Fermentation Characteristics along the Gastrointestinal Tract after Feeding of Jerusalem Artichoke Meal to Adult Healthy Warmblood Horses

M Glatter,N Mielenz,K Wiedner,F Hirche,A Cehak,D Hillegeist,A Zeyner,P Wolf,M Bochnia,B Glaser,J M Greef,G Breves,M Bachmann

doi:10.21767/2572-5459.100016

Abstract

Objective: Prebiotics are used to support the gastrointestinal health via stimulating particular beneficial parts of the autochthonous microflora and enhancing their metabolism.Horses often suffer from gastrointestinal disturbances after feed changes or behavioral stress in response to transport. Therefore, the supplementation with prebiotic compounds might reduce the risk for intestinal dysregulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of supplementation with Jerusalem artichoke meal (JAM) in a recommended prebiotic dosage on fermentation characteristics in the equine gastrointestinal tract. Methods: Twelve adult healthy horses received crushed oat grains (1.2 g starch/kg BW x d-1) and meadow hay (as fed basis; 1.5 kg/100 kg BW x d-1). Additionally, they were fed either an apparently prebiotic quantity of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin (0.2 g/kg BW x d-1) via Jerusalem artichoke meal (JAM) or an equal amount of maize cob meal without grains as control (CON) over 3 weeks. On d21, horses were euthanized, gastrointestinal contents were removed from 7 different regions of the gastrointestinal tract, the dry matter (DM) content, pH value and concentrations of short chain fatty acids (SCFA), L- and D-lactate and ammonia were measured. Results: JAM did not had a significant (P 0.05), lactate (both isomers, P > 0.05) and ammonia (P 0.05) and ammonia (P > 0.05) but lower L-lactate (P > 0.05) concentrations compared to control.

Highlights

The equine digestive tract is prone to health disturbances, predominantly after feed changes and overload with fermentable carbohydrates [1,2]
Inulin-type fructans with different chain length such as short chain fructo-oligosaccharides or inulin itself are implemented as prebiotic substances
The quantity of fermentation products such as short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactate varies with the dosage and the composition of the supplemental feed [9]

Summary

Introduction

The equine digestive tract is prone to health disturbances, predominantly after feed changes and overload with fermentable carbohydrates [1,2]. This is usually accompanied by alterations in the diversity and activity of the intestinal microbiota [3,4]. Inulin-type fructans with different chain length such as short chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) or inulin itself are implemented as prebiotic substances. Feeding scFOS in low (8 g/d) or high (24 g/d) amounts increases the content of total and individual SCFA in the feces of yearling horses [10]. The addition of 30 g scFOS/d to a diet for adult horses failed to influence the concentration of SCFA in both

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion