Experimental crossover study on the effects of withholding feed for 24 h on the equine faecal bacterial microbiota in healthy mares.

ABSTRACT:

Background

An association between equine gastrointestinal disease causing colic signs and changes in faecal bacterial microbiota has been identified. The reasons for these changes and their clinical relevance has not been investigated. Withholding feed, which is an integral part of managing horses with colic, may contribute to the observed changes in the microbiota and impact interpretation of findings in horses with colic. Study objectives were, therefore, to determine the effect of withholding feed for 24 h on equine faecal bacterial microbiota in healthy mares to differentiate the effects of withholding feed from the changes potentially associated with the disease.

Results

Species richness and Shannon diversity (alpha diversity) were significantly lower at the late withhe

SUBMITTER: Willette JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7786913 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature