Use of yeast in equine fed diets with hay with different nutritional qualities

Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do uso de probiótico (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) em dietas para cavalos, utilizaram-se quatro equinos machos com média de 400 kg de peso corporal, em delineamento em quadrado latino 4 õ 4. As dietas foram compostas de concentrado e feno de capim-tifton 85 (de baixa qualidade) ou feno de alfafa (de alta qualidade), com ou sem a adição de levedura. Cada período experimental teve duração de 36 dias, com coleta total de fezes, para determinação dos coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes, e coleta de fezes, para determinação do pH e da microbiologia fecal. A utilização de probiótico não alterou os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes das dietas, com exceção do extrato etéreo. A qualidade nutricional do feno influenciou os coeficientes de digestibilidade da matéria seca (MS), da proteína bruta (PB) e do extrato etéreo (EE) apenas no caso das dietas com feno de capim-tifton sem probiótico e com feno de alfafa com probiótico. A utilização de cultura de levedura aumentou a população de Lactobacillus nas fezes dos animais que receberam a dieta com feno de capim-tifton com probiótico. Não houve uso de probiótico na população de Lactobacillus nas dietas com feno de alfafa (de boa qualidade). A população de Streptococcus nas fezes aumentou com suplementação de levedura, tanto na dieta com feno de capim-tifton como naquela com feno de alfafa. A dieta com capim-tifton 85 sem probiótico promoveu redução nos valores de pH fecal 14 e 17 horas após a alimentação. Considerando ainda os valores de pH fecal nesses períodos após a alimentação, as dietas suplementadas com probiótico apresentaram valores superiores àqueles obtidos sem adição de levedura.In order to evaluate the effect of using probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in diets for horses, it was used four male equines, with average body weight of 400 kg, in a 4 õ 4 Latin square design. Diets were composed of concentrated and 85 Tifton grass hay (low quality) or alfafa hay (high quality), with or without addition of yeast. Each experimental period lasted 36 days, with total fecal collection for determination of apparent digestibility coefficients of the nutrients and fecal collection for determining pH and fecal microbiology. Use of probiotic did not affect apparent digestibility coefficients of the diets, except for ether extract. Hay nutritional quality affected coefficients of dry matter digestibility, crude protein and ether extract (EE) only for diets with Tifton grass hay without probiotic and with alfafa hay with probiotic. The utilization of yeast culture increased the Lactobacillus population in feces of animals fed diet with Tifton grass hay with probiotic. Probiotic was not used in population of Lactobacillus in diets of alfafa hay (good quality). Streptococcus population in the diet increased as yeast was supplemented in both diets with Tifton grass hay as that with alfafa hay. Diet with 85 Tifton grass without probiotic promoted reduction in fecal pH values 14 and 17 hours after feeding. Considering the values of fecal pH in this periods after feeding, the diets supplemented with probiotic showed values higher than those without addition of yeast

Detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in blood samples of horses (Equus caballus) and donkeys (Equus asinus) by PCR

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease caused by the Leishmania infantum parasite. The protozoan is able to infect several domestic and wild mammals. Since the first report on Leishmania spp. infection in horses in South America, leishmaniasis in equids has been highlighted in Brazil. A molecular epidemiological survey was carried out to verify the occurrence of Leishmania spp. DNA in horses and donkeys, in leishmaniases endemic areas in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. To this end, blood samples were obtained from 107 horses and 36 donkeys and subjected to DNA extraction followed by PCR targeting the ITS-1 region. Among the horses and donkeys, 1.87% (2/107) and 8.33% (3/36) were positive by PCR, respectively. The DNA sequencing of the ITS-1 amplification products confirmed L. infantum DNA in these animals. Our results suggest that horses and donkeys from non-VL and VL endemic areas of São Paulo State may be infected by the parasite

Replacing wheat bran by corn gluten feed without steep water in complete dog food

Twenty-four adult Beagles were utilised to evaluate the partial replacement of wheat bran with corn gluten feed without steep water on digestibility and characteristics of faeces. The treatments were 0 (no substitution), 30, 60 or 90 g/kg of corn gluten without steep water. There was no effect (p > .05) on the digestibility coefficients (g/kg) of dry matter (0.771), organic matter (0.806), crude protein (0.813), ether extract (0.798), crude fibre (0.393), neutral detergent fibre (0.425), acid detergent fibre (0.286) and crude energy (0.812), whilst there was effect (p  .05) was found on the remaining faecal characteristics: excretion for 100 g of food (56.77 g), excretion (129.6 g/day and 49.0 g dry matter/day), score (3.90), dry matter excretion for 100 g of food (22.86 g), buffering capacity (BC) at pH 5 (57.81), ammonia nitrogen (1.46 g/kg of faecal dry matter) and water balance (333.25 mL/day), in vivo and in situ gas production (p > .05). Corn gluten feed without steep water can be utilised to replace up to 90 g/kg of wheat bran without causing negative effect on the digestibility and characteristics of faeces

Importância nutricional e metabólica da fibra na dieta de equinos Nutritional and metabolic importance of fiber in the horse diet

O equino é um herbívoro não ruminante capaz de suprir grande parte ou a totalidade da sua demanda nutricional pela ingestão de gramíneas. Apresenta a região ceco-cólica bastante desenvolvida, sendo este o principal sítio de fermentação. Este processo também ocorre na região aglandular do estômago, porém a produção de ácidos graxos voláteis é inferior, quando comparado ao intestino grosso. O conhecimento do sítio de aproveitamento de cada ingrediente é de suma importância para a combinação dos mesmos, favorecendo o ótimo aproveitamento de cada um deles e evitando excessos que podem ser prejudiciais ao metabolismo do equino. O estudo atual do fracionamento de carboidratos, por mais que não seja adaptado a fisiologia e metabolismo dos equinos, nos fornece informações sobre as diferentes frações que o compõem e com isso pode-se inferir sobre a produção de energia por cada fração gerada. A manutenção de equinos em pastejo ou sob o fornecimento de feno ou alimentos volumosos é essencial para a manutenção da atividade e saúde do seu trato digestório. O aporte mínimo de 12% de FDN garante tal situação. Atualmente, com o objetivo de aumentar a disponibilidade de energia, ingredientes como a polpa cítrica, polpa de beterraba e casca de soja, vem sendo utilizados nas formulações. Estes ingredientes de fermentação mais rápida e fácil, são uma alternativa segura para elevar a concentração energética da dieta de equinos, por proporcionar a diminuição do aporte de amido na dieta de equinos. Sabe-se entretanto, que com a elevação na qualidade do volumoso, maiores concentrações de carboidratos solúveis e de rápida fermentação são encontrados disponíveis ao longo do trato digestório dos equinos levando a alguns distúrbios metabólicos como a laminite e a sensibilidade a insulina. Com o correto manejo dos animais em pastejo e conhecimento do ciclo da planta é possível minimizar tais problemas. Objetivou-se revisão da ação fisiológica e metabólica das diferentes frações fibrosas, em cada compartimento do trato digestório, bem como destacar os ingredientes volumosos com suas diversas frações, os quais possibilitam sugerir manejo alimentar adequado para os equinos.<br>The equine is a non herbivore ruminant that is able to fully provide its nutritional need by the grass intake. Equines show the cecum and colon region plenty developed as their principal fermentation site. Such process either happens in the non glandular stomach region, but the volatile fatty acids production is inferior then the production in the - hindgut. To meet the optimum use of the mix of ingredients, and to avoid excess there are harmful to the equine metabolism, it is important to know the ingredients digestion site. The recent carbohydrate fragmentation's study, even if it's not totally adapted to the equine metabolism and physiology, can provide information regarding the different carbohydrate fraction, that lead to infer data about the energy produced by each fraction. Feeding equines in pasture, or with hays or forage fed is essential to keep the digestive tract in activity and healthy, and to guarantee such condition, it necessary to provide at least 12% of NDF. Nowadays, ingredients such as citric pulp, beet pulp, soybean hulls, are used in the formulations to increase the energy's availability. The above mentioned ingredients, that present fast and easy fermentation, are a safe alternative to increase the energetic concentration in the equine diet, due to the decrease of the starch supply in such procedure. It's known that, with the increase in fibrous fed quality, higher amounts of soluble carbohydrates with fast fermentation are available along all equine digestive tract generating some metabolic disturbs such as laminits and insulin sensibility. With the correct equine pasture handling and the knowledge of the plant cycle it's possible to reduce such problems. The aim of this study is review the physiologic and metabolic action of different fibrous fraction in each digestive compartment tract of the equine diet, likewise to list the main studies of fibrous fed fractions with their fractions, which allow to suggest appropriate feed handling for equines

COMPORTAMENTO EQÜINO DURANTE O PERÍODO DE ÓCIO COM DIETAS DE DIFERENTES QUALIDADES NUTRICIONAIS

The objective was to evaluate the horse behavior during the total time at leisure in testing of metabolism. Four male crossbred horses, with average age of eight years and alive weight of 376,09 kg, were used in an experimental delineation in Latin square (4 x 4), lodged in individual boxes. The treatments had been constituted by four diets: Alfalfa hay + Concentrated (ACSP); Tifton hay (low nutritional quality) + Concentrated (TCSP); Tifton hay (low nutritional quality) + Concentrated with Probiotic (TCCP); Alfalfa hay + Concentrated with Probiotic (ACCP). It was observed a statistical difference (P<0.05) in the percentages of total resting time, alert and head low, in the (ACSP) treatment, showing elevate value 76,85; 4,65 and 1.49%, respectively. The inquietude either showed a significative difference (P<0.05) showing values 5.29% for (ACCP) and (TCCP), respectively. The alimentary activities either showed a statistical difference (P<0.05) for (ACSP and ACCP), showing 10,45% average values. During prolonged resting times, the appeared of behavior disturbs were evident

CONSUMO DE NUTRIENTES E BALANÇO HÍDRICO EM EQUINOS RECEBENDO DIETAS COM DIFERENTES NÍVEIS DE INCLUSÃO DE FENO DE ALFAFA

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutrients intake and water balance of horses in maintenance, fed with conventional hay. Six male horses with an average age of nine years and live weight of 361.16 ± 12 kg were used, in a latin square design (6x6), housed inmetabolism cages. The treatments were FTT: 1 00% Hay of Tifton, FTO: 80% Hay of Tifton + 20% Hay of Alfalfa, FTS: 60% Hay of Tifton + 40% Hay of Alfalfa, FTQ: 40% Hay of Tifton + 60% Hay ofAlfalfa, FTV: 20% Hay of Tifton + 80% Hay of Alfalfa, FAT: 1 00% Hay of Alfalfa. The quantities of food provided were 2.25% of BW in order to obtain surplus. To determine the water intake, drinkers with water supply ad libitum were used. The intakes of DM, CP, EE and MM increased (P ≤ 0.05)as alfalfa hay amount was increased in the diets, indicating that these elements are related to the diets chemical composition. Similarly, NDF and ADF intake decreased (P ≤ 0.05) as alfalfa hay was increased in the diets. The values of water intake and excretion wereinfluenced by the chemical composition of the diet, influencing water intake in function of the dry matter (liters/ kg of DM) and the water balance. Regarding water intake and excretion, the animals were in positive water balance in all treatments. The FTT treatment had a lower urinary and fecal excretion of water compared to the othertreatments

Estimated live weight of growing Pêga breed donkeys

ABSTRACT: The equations available in the literature to estimate the body weight (BW) of Pêga breed donkeys were evaluated using 25 animals aged 0-6 months and it was proposed an equation for BW prediction. For the measurement of the thoracic perimeter (TP) and for weighing the animals using the weighing tape, the animals were positioned in a forced station on a steep slope. An electronic scale was used for the determination of the BW. Accuracy of linear and nonlinear equations described in the literature was tested for BW prediction based on the animals’ TP, followed by the comparison of these equations with the equation developed in the present study for BW prediction of Pêga breed donkeys. A difference was noted (P<0.001) between the weights obtained on the electronic scale and the weighing tape. Linear and nonlinear equations available in the literature did not present favorable results with the data of the present study. The equation developed for the estimation of donkeys’ BW allowed the development of a weighing tape exclusive for young animals. Further evaluations are required for other Pêga donkey populations to confirm the efficacy of the proposed equation