Nutrient content changes from steaming or soaking timothy-alfalfa hay: effects on feed preferences and acute glycemic response in Standardbred racehorses1.

ABSTRACT: Soaking hay and steaming hay are strategies that are used to reduce respirable dust particles for horses but may result in variable nutrient losses, including nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) and minerals. Since these losses have not been quantified in Canadian hay yet, the first aim of this study was to identify nutrient losses from first-cut timothy-alfalfa hay grown in southern Ontario, Canada, after soaking for 30 min or steaming for 60 min. It is uncertain whether horses prefer hay when it is dry, soaked, or steamed. To address this, 13 Standardbred racehorses were offered 2 of these hays side by side for 30 min on 6 consecutive occasions until all possible combinations had been offered. Quantity of hay eaten was determined and horses were video recorded during feedings to assess tim

SUBMITTER: Owens TG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6776268 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature