Faecal VOCs (volatile organic compounds) were compared in horses and ponies before and after 6 weeks on Spring pasture and with and without a dietary supplement (ERME). The supplement was derived from malted barley and contained enzymes which degrade complex carbohydrates, including amylase, maltase, glucanases and fructanases. VOCs of faecal samples were analysed by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) and the results showed that the faecal microbiome was altered in different ways both by feeding on Spring pasture and by the dietary supplement. The composition of the equine gut microbiome (EGM) is therefore potentially a reflection of dietary constituents, both pasture and supplements; any metabolomic approach should take this into account since the EGM may have modulating effects on physiological parameters such as diabetes and obesity. Methods Study protocolFaecal samples were collected non-invasively either before and six weeks after supplementation with ERME while keeping the horses/ ponies on pasture for 6 weeks in Spring. The volatile faecal metabolome was characterised using selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) in conjunction with multivariate data analysis. Study population and samplingA study population of 45 horses and ponies at the Redwings Sanctuary, Norfolk was chosen by the resident veterinary officer to take part in the study. This was performed in Spring from early May to mid-June, the timing being chosen so that the effects of eating new grass could be determined. A power calculation was performed based on previous data using ERME as a dietary supplement [4]. Based on a significance of p<0.05 and a power of 0.8, the sample size required was 18 and a minimum of 20 horses per group was randomly selected. The study population was chosen based on the following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria included: >2 years old, no physical evidence of disease, based on a clinical examination by a veterinary officer, and resident at the sanctuary for >1 year. Exclusion criteria included being on any medication, pregnancy and no entire males. Horses were randomly allocated to either the treatment group or the control group.Snalune KL (2019) Modulation of the equine microbiome by pasture and feed supplements: A metabolomics approach
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