Effect of forage conservation method on microbial flora and fermentation pattern in forage and in equine colon and faeces

Comparison of the bacterial community structure within the equine hindgut and faeces using Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA)

“…Conversely, the bacterial community structure from the right ventral colon showed no difference compared with that from the caecum but was different from that from the faeces. This is consistent with previous studies comparing bacterial communities between the caecum and right ventral colon (Daly et al, 2001) or the pelvic flexure (Schoster et al, 2013), or between the right ventral colon or the pelvic flexure and faeces (de Fombelle et al, 2003;Faubladier et al, 2006;Müller et al, 2008;Schoster et al, 2013). More precisely, according to de Fombelle et al (2003), the total anaerobic bacterial counts were higher in the faeces than in the right ventral colon.…”

“…More precisely, according to de Fombelle et al (2003), the total anaerobic bacterial counts were higher in the faeces than in the right ventral colon. Additionally, faecal samples have been reported to have a higher concentration of lactate-utilizing (Müller et al, 2008) and lactate-producing bacteria than samples collected from the right ventral colon (de Fombelle et al, 2003;Müller et al, 2008). Interestingly, Dougal et al (2011 and2012) sampled intestinal contents from the right dorsal (and not right ventral) colon and found no difference between colonic and faecal bacterial communities, however, they highlighted a difference when comparing caecal and colonic contents.…”

Effect of Restricted Grazing on Hindgut pH and Fluid Balance

“…Therefore, the lack of change in fecal pH between treatments in the present study suggests that the degree of hindgut fermentation was not altered by decreasing pasture availability by half. Fecal pH in the current study was similar to that reported previously by our research station, but higher than that reported (pH w6.2) for horses fed an all-forage diet consisting of the same forage preserved as either hay or ensiled [15,16]. The forage in those experiments had lower NDF (42%-49%) and ADF (27%-28%), which may have resulted in more fermentable substrate and a subsequent higher degree of fermentation as compared with the current study.…”

“…More subtle changes in fecal pH have been reported in horses fed lower doses of fructooligosaccharides (0.02 and 0.06 g/kg BW), fructans (3 g/kg BW as inulin) [13], or fed rations with increasing amounts of grain [14]. Although fecal pH has been reported to be consistently lower than cecal or right ventral colon pH, it still appears to be reflective of changes in these areas [15]. Therefore, the lack of change in fecal pH between treatments in the present study suggests that the degree of hindgut fermentation was not altered by decreasing pasture availability by half.…”

Methods for reduction of water soluble carbohydrate content in grass forages for horses

“…Samples taken from wilted herbage (prior to collection or baling) and from silage, haylage and hay after three months of storage were analysed for chemical composition with methods described by Müller (2005) and Müller et al (2008). Concentrations of DM, ash, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre reported exclusive of residual ash (aNDF om ), digestibility of organic matter (for calculation of metabolizable energy for horses), volatile fatty acids, ethanol, 2,3-butanediol, lactic acid and ammonia-N were determined, as well as pH-value.…”