Horsetalk.co.nz Withholding feed for 10 hours or more has a big effect on gut bacteria in horses, findings suggest
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Withholding feed has a significant effect on the diversity and composition of the faecal bacterial microbiota of horses, particularly after 10 hours, researchers report.
Jaclyn Willette and her fellow researchers said there is an association between equine gastrointestinal disease-causing colic signs and changes in the faecal bacterial microbiota.
The reasons for these changes and their clinical relevance has not been investigated, they noted.
The researchers, with the New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania, said withholding feed, which is an integral part of managing horses with colic, may contribute to the observed changes in the microbiota. This, in turn, could affect the interpretation of findings in horses with colic.
Is Colic The Only Reason For Bacterial Changes In The Gut? Probably Not Sponsored by:
It s long been known that the best way to prevent ulcers in horses is to make sure they have something to eat preferably forage nearly constantly. But what happens if feed and hay are withheld to not exacerbate a problem, like colic?
Drs. Jaclyn Willette, Dipti Pitta, Nagaraju Indugu, Bonnie Vecchiarelli, Meagan Hennessy, Tamara Dobbie and Louise Southwood found that the bacterial population of a horse s gut changes if he has been without food for at least 10 hours.
Chronic gastrointestinal disease leads to a decrease in variety of bacterial species in the gut of humans and cattle; the same is thought to be true for horses.