Effects of electrolyte supplementation on colonic contents and faeces in horses

Abstract

This work aimed to evaluate electrolyte supplementation effects on physicochemical characteristics of right dorsal colon digesta of horses. Three crossbreed horses fitted with a cannula at right dorsal colon (RDC) were used in a Latin square 3×3 replicated design. Treatments were different electrolyte supplementations: control, medium dose and high dose electrolytes. Digesta from RDC and faeces were collected at 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 hours after supplementation, and dry matter (DM), pH, buffering capacity were evaluated. Horses supplemented with medium and high doses of electrolytes showed higher RDC digesta DM (10.3 and 9.9%) and faeces DM (27.9 and 27.1%) when compared with control horses. Right dorsal colon buffering capacity did not show any difference (P>0.05). Faeces pH and BC did not show any difference (P>0.05). These results showed that electrolyte supplementation promoted hydration of the hindgut, increasing water intake and water contents in RDC and faeces of horses