Abstract
The objective was to assess the effect of probiotic or phytase supplementation on dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion (FC) in 24 Mangalarga Marchador foals (16 males, 8 females), with 241.6 ± 23.2 days of age, and 216.7 ± 27.8 kg of body weight (BW). The study lasted 28 days, the first 23 days for diet and handling adaptation, and the last five days for feces collection. The basal diet consisted of Cynodon pasture and pelleted concentrate (1.2 kg/100 kg BW), as well as water and mineral salt ad libitum. Treatments groups were assigned as follows: basal diet (control); basal diet + 5 g/day of live yeast culture (10(9) CFU/g of S. cerevisiae); basal diet + 2 g/day of live bacteria (10(8) CFU/g of B. bifidum, E. faecium, L. acidophilus, L. plantarum) and yeast culture (10(5) CFU/g of S. cerevisiae); and basal diet + 1250 FTU/day of phytase. Pasture DMI was estimated with an external marker (LIPE™) associated with cecal in situ digestibility of dry matter. All foals were randomized, by replicated, using a 4 × 2 factorial, and results were compared using Student t-test, taking into consideration the effect of initial BW as covariate for the percentage DMI per BW. Among foals, DMI varied from 2.4 to 2.8% BW, with foals supplemented with live bacteria and yeast having lower DMI (total diet and forage). All animals had an ADG of 0.33 kg/day, and foals supplemented with live bacteria and yeast had FC 32.42 to 43.83% lower than foals supplemented with phytase or fed only basal diet. The phytase dose of 205 FTU/kg DM in the basal diet had no effects. Probiotic composed of live bacteria and yeast culture improved feed efficiency of forage and can be used as a nutritional strategy to maintain body condition in foals during the dry season.
Highlights
IntroductionProbiotics are live microbial feed supplements which beneficially affect the host animal by improving its intestinal microbial balance (Fuller, 1989)
In their first year of life, horses have accelerated body development and, require an adequate nutritional program in order to grow according to their genetic capacity (Rezende et al, 2000).Probiotics are live microbial feed supplements which beneficially affect the host animal by improving its intestinal microbial balance (Fuller, 1989)
Due to the importance of these nutritional parameters in reducing production costs, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of phytase or probiotic, composed of live yeast culture or live bacteria and yeast culture, as a dietary supplement in Mangalarga Marchador foals and the corresponding effects on daily dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion (FC)
Summary
Probiotics are live microbial feed supplements which beneficially affect the host animal by improving its intestinal microbial balance (Fuller, 1989). According to Losada & Olleros (2002), from the nutritional point of view, metabolic activity of probiotic microorganisms contributes to improved digestibility and assimilation of different nutrients, in addition to providing B vitamins to the host. There is little research on probiotics in horse nutrition, especially as regards improving digestive function and feed efficiency. Glade (1991) observed increased milk production in lactating mares supplemented with live yeast culture and better performance of their suckling foals. Moore et al (1994) observed large concentrations of cecal protozoa and cellulolytic bacteria, and better digestibility of dry matter in Shetland geldings supplemented with yeast culture. Yuyama et al (2004) studied the effects of a probiotic composed of five strains of lactobacilli isolated from healthy horses on weight gain in newborn foals, and observed that treated foals grew 6% more than control animals
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