In the interest of decreasing feed costs while maximizing the growth of weanling horses, this study examined the potential difference in the average daily gain （ADG）, gain to feed ratio （G/F）, and apparent dry mat...In the interest of decreasing feed costs while maximizing the growth of weanling horses, this study examined the potential difference in the average daily gain （ADG）, gain to feed ratio （G/F）, and apparent dry matter and crude protein digestibility in horses fed with the same diet provided in different feeder types. Sixteen weanling standardbred horses were used for the duration of the 9-week study. The horses were given 2.5% of their body weight in hay and grain daily, 2% hay and 0.5% grain, as fed in two equal feedings at 7：00 am and 7：00 pm. The first treatment used a combined hay and grain feeder with the hay rack positioned over a manger compartment. The second treatment provided hay in an open hay rack and grain in a separate, open-topped feed tub, not positioned under the hay rack. The two groups, with eight horses--four female and four male in each group, were fed in one manner or the other for the length of the study. The weanlings fed in the combined hay and grain feeder had a greater ADG （0.52 kg/d vs. 0.41 kg/d） and G/F （0.06 vs. 0.05） than the horses with the separate hay and grain feeders. Both ADG and G/F means between treatments were statistically different （P 〈 0.05）. There was not a significant difference （P 〉 0.05） in the apparent digestibility of dry matter or crude protein between the two groups. Therefore, it was concluded that the combined feeding system resulted in greater growth and apparent G/F most likely due to decreased feed wastage; however, apparent digestibility was not different between feeding systems.展开更多
Fourteen yearling standardbred horses were used to test the hypothesis that hay and grain fed as a complete total mixed ration （TMR） cube diet （C） would result in greater average daily gain （ADG）, feed efficien...Fourteen yearling standardbred horses were used to test the hypothesis that hay and grain fed as a complete total mixed ration （TMR） cube diet （C） would result in greater average daily gain （ADG）, feed efficiency （gain to feed ratio, G/F） and apparent digestibility in horses on the TMR diet compared to horses fed the same weight and proportion of hay cubes and grain fed separately （diet HG）. Both diets consisted of 75% forage and 25% ground oats. The forage in both the plain hay cubes and the complete cubes was 80% alfalfa and 20% endophyte-free tall rescue. An additional hypothesis that stomach ulceration would not differ between horses fed either of the two diet treatments was also tested by comparing upper gastric endoscopies before and after 70 days of feeding the experimental diets. Horses fed diet C had greater ADG （P 〈 0.046） while G/F between the two treatments was not significantly different （P 〉 0.065） but showed a trend to be higher in the horses consuming diet C. Apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude protein was not different between the diet treatments, and no major gastric ulceration was found in horses consuming either diet treatment. The results of this study found that a complete cubed diet of 75% hay and 25% oats did not cause stomach ulceration while achieving an acceptable growth rate in yearling horses.展开更多
文摘In the interest of decreasing feed costs while maximizing the growth of weanling horses, this study examined the potential difference in the average daily gain （ADG）, gain to feed ratio （G/F）, and apparent dry matter and crude protein digestibility in horses fed with the same diet provided in different feeder types. Sixteen weanling standardbred horses were used for the duration of the 9-week study. The horses were given 2.5% of their body weight in hay and grain daily, 2% hay and 0.5% grain, as fed in two equal feedings at 7：00 am and 7：00 pm. The first treatment used a combined hay and grain feeder with the hay rack positioned over a manger compartment. The second treatment provided hay in an open hay rack and grain in a separate, open-topped feed tub, not positioned under the hay rack. The two groups, with eight horses--four female and four male in each group, were fed in one manner or the other for the length of the study. The weanlings fed in the combined hay and grain feeder had a greater ADG （0.52 kg/d vs. 0.41 kg/d） and G/F （0.06 vs. 0.05） than the horses with the separate hay and grain feeders. Both ADG and G/F means between treatments were statistically different （P 〈 0.05）. There was not a significant difference （P 〉 0.05） in the apparent digestibility of dry matter or crude protein between the two groups. Therefore, it was concluded that the combined feeding system resulted in greater growth and apparent G/F most likely due to decreased feed wastage; however, apparent digestibility was not different between feeding systems.
文摘Fourteen yearling standardbred horses were used to test the hypothesis that hay and grain fed as a complete total mixed ration （TMR） cube diet （C） would result in greater average daily gain （ADG）, feed efficiency （gain to feed ratio, G/F） and apparent digestibility in horses on the TMR diet compared to horses fed the same weight and proportion of hay cubes and grain fed separately （diet HG）. Both diets consisted of 75% forage and 25% ground oats. The forage in both the plain hay cubes and the complete cubes was 80% alfalfa and 20% endophyte-free tall rescue. An additional hypothesis that stomach ulceration would not differ between horses fed either of the two diet treatments was also tested by comparing upper gastric endoscopies before and after 70 days of feeding the experimental diets. Horses fed diet C had greater ADG （P 〈 0.046） while G/F between the two treatments was not significantly different （P 〉 0.065） but showed a trend to be higher in the horses consuming diet C. Apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude protein was not different between the diet treatments, and no major gastric ulceration was found in horses consuming either diet treatment. The results of this study found that a complete cubed diet of 75% hay and 25% oats did not cause stomach ulceration while achieving an acceptable growth rate in yearling horses.
