Jorge Lugo de la Fuente

Horse fecal methane and carbon dioxide productions and fermentation kinetics influenced by Lactobacillus farciminis supplemented diet

ABSTRACT The effect of equine fecal inocula on the in vitro gas, methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) production was elucidated in the present study. Fecal inocula were obtained from four Azteca horses (aged 5–8 years, 480 ± 20.1 kg). In vitro fermentation (up to 48 hours) was performed with substrate consisting of 50% (w/w) oat straw and 50% (w/w) of a commercial concentrate in the presence of a commercial Lactobacillus farciminis product (0–6 mg/g DM of substrate). Incorporation of L. farciminis resulted in increased levels of asymptotic gas (GP), CH4, and CO2 production (P < .05). The lag time and the rate of GP were shown to be independent from L. farciminis addition (linear, P > .05; quadric, P > .05). Furthermore, a slight reduction in fermentation pH (linear, P = .029) and higher metabolizable energy values (P = .001) were obtained with L. farciminis supplementation in a dose‐dependent manner. No significant impact of L. farciminis on dry matter degradability values was estimated (P > .05). In vitro gas, CH4, and CO2 production were increased (linear, P ≤ .001) in the presence of L. farciminis from 6 hours of incubation onward. In conclusion, addition of L. farciminis at a dose‐dependent manner (2–6 mg/g DM of diet) was observed to be persuasive in terms of attaining amicable hindgut fermentation by improving fecal gas kinetics viz. gas, CH4, and CO2 production without any side effect. HighlightsLactobacillus farciminis at 2–6 mg/g dry matter of diet improved asymptotic gas production.Methane and carbon dioxide production increased up to 48 hours at higher doses of additive.Significant reduction in fermentation pH and higher metabolizable energy were reported.Consequences of L. farciminis on fecal gas emission in horse feeding were emphasized.

Mineral Status and Interrelationship in Soil, Forage, and Blood Serum of Horses in the Rainy and Dry Seasons

Abstract The objective was to evaluate the content of P, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cu, Fe, Zn, Se, and Mn in soil, forage, and serum of horses in several production units (PU) during rainy and dry seasons and predict their concentration in serum from their content in soil and forage. Soil and pastures were sampled in the dry (November–December) and in rainy seasons (June–July), and blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 76 horses in both seasons at four PU. The experimental design was a completely random design within a 4 × 2 (PU × season) factorial arrangement of treatments. Concentration of minerals in soil differed (P < .05) among PU, and contents of P, Ca, Mg, and K were low; Zn and Fe were high; and Cu and Mn were adequate. Mineral concentrations in forage differed among PU and season, and among PU within season (interaction P < .05). Contents of Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, and Cu were low; Fe was high; and P, K, Se, and Mn adequate. The mineral concentration in equine blood serum differed (P < .05) among PU and season. Overall, there were deficiencies of P, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, and Se, but adequate amounts of K, Zn, and Fe. There are imbalances of minerals in soil and forages which effected their concentration inequine blood. HighlightsConcentrations of P, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, and Se were deficiency in equine serum.Equine serum has adequate amounts of K, Zn, and Fe.Higher regression effect (R2 = 0.97) in serum iron with forage.Lower regression effect (R2 = 0.54) in serum copper with forage.