understood. Therefore, further research may be warranted to investigate effects of RSP on glucose and insulin dynamics in horses.

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Agriculture, Animal Culture and Nutrition

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