HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Berg, E. L. Articles by Kerley, M. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Berg, E. L. Articles by Kerley, M. S.

Fructooligosaccharide supplementation in the yearling horse: Effects on fecal pH, microbial content, and volatile fatty acid concentrations^1,2

Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211

³ Correspondence: 111 Animal Sciences Research Center (phone: 573-882-0834; fax: 573-882-6827; e-mail:KerleyM{at}missouri.edu).

Short-chain fructooligosaccharides (FOS) were supplemented to the diets of nine quarter horses ranging in age from 489 to 539 d with initial BW averaging 400.6 ± 21.2 kg. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of dietary FOS on the fecal responses in terms of pH, the microbial population, and VFA concentrations. The horses were used in a 3 x 3 replicated Latin square design, fed according to NRC requirements, and their individual diets were supplemented with no FOS (CON), 8 g of FOS/d (LOW), or 24 g of FOS/d (HIGH) over three 10-d feeding periods. On the last 3 d of each 10-d feeding period, a single fecal sample was collected between 0730 and 0930. Fecal pH decreased linearly (P = 0.01) from 6.48 with the CON diet to 6.38 with the HIGH diet, but there was no change (P = 0.19 for linear effect) in fecal consistency among treatments. A quadratic effect (P < 0.01) was observed for fecal Escherichia coli population, but no difference (P = 0.88 for linear effect) was found in fecal Lactobacilli enumeration among treatments. The presence of fecal Bifidobacteria was unable to be confirmed and was therefore not reported. Fecal acetate concentrations increased linearly (P = 0.03), with means of 2.13, 2.18, and 2.52 mg/g of wet feces for CON, LOW, and HIGH treatments, respectively. Similarly, fecal propionate concentrations increased linearly (P = 0.01), with means of 0.58, 0.64, and 0.73 mg/g for CON, LOW, and HIGH treatments, respectively. Fecal butyrate concentrations also increased linearly (P = 0.02), with means of 0.40, 0.46, and 0.54 mg/g for CON, LOW, and HIGH treatments, respectively. Total VFA (P = 0.01) and lactate (P = 0.02) concentrations increased linearly, with total VFA means of 3.47, 3.69, and 4.25 mg/g for CON, LOW, and HIGH treatments, respectively, and lactate means of 0.36, 0.41, and 0.47 mg/g for CON, LOW, and HIGH treatments, respectively. Supplementing FOS in diets fed to yearling horses altered fecal microbial populations, fecal VFA concentrations, and pH.

Key Words: Fecal • Fructooligosaccharide • Horse • Microbiology • Volatile Fatty Acids

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Respondek, A. G. Goachet, and V. Julliand Effects of dietary short-chain fructooligosaccharides on the intestinal microflora of horses subjected to a sudden change in diet J Anim Sci, February 1, 2008; 86(2): 316 - 323. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Crawford, M. F. Sepulveda, J. Elliott, P. A. Harris, and S. R. Bailey Dietary fructan carbohydrate increases amine production in the equine large intestine: Implications for pasture-associated laminitis J Anim Sci, November 1, 2007; 85(11): 2949 - 2958. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]