Date of Graduation
Spring 2025
Degree
Master of Science in Agriculture
Department
School of Agricultural Science & Conservation
Committee Chair
Gary Webb
Abstract
Digestibility studies provide vital information for formulating ideal diets based on an animal’s ability to digest and absorb the available nutrients from the feed provided. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in the nutrient digestion of horses between those that have a difficult time maintaining a healthy body weight (body condition score at or below 5, hard keeper) and those that easily maintain a healthy body weight (body condition score of >5, easy keeper). Six mature geldings averaging 534.1 ± 47.1 kg were used in this study. During the experimental period horses were subjected to a light workload. At the beginning of the study the three horses in the easy keeper group had a BCS of 7. As compared to the three hard keepers which were all scored at a BCS of 4. Fecal material was collected from three easy keepers and three hard keeper horses and used to create microbial inoculums which were then used to digest feedstuffs using an ANKOM Daisy II Incubator. For experimental purposes five different feedstuffs; mature fescue hay (Festuca arundinacea), alfalfa cubes (Medicago sativa), bermudagrass hay (Cynodon dactylon), oats (Avena sativa), beet pulp (beta vulgaris) and two commercially available concentrates MFA Easy Keeper Edge (Emporia, MO), and Nutrena Triumph Complete (Kansas City, KS). Following digestion in the ANKOM Daisy II Incubator, samples were analyzed for NDF and ADF. The in-vitro DMD, NDF and ADF values of the feedstuffs were within the ranges found on Dairy One’s feed database. The data was analyzed using an OLS regression model and an ANOVA table to determine differences in digestibility of feedstuffs between the two horse groups. Treatments were considered significant with (P ≤ 0.05). No differences were observed in the in-vitro DMD, NFD, and ADF values due to horse treatment group (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, there was no treatment by feedstuff interactions (P ≤ 0.05). Further work is needed to elucidate possible causes for the difference in the amount of feed intake required to maintain BCS of horses subjected to similar feed and a light workload.
Keywords
equine, digestion, fecal inoculum, NDF, IVTD
Subject Categories
Agriculture | Other Animal Sciences
Copyright
© Leah Bills
Recommended Citation
Bills, Leah, "Use of Fecal Inoculum From Easy and Hard Keeper Horses to Determine in-Vitro Digestibility of Feedstuffs Used in Equine Diets" (2025). Graduate Theses/Dissertations. 4061.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/4061
