Date Available
12-19-2013
Year of Publication
2013
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
College
Agriculture, Food and Environment
Department/School/Program
Animal and Food Sciences
Advisor
Dr. Laurie Lawrence
Abstract
Much of the phosphorus (P) in grain-based concentrates fed to growing horses is in the form of phytate-P. Little is known about the ability of young horses to degrade phytate-P or whether age affects mineral digestion in horses. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of age on P, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) digestibility and phytate-P degradation. Four long yearling geldings and 4 mature geldings were fed a diet of alfalfa cubes, timothy cubes and a pelleted concentrate. The diet contained 0.28% total P and 17.4% of that P was in the phytate form. There was a 14-d diet adaptation period followed by a 4-d fecal collection period. There was no difference in apparent P digestibility between the 2 age groups (P > 0.05). Phytate-P disappearance was 94.8% and did not differ between ages (P > 0.05). Apparent Ca digestibility tended to be higher in mature geldings (P = 0.0526), but apparent Mg digestibility did not differ between ages (P > 0.05). Long yearlings have the same ability to digest P and Mg as mature geldings, but more research is needed to determine the effect of age on Ca digestibilities.
Recommended Citation
Fowler, Ashley, "PHOSPHORUS DIGESTIBILITY AND PHYTATE DEGRADATION IN LONG YEARLINGS AND MATURE HORSES" (2013). Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences. 30.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/animalsci_etds/30
