Effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on In Vitro Fecal Digestion of Four Feed Ingredients Commonly Used to Feed Horses in Mexico

ABSTRACT: The study aimed to assess the nutritive value in vitro of 4 feeds (grains and forages) commonly used in horses nutrition in Mexico, in the absence or presence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 4 mg/g DM. Fecal inoculum was obtained from 4 adult English Thoroughbred horses fed on restricted amount of concentrate and oat hay ad libitum. The incubated substrates included were corn gluten meal, soybean meal, oat grain and alfalfa hay. Gas production was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 24, 48 and 70 h using the Pressure Transducer Technique. Some ingredient × yeast interactions were observed (P < .020) for the asymptotic gas production (GP) and GP at 48 and 70 h of incubation. Yeast addition increased (P < .001) the asymptotic GP of concentrates compared to forages. Concentrate feeds had higher (P < .05) GP and lower (P < .001) rate of GP compared to forages without yeast. From 24 to 70 h of incubation, forages with or without yeast had lower (P < .05) GP compared to concentrates with yeast addition. Forages had higher fermentation pH compared to concentrates, but lower (P < .05) metabolizable energy (ME), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and microbial protein production (MBP) compared to concentrates. Yeast addition increased (P < .05) the asymptotic GP of oat grain and soybean meal, without affecting the rate of GP or lag time of both. Yeast treatment improved fermentation of feeds with higher effects on concentrates compared to forage. It was concluded that concentrate feeds had higher nutritive value than forages commonly fed to horse

Fecal Gas Production of Ten Common Horse Feeds Supplemented With Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Concentrate feeds are needed when a horse cannot meet its energy and protein requirements from forage alone. Straws and hays are the most popular and less expensive sources of fiber for horses. Moreover, forage feeding to horses can provide many of the essential nutrients and prevent nutritional disorders because forage fibers maintain gastrointestinal health and well-being of horses [2]. Increasing dietary fiber to at least 1% of the horse’s body weight with decreasing starch and sugar levels can reduce such disorders [2]. Therefore, feeding adequate amounts of fibrous feeds is required for normal digestive system function.The study aimed to assess the nutritive value of 10 feeds (grains and forages) commonly used in horse nutrition in Mexico, on the basis of their chemical composition, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and in vitro gas production measurements with or without the supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) at 4 mg/g DM. Fecal inoculum was obtained from 4 adult English Thoroughbred horses fed on restricted amount of concentrate and oat hay ad libitum. Substrates tested were: 6 concentrates (corn gluten meal, soybean meal, steam-rolled corn, steam-rolled barley, oat grain, and wheat bran) and 4 roughages (soybean hulls, corn stover, alfalfa hay, and oat hay). Gas production (GP) was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 24, 48, and 70 hours using the pressure transducer technique. Some ingredient yeast interactions were observed (P .020) for the asymptotic GP and GP at 48 and 70 hours of incubation. Yeast addition increased (P .05) the fermentation of other feeds. Supplementation with SC improved fermentation of feeds with higher effects on concentrates compared to roughages. It was concluded that although SC mainly improves concentrate utilization by horses, it also improves fiber digestion when used on high-roughage diets fed to horses