<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This study aimed to verify whether the inclusion of 0.5 kg full-fat rice bran per day in the diet of geriatric horses will improve their condition, increase the population of methanogens in the cecum, and thus affect the biochemical blood parameters. The experiment included 2 research periods: 6 healthy, non-working horses over 20 years of age (480 ± 20 kg of body weight) fed only hay (±8.86 kg/day/head) in the first period and hay (±8.00 kg/day/head) and rice bran (0.5 kg/day/head) in the second one. Each of these periods lasted 4 months. The Body Condition Scoring (BCS) assessment was performed at the beginning and end of the experiment. Blood and feces samples were collected on the first and last day of each period. After feeding with the addition of rice bran, BCS increased by 1.17 units on a 9-point scale. The experiment showed an increase in the total number of bacteria and methanogens inhabiting the cecum of horses. This can lead to better digestion of carbohydrates, absorption of nutrients, and, consequently, increased body weight. No differences occurred in the hematology and serum biochemistry indices of horses fed a diet including rice bran, except for the amount of serum globulin and the albumin to globulin ratio. Rice bran affected essential serum fatty acid profile (increased PUFA and decreased MUFA), which confirmed the possibility to use diet as a serum fatty acids profile modulator.</p>
</abstract>

This study aimed to verify whether the inclusion of 0.5 kg full-fat rice bran per day in the diet of geriatric horses will improve their condition, increase the population of methanogens in the cecum, and thus affect the biochemical blood parameters. The experiment included 2 research periods: 6 healthy, non-working horses over 20 years of age (480 ± 20 kg of body weight) fed only hay (±8.86 kg/day/head) in the first period and hay (±8.00 kg/day/head) and rice bran (0.5 kg/day/head) in the second one. Each of these periods lasted 4 months. The Body Condition Scoring (BCS) assessment was performed at the beginning and end of the experiment. Blood and feces samples were collected on the first and last day of each period. After feeding with the addition of rice bran, BCS increased by 1.17 units on a 9-point scale. The experiment showed an increase in the total number of bacteria and methanogens inhabiting the cecum of horses. This can lead to better digestion of carbohydrates, absorption of nutrients, and, consequently, increased body weight. No differences occurred in the hematology and serum biochemistry indices of horses fed a diet including rice bran, except for the amount of serum globulin and the albumin to globulin ratio. Rice bran affected essential serum fatty acid profile (increased PUFA and decreased MUFA), which confirmed the possibility to use diet as a serum fatty acids profile modulator.

Rice Bran in Old Horses Nutrition and its Influence on Condition, Blood Biochemical Parameters, Total Feces Bacteria and Methanogen Population

Department of Preclinical Sciences and Infectious Diseases

University Center for Veterinary Medicine, Poznań University of Life Sciences

Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This study aimed to verify whether the inclusion of 0.5 kg full-fat rice bran per day in the diet of geriatric horses will improve their condition, increase...

Rice Bran in Old Horses Nutrition and its Influence on Condition, Blood Biochemical Parameters, Total Feces Bacteria and Methanogen Population

Published Online: Jan 27, 2023

Page range: 173 - 183

Received: Dec 23, 2021

Accepted: Jun 13, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2022-0051

Keywords
geriatric horses, rice bran, intestinal microbiome, fatty acids profile

© 2022 Weronika Filipiak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Rice Bran in Old Horses Nutrition and its Influence on Condition, Blood Biochemical Parameters, Total Feces Bacteria and Methanogen Population

Published Online: Jan 27, 2023

Page range: 173 - 183

Received: Dec 23, 2021

Accepted: Jun 13, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2022-0051

Keywordsgeriatric horses, rice bran, intestinal microbiome, fatty acids profile

© 2022 Weronika Filipiak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
geriatric horses, rice bran, intestinal microbiome, fatty acids profile