Effect of a dried live yeast culture on in vivo apparent digestibility and on in vitro fibrolytic activity of large intestine fluid contents, in horses fed high fibre or high starch pelleted feeds

Abstract

Performance horses are often fed very energetic diets including large amount of grains. Thus, a important quantity of soluble carbohydrate is bound to reach the hindgut, altering biochemical and microbial composition of the intestinal contents (Julliand et al., 1999) and leading to a wide variety of diseases like colic, laminitis and diarrhoea (Clarke et al., 1990). In high concentrate rations, live yeast cultures have been reported to stimulate specific groups of bacteria, and moderate large ruminal pH decreases (Williams et al., 1991). Therefore, this trial was designed to evaluate the effect of a live yeast culture preparation (Yea Sacc1026™) on the activity of the intestinal ecosystem (caecum and colon) of horses fed high fibre (HF) or high starch (HS) pelleted feeds. This current summary reports only the results of the nutrient digestibility in vivo and the ability in vitro of large intestine fluid contents to degrade straw.