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The effects of digestive enhancer supplements on digestibility in leisure horses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

L Tucker*
Affiliation:
Waiti Hill Ltd, Feilding, New Zealand Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
D Thomas
Affiliation:
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
K Weidgraaf
Affiliation:
Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
J Taylor-Pickard
Affiliation:
Alltech Biotechnology Centre, Dunboyne, Ireland
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Extract

Certain commercial horse feed supplements based on active yeast and its derivatives, and have been shown to improve digestion of feed (Medina et al, 2002), although this data is very limited and is mostly derived from studies in other species, such as pigs or cattle. Yeast-derived compounds are known to improve digestibility via different mechanisms, depending on their composition. Live yeasts interact at a gut level by removing any oxygen present, which can unbalance the fermentative microflora by promoting aerobic bacterial populations. This can lead to an increase in nonfermentative or pathogenic species, which increases the potential for diarrhoea or other digestive upsets. Yeast cell wall material (mannan-oligosaccharides) have been shown to bind pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract, inhibiting their ability to reproduce, thereby stabilising the microflora and optimising fermentative capacity for fibre digestion, promoting animal growth and efficiency (Rosen, 2005). As horses rely on anaerobic fermentation to liberate energy from their natural high fibre diets, a stable and appropriate microflora is essential. The aim of the experiment was to investigate the benefits of feeding commercial digestive enhancers in horses with a history of gastric problems.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2009

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References

Medina, B., Girard, I.D., Jacotot, E. and Julliand, V. 2002 Effect of a preparation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on microbial profiles and fermentation patterns in the large intestine of horses fed a high fiber or a high starch diet. Journal of Animal. Science 80, 2600–2609.Google Scholar
Miraglia, N., Bergero, D., Bassano, B., Tarantola, M. and Ladetto, G. (1999). Studies of apparent digestibility in horses and the use of internal markers. Livestock Production Science 60, 21–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosen, G.D. 2005. Holoanalysis of factors influencing response to Bio-Mos in poultry (Confidential Report – Alltech Inc).Google Scholar