Huang Xinxin, Li Qian, Li Xuanyue, Li Chao, Li Jiahao, He Linjiao, Jing Hongxin, Yang Fan, Li Xiaobin
College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Herbivore Nutrition for Meat & Milk, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Equine Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830052, China.
BMC Vet Res. 2025 Apr 14;21(1):273. doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04716-w.
China's equine industry has shifted from traditional rough grazing to modern intensive farming, expanding the roles of horses into eventing, leisure, tourism, and meat and dairy production. Concurrently, equine nutrition has evolved from a forage-based diet to a more diverse regimen incorporating grain supplements to meet the heightened energy demands of intensive farming. However, nutrient digestibility and glycemic response vary considerably based on grain type, starch content, composition, and structural properties. Optimal grain selection is therefore essential for energy supplementation across developmental stages to sustain growth and performance. This study examines the impact of diets incorporating steam-flaked grains (corn, oats, and barley) on apparent nutrient digestibility, glycemic response, and fecal volatile fatty acid (VFA) composition in the weaned Kazakh foals.
Eighteen male Kazakh foals, weaned at 5 months, were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 6 per group) based on grain type: corn group (CG), oats group (OG), and barley group (BG). The daily starch intake for the foals was set at 2 g starch (DM)/kg body weight per day to determine the amount of concentrate supplements to be fed, based on the principle of equal grain starch intake over a 60-day feeding trial.
Results indicated that the apparent nutrient digestibility was lower in OG than in CG and BG (P > 0.05). However, amylose intake and digestibility were significantly higher in OG compared to CG (P < 0.01). Plasma glucose and glucagon levels were elevated in CG relative to OG and BG (P < 0.01), while the insulin/glucose ratio was highest in the BG. Additionally, BG increased fecal lactic acid and total VFA (TVFA) concentrations while reducing fecal pH.
For weaned Kazakh foals, steam-flaked corn could be recommended in advance of steam-flaked oats and barley in cereal-based energy supplementation alongside basal forage diets. It may reduce amylose intake, improve glycemic responses, increase plasma glucose levels and reduce fecal lactic acid content.
中国的养马业已从传统的粗放放牧转变为现代集约化养殖，马的用途也扩展到了马术赛事、休闲、旅游以及肉奶生产。与此同时，马的营养从以草料为主的饮食演变为包含谷物补充剂的更多样化饮食方案，以满足集约化养殖对能量的更高需求。然而，营养物质的消化率和血糖反应会因谷物类型、淀粉含量、组成和结构特性而有很大差异。因此，选择最佳谷物对于不同发育阶段的能量补充以维持生长和性能至关重要。本研究考察了包含蒸汽压片谷物（玉米、燕麦和大麦）的日粮对断奶哈萨克驹表观营养物质消化率、血糖反应和粪便挥发性脂肪酸（VFA）组成的影响。
18匹5月龄断奶的雄性哈萨克驹，根据谷物类型随机分为三组（每组n = 6）：玉米组（CG）、燕麦组（OG）和大麦组（BG）。在为期60天的饲养试验中，根据谷物淀粉摄入量相等的原则，将驹的每日淀粉摄入量设定为2克淀粉（干物质）/千克体重，以确定要饲喂的精料补充量。
结果表明，OG组的表观营养物质消化率低于CG组和BG组（P > 0.05）。然而，与CG组相比，OG组的直链淀粉摄入量和消化率显著更高（P < 0.01）。与OG组和BG组相比，CG组的血浆葡萄糖和胰高血糖素水平升高（P < 0.01），而BG组的胰岛素/葡萄糖比值最高。此外，BG组增加了粪便乳酸和总挥发性脂肪酸（TVFA）浓度，同时降低了粪便pH值。
对于断奶哈萨克驹，在以谷物为基础的能量补充中，与基础草料日粮一起，蒸汽压片玉米可优先于蒸汽压片燕麦和大麦推荐使用。它可能会减少直链淀粉摄入量，改善血糖反应，提高血浆葡萄糖水平并降低粪便乳酸含量。
