Intake and apparent digestibility of hay or hay plus concentrate diets determined in horses by the total collection of feces and n-alkanes as internal markers

摘要: Abstract The apparent digestibility of hays plus two commercial mixed feeds containing about 14% and 11.8% crude fiber (CF), respectively as was determined by means in vivo trials, each performed on 4 or 5 saddle horses weighing average 550 535 kg, respectively, over a 6 day feces total collection period with previous 14 adaptation period. diets were based first cut meadow hay – whose estimated trial different percentages the at feeding level close to maintenance. rich by-product from citrus fruit industry (citrus pulp) apple (apple pectin pulp). forage concentrate ratio was, 50:50, 75:25 100:0 dry matter basis (Diets 1, 2 3) and, 50:50 5) second trial. matter, organic gross energy, protein measured ingesta/excreta procedure using most abundant n-alkanes (C27, C29, C31) internal markers for all rations hays. No differences found among coefficients obtained method n-alkanes. use determinations is neither precise nor accurate, but can be advised free ranging animals, when impossible. Taking into account that accuracy this later comparable, we suggest selecting high concentration highest fecal recovery; C29 C31 (the particular) resulted best choice.