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Objective. To evaluate the impact of citrus pulp on the palatability and digestibility of horse diets and the physicochemical characteristics of the feces. Materials and methods. The diets were composed of 60% of the energy from the forage and 40% from the concentrate, with increasing levels of citrus pulp. Two different tests were performed. The first test assessed the palatability of concentrates. Using a randomized experimental design, 15 horses were observed for 10 days. The variables recorded were first action, first choice and intake ratio (IR). Five horses were arranged in 5x5 Latin Square design for the test assessing digestibility and fecal physicochemical characteristics. The apparent digestibility of the nutrients and the color, consistency, pH and buffering capacity (BC) of the feces were evaluated. Results. The addition of increasing levels of citrus pulp had an effect (p≤0.001) on first action. A difference was also observed in first choice, and the addition of 0, 7 or 14% of citrus pulp was preferred. A difference between treatments (p≤0.001) was also observed for IR, and the control concentrate was consumed the most. The amount of citrus pulp included had no effect (p>0.05) on the digestibility of nutrients, fecal consistency and color, and there was no effect (p>0.05) on fecal pH and BC. Conclusions. Horses can identify the presence of citrus pulp in concentrates but prefer concentrates without added citrus pulp. Citrus pulp does not negatively affect the digestibility of concentrates or the physicochemical characteristics of the feces; thus, citrus pulp is a viable alternative ingredient in the formulation of horse diets.RESUMENObjetivo. Evaluar la inclusión de pulpa de cítricos en la dieta de los caballos a través de la evaluación de la de palatabilidad, digestibilidad y características fisicoquímicas de las heces. Materiales y métodos. El valor energético de las dietas fue aportado en el 60% por la energía del forraje y en el 40% a partir del concentrado con niveles crecientes de pulpa de cítricos. En la primera prueba se evaluó la palatabilidad de los concentrados. Se utilizó un diseño experimental aleatório. Se observaron 15 caballos durante 10 días. Las variables registradas fueron la primera acción, la primera opción y la relación de la ingesta (IR). Cinco caballos fueron dispuestos en un diseño cuadrado latino 5x5 para la evaluación de la digestibilidad y las características fisicoquímicas fecales. La digestibilidad de los nutrientes y el color, la consistencia, el pH, y se evaluó la capacidad de tamponamiento (CT) de las heces. Resultados. El nível de inclusión de pulpa de cítricos tuvo un efecto (p<0.001) en la primera acción. Una diferencia también se observó en primera elección. Una diferencia (p<0.001) entre los tratamientos también se observó para IR. El nível de inclusión de pulpa de cítricos no efectó (p>0.05) la digestibilidad, consistencia fecal y el color de las heces, pH fecal y CT de las heces. Conclusiones. Los caballos pueden identificar la presencia de pulpa de cítricos en los concentrados, pero prefieren concentrados sin pulpa de cítricos. La pulpa de cítricos no afecta la digestibilidad de los nutrimentos en el concentrado, ni las características fisicoquímicas de las heces; la pulpa de cítricos es un ingrediente alternativo viable en la formulación de dietas para caballos.

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This study aimed at establishing the morphological characteristics and morphometric indexes of Pêga donkeys, utilizing 47 animals, of which 22 were adults and 25 were growing donkeys. Prior to taking their measurements, the animals were restrained and made to stand squarely. The morphological data were measured, and the following morphometric indexes were determined: body index (BI), meloscopic index (MI), dactylothoracic index (DTI), weight in cannon index (WCI), conformation index (CFI), and real live weight (RLW). The experimental design was subdivided into plots and repeated in time, in which the animals represented the plot and the data collection times were the subplots. No sex effect was noted for the morphological measurements and morphometric indexes of growing donkeys. The effect of growth period was observed for all the variables. At birth, donkeys weighed around 14.86% of the weight of dams, and at six months they reached up to 40.37%. For the height taken at the withers, the animals at birth were 67.77% of the height of dams, and at six months they achieved up to 84.45%. Based on the morphometric indexes, it is suggested that adult and growing Pêga donkeys can be classified as being suited for both saddle and draft activities and possess a higher load capacity when compared with horses. A few indexes including BI, MI, and RLW need to be adjusted to be suitably used in rating the donkeys.