Effect of odontoplasty on apparent digestibility and consumption time of diet for equines

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of odontoplasty on apparent digestibility of diet for horses, consumption time, and particle size of feces. Nine horses were used, aged 14.5±3.3 years and weightng 531±38.7kg. The diet consisted of 1.5% of live weight (LW) in Tifton 85 hay and 0.75% of LW in concentrate for both assays. The experiment consisted of two tests of apparent digestibility using the method of total collection, before and after the odontoplasty, where the consumption time of hay and concentrate was also evaluated and the particle size of the feces was analyzed. An effect (P<0.05) of odontoplasty on the apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber was observed. Effect of the consumption time for the concentrate (P<0.05) was observed, but not for the forage (P<0.05). There was more retention (P<0.05) of the fecal particles in the sieves of bigger granulometry. The odontoplasty increases the digestibility of dietary nutrients and feces particle size, without changing feces quality. Animals after the procedure have shorter concentrate consumption time.

摘要 本研究旨在探讨牙成形术（odontoplasty）对马匹日粮表观消化率、采食时长以及粪便粒径的影响。试验共选用9匹年龄为14.5±3.3岁、体重为531±38.7kg的马匹。两次试验的日粮均为：占活体重（LW）1.5%的蒂夫顿85（Tifton 85）干草，以及占活体重0.75%的精补饲料。本试验采用全收粪法开展两次表观消化率试验，分别在牙成形术前后进行，同时评估干草与精补饲料的采食时长，并分析粪便粒径分布。结果显示，牙成形术对干物质、有机质、粗蛋白质、中性洗涤纤维以及酸性洗涤纤维的表观消化率均存在显著影响（P<0.05）。精补饲料的采食时长存在显著变化（P<0.05），但牧草采食时长无显著变化。粪便颗粒在大粒径筛网上的留存率更高（P<0.05）。牙成形术可提升日粮营养物质的消化率与粪便粒径，且不会改变粪便品质；接受该手术的马匹精补饲料采食时长更短。