Inverkan av foderstatens sammansättning på mag-tarmkanalens mikrobiota hos häst

Abstract: The horse is adapted to consume fiber rich feed in small portions, often and evenly distributed over the day. Even so, 98 % of Swedish horse owners feed their horses with concentrates, which are often rich in starch and low in fiber. Feeding only roughage gives a more stable fecal microbiota compared to feeding a combination of roughage and concentrates. Abrupt feed changes between forages similar in nutritional composition but preserved with different methods (i.e. hay and silage produced from the same harvest) has small or no impact on microbial composition in the hindgut. Feeding concentrates rich in starch results in a higher amount of lactic acid bacteria in the different segments of the gastro-intestinal tract and faeces. Difference in amount of crude protein in forage seems to have limited effect on microbial composition in the hindgut.