Parvin Sareminejad; Ali Kiani; Ayoub Azizi
Abstract
Introduction The natural behavior of horses is to spend the most of their time foraging. The feeding time of stabled horses is often far from enough to fulfill their natural eating behavior. Hay-net technique is a method aiming to promote natural foraging behavior, slowing ingestion and increasing the ...
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Introduction The natural behavior of horses is to spend the most of their time foraging. The feeding time of stabled horses is often far from enough to fulfill their natural eating behavior. Hay-net technique is a method aiming to promote natural foraging behavior, slowing ingestion and increasing the length of feeding time. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of using a slow-feed (hay-net) on feeding time, forage intake rate, apparent digestibility, volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration, bacterial population, and the activity of cellulolytic and amylolytic enzymes in the colon of horses.Materials and Methods Eight Arabian horses (body weight= 396± 45 kg, age= 9±3 years) were used in a cross-over design. The length of the experimental period was eight weeks, which included two periods of four weeks in rotation. In each period, feed was provided for four horses freely and for other four horses using a hay net. Fecal samples were collected on days 21 to 28 of each period.Results and Discussion The results showed that using hay net significantly increased feeding time from 257 to 659 minutes per day and decreased forage intake rate from 1592 and 610 g/h (P<0.05). The hay-net did not affect the total VFA and relative VFAs concentrations (P< 0.05). Lactobacillus populations in horses with hay-net increased compared to those without hay-net (P<0.05). The populations of cellulolytic, amylolytic, Escherichia coli, and coliforms bacteria were unchanged by hay-net. The activity of carboxy methyl cellulase enzyme significantly increased (P<0.05), while the activity of microcrystalline cellulase, amylase, and filter paper decomposition activity was not affected by hay-net.Conclusion In comparison with the more traditional methods, slow-feed hay net devices successfully limited the forage intake rate, expanded feeding time, and changed the activity of some fiber-decomposing enzymes in the large intestine of horses; however, the recommendation of hay-nets for nutritional management in horses needs further investigations.
Fatemeh Yarahmadi; Ali Kiani; Raziye Dekami; Hamidreza Sahraie; Ayoub Azizi; Alireza Rocky
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary betaine supplementation on circulating homocysteine, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in pregnant Sanjabi ewes. Twenty multiparous pregnant ewes (3-5 years old) were fed either a basal diet (Control: 71.2±3.6 kg BW) or the ...
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The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary betaine supplementation on circulating homocysteine, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in pregnant Sanjabi ewes. Twenty multiparous pregnant ewes (3-5 years old) were fed either a basal diet (Control: 71.2±3.6 kg BW) or the basal diet supplemented with five g per kg dry matter betaine (Betaine: 71.6±3.8 kg BW) during the last five weeks of gestation in a completely random design. Feed intake, body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) were weekly recorded. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein at 28, 14, seven, and one-day pre-partum. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and blood concentration of homocysteine, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. Dry matter intake, BCS, and BW of ewes were not affected by betaine consumption. In both groups, the activity of GPx increased (P<0.05), while CAT and MDA decreased (P<0.05) as gestation progressed. The activity of GPx and CAT remained unchanged by betaine. Ewes receiving betaine showed greater (P<0.05) blood homocysteine, but lower (P<0.05) MDA as compared to the control ewes. The birth weight of lambs in Betaine ewes was heavier (P=0.06) than those of control ewes. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of betaine was beneficial for alleviating oxidative stress and improving lambs' birth weight in Sanjabi ewes.
Ali Kiani; Ayoob Azizi shotor-khoft
Abstract
Effects of feeding sequence and boiling of barley on digestibility of fiber and activity of hydrolytic enzymes in colonic contents of horse were investigated. The experiment carried out in a completely randomized design using six Arabian mares in a factorial cross-over with four consecutive periods. ...
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Effects of feeding sequence and boiling of barley on digestibility of fiber and activity of hydrolytic enzymes in colonic contents of horse were investigated. The experiment carried out in a completely randomized design using six Arabian mares in a factorial cross-over with four consecutive periods. The concentrate part of the ration was offered either 30 min after (F-C) or 30 min before (C-F) forage feeding. Barley grain was either boiled (processed) or crushed (not processed). At the end of each period, fecal sample was collected directly from rectum and the activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, microcrystalline cellulase, filter paper degrading, and α-amylase enzyme were determined. Results showed that dry matter, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber intakes were significantly higher in C- F than those in F-C (P<0.05). Feeding sequence had no effects on digestibility of fiber and on activity of carboxymethyl cellulase, microcrystalline cellulase and filter paper degrading activity. Amylase activity was significantly increased in C-F and decreased by boiling barley (P<0.05). When processed barley was used, the activity of carboxymethyl cellulase decreased in F-C but increased in C-F. In conclusion, using F-C feeding sequence and boiling barley showed positive effects on the activity of hydrolytic enzymes in rectal contents of Aabian mares.