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Horses eating high-energy forage tended to have a more stable population of gut bacteria than horses whose diets contained a higher level of carbohydrates. There were also fewer species of undesirable gut bacteria when horses were kept on a high-forage diet. These were the conclusions of an equine dietary study carried out at the Swedish University of Agricultural Science.

Six mature Standardbred geldings in training were used in the study. The horses were put into two dietary groups. Horses in the F group were fed haylage made from early-cut timothy and meadow fescue for 29 days. Horses in the C group were fed late-cut timothy and meadow fescue, ground chalk, and a concentrate feed made from oats, soy meal, wheat bran, and a small amount of sugar for the same period. The concentrate was fed in three equal daily meals. All horses were given vitamins, minerals, and salt. Manure samples were collected and analyzed each week.

Results of analysis showed that horses on diet F had a gut microbial composition that changed least between samples. Undesirable bacterial species such as Streptococcus bovis/equinus were found in lower numbers in the F group than in the C group. All horses on the C diet had populations of Lactobacillus ruminis, a microbe that was not found in horses on the F diet. Horses in the C group also showed an increased number of Clostridium bacteria compared to horses on the F diet.

Dr. Kathleen Crandell, an equine nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research, says, “Feeding a high level of carbohydrate-rich grain can lead to changes in the type and number of gut bacteria in horses. These changes in feeding can impact the pH of the horse’s gastrointestinal tract, increasing the risk for colic, laminitis, and ulceration. Whenever possible, equine diets should be based on high-quality forage, with grain included only as necessary to provide additional energy for the horse’s level of performance.”

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