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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #124878
Title: THE EFFECT OF HORSE-BAC LIQUID ON NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY, GUT PHYSIOLOGY, AND THE PHYSICAL RESPONSE TO EXERCISE IN HORSES

Author
item BOOTH, J - IOWA STATE UNIV., AMES
item MILLER-AUWERDA, P - IOWA STATE UNIV., AMES
item Rasmussen, Mark

Submitted to: Equine Nutrition and Physiology Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Probiotic supplements have yielded inconsistent results and little information exists on the use of Lactobacillus products in the horse. This experiment investigated a probiotic supplement on the exercising horse. Exercise was used as a stress factor to test the use of a supplement containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and its effects on gut physiology, nutrient absorption, and physical response to exercise. Eight Quarter Horse geldings, aged 4-9 years, were used in a switchback design. Four geldings were cecally fistulated. Diets consisted of a pelleted concentrate fed at 1.0% of body weight daily in addition to 1.0% of body weight of alfalfa-bromegrass hay. Cecal samples were obtained from the 4 fistulated horses and analyzed for pH, concentration of lactate and cellulose-utilizing bacteria, protozoa and E. coli populations, and volatile fatty acid concentrations. The Standard Exercise Test was used to measure the effects of exercise on cecal parameters. Venous blood samples were obtained by an indwelling catheter and analyzed for lactate glucose, free fatty acids, and packed cell volume. Heart rate and body weight loss was also measured. The apparent digestion of DM, N, EE, NDF, ADF, Ca and P were not different between treatments. Horses receiving Horse-Bac had significantly lower concentrations of E. coli. Numbers of protozoa and concentrations of lactate and cellulose-utilizing bacteria were not affected. Treated horses had a slower degradation of cecal lactic acid and a lower potential to produce propionic and butyric acid. Horses receiving Horse-Bac tended to have higher plasma lactate and glucose concentrations. Blood lactate increased during exercise and decreased during recovery.