Pearson R A, Merritt J B
Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Roslin, Midlothian, UK.
Equine Vet J. 1991 Sep;23(5):339-43. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb03734.x.
Four donkeys and four ponies maintained in climate rooms, were provided with meadow hay or barley straw supplemented with minerals and vitamins ad libitum. Both diets were given to all animals for periods of 21 days. Measurements were made during the last seven days following single doses of two non-absorbable markers (Cr-fibre and Co-EDTA). After six weeks the donkeys repeated the trial, walking 14 km and ascending 260 m five days per week. At rest ponies ate more than donkeys, however the donkeys showed a higher digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) than the ponies. Both species lost weight, ate less and had a lower digestibility of DM, OM and energy on the straw than on the hay ration. Fibre digestibility (neutral detergent fibre [NDF] and ADF) was higher on the straw than the hay diet. Gastrointestinal transit time was slower in the donkeys than in the ponies on both diets. Both species showed a higher mean retention time of digesta on straw than on hay. Exercise had no significant effect on food intake and liveweight changes in the donkeys. Although digestibility coefficients were higher in exercised animals, the effect was not significant. We conclude that, although it is generally considered that donkeys can thrive better on poor feeds than ponies, when the animals are allowed ad libitum access to hay and straw better intakes by ponies may compensate for any differences in digestibility seen in donkeys. Intake of barley straw by both species was not sufficient to meet maintenance requirements.
将四头驴和四匹矮种马饲养在气候控制室内，随意提供给它们草地干草或大麦秸秆，并补充矿物质和维生素。两种日粮均连续21天喂给所有动物。在单次给予两种不可吸收标记物（铬纤维和钴乙二胺四乙酸）后的最后七天进行测量。六周后，驴重复试验，每周五天行走14公里并爬升260米。休息时，矮种马比驴吃得更多，然而驴对干物质（DM）、有机物（OM）和酸性洗涤纤维（ADF）的消化率高于矮种马。两种动物在食用秸秆时体重均减轻，进食量减少，DM、OM和能量的消化率均低于食用干草日粮时。秸秆上的纤维消化率（中性洗涤纤维[NDF]和ADF）高于干草日粮。两种日粮下，驴的胃肠道通过时间均比矮种马慢。两种动物在秸秆上的食糜平均停留时间均比在干草上长。运动对驴的采食量和体重变化没有显著影响。尽管运动动物的消化率系数较高，但效果并不显著。我们得出结论，虽然一般认为驴在劣质饲料上比矮种马生长得更好，但当动物可以随意获取干草和秸秆时，矮种马更好的采食量可能会弥补在驴身上看到的消化率差异。两种动物对大麦秸秆的摄入量均不足以满足维持需求。
