China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2023, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (10): 4005-4014.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2023.10.014

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of Different Grains on Enzyme Activity,Starch Content and VFA Concentration in Intestinal Contents of Weanling Foals

CHEN Hui, LI Chao, CHEN Kaixu, ZANG Changjiang, MA Chen   

  1. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Key Laboratory of Herbivores for Meat and Dairy, College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
  • Received:2023-03-23 Online:2023-10-05 Published:2023-09-26

Abstract: 【Objective】 The experiment was aimed to investigate the effects of different grains on the enzyme activity,starch content and VFA concentration in the intestinal contents of weaned foals,and to provide a reference for the development and health of the intestinal tract,nutrient digestion and ration mix of weaned foals.【Method】 Eighteen Kazakh male foals with similar birth date and weight (112.39 kg±7.50 kg) and weaned at 5 months of age were selected and randomly divided into three groups of six foals each and supplemented with maize,oats and barley.Under the same roughage condition,the supplemental feeding amount of each group was determined by the principle of equal starch,and a 60 d supplemental feeding trial was conducted.After the foals were slaughtered,the contents of each intestinal segment were collected and the amylase activity,amylose content and volatile fatty acid(VFA)concentration were determined.【Result】 ①The small intestinal amylase activity of foals in the oat group was higher than that in the maize group (P<0.01) and barley group (P<0.05).The small intestinal β-amylase activity of foals in the maize group was higher than that in the oat and barley groups (P<0.01).② The ileal branched-chain amylose content of foals in the oat group was lower than that in the maize and barley groups (P<0.01),the straight-chain amylose content was lower than that in the maize group (P<0.05),and the fecal branched-chain amylose content was higher than that in the barley group (P<0.05).The cecum straight-chain amylose content of foals in the maize group was lower than that in the oat group (P<0.05) and barley group (P<0.01),and the colonic rectal starch content was also lower than that of the oat and barley groups (P<0.05).③ Total ileal VFA concentration in the oat and barley groups were higher than that in the maize group (P<0.01).Cecum valeric acid content (P<0.05) and isovaleric acid content (P<0.01) in the maize group were higher than that in oat and barley groups,and colonic valeric acid content was higher than that in the barley group (P<0.01).【Conclusion】 Corn and oat starch showed better improvement of enzyme activity in the small intestine of foals.Oat starch had better digestion and utilization in the ileum of foals,while in the cecum and colon of foals,corn starch had better digestion and utilization.

Key words: grains; weanling foals; enzyme activity; starch content; volatile fatty acids

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