Abstract
According to epidemiological studies, abrupt change of hay is a major risk factor of equine colic. Disturbances of the microbial ecosystem can lead to colic. However, it is not known if the hay change disturbs the hindgut microbial ecosystem. This study aimed to assess the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) supplementation during an abrupt change of hay on the hindgut microbial ecosystem and digestibility. Six cecum and colon fistulated horses allotted in two groups were subjected to a 2×2 Latin-square design experiment. Horses received a 80/20 ratio forage/concentrate (1.3 DMkg/day/100kgBW meadow hay) diet. During each experimental period, one of the two groups was supplemented with 1g/d of Yea-Sacc preparation in the morning meal. In each experimental period, groups were first fed hay1 (88.1%DM, 62.6%NDF, 34.9%ADF, 5.3%ADL, 33.1%CF, 8.6%CP) for four weeks and then hay2 (87.5%DM, 60.6%NDF, 35.0%ADF, 5.0%ADL, 33.4%CF, 7.8%CP) for the next three weeks without an adaption period. Cecal and colonic samples were collected 4h after the morning meal 6 days before (d-6) and one (d1), eight (d8) and 15 days after (d15) the abrupt change to assess the microbial ecosystem parameters. The digestibility was also measured before (pool1: d-4 to d-1), immediately (pool2: d0 to d3) and after (pool3: d10 to d13) the hay change. There was no effect of either SC supplementation or SC supplementation×sampling day interaction on any parameter (microbial ecosystem/digestibility). In the two experimental groups, the abrupt change of hay caused at d1 a significant increase in Copy Number of Target Gene (CNTG) of Bacteroidetes (P=0.037) and a trend for increasing CNTG of Firmicutes (P=0.089) in the cecum, as well as a significant increase in total volatile fatty acids (P=0.019) and acetate concentrations (P=0.026) in the colon. At d8, a significant decrease of the colonic CNTG of Bacteroidetes was noted (P=0.019), as well as a tendency to increase for CNTG of colonic Firmicutes (P=0.056). The cecal pectinolytic bacteria (P=0.036) and colonic propionate concentration (P=0.009) significantly increased, respectively, at d8 and d15 after the hay change. The DM, OM, NDF and ADF digestibility increased significantly in pool 2 and 3 (P<0.01). Despite the close composition of the two hays, changes were measured after the abrupt hay change suggesting a sensitive response of the hindgut microbial ecosystem. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the extent to which hindgut microbial ecosystem disturbances can lead to colic and to understand how yeast could be supplemented to minimize their effect.
Published Version
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