In vitro nutrient evaluation of energy supplements in horses.

Abstract

An attempt was made to evaluate the energy supplements for horses by gas production technique by taking 6 commonly available feeds. In the study NDF% was highest in pearl millet (32.24) and oats (32.07), followed by barley (17.93). ADF ranged from 3.42 (maize grain) to 16.45% (pearl millet); similarly maximum amount of cellulose was in pearl millet (13.90) and minimum in maize (2.88%). ADL content ranged from 0.24 (maize) to 2.98% (oats); and hemicellulose content was highest in oats (18.27) and pearl millet (15.79). AIA content was lowest in sweet potato tuber, oats, maize, wheat and pearl millet. EE% of DM ranged from 1.73% in pearl millet to 4.03% in maize. Total ash (TA) content was highest in oats (2.83) and lowest in pearl millet (1.97). Starch% of NSC, ranged from 89.80% (wheat) to 99.43% (pearl millet). DE (Mcal/kg) varied from 3.17 (pearl millet) to 3.88 (maize). However, the NSC (%DM) was highest in wheat (70.17%) and lowest oats (52.78%). CP% DM varied from 24.36% (sweet potato) to 9.46% (barley). NDICP% of CP ranged from 4.16% (wheat) to 15.72% (maize). ADICP% of CP ranged from 2.05% (wheat) to 6.88% (pearl millet). SOLP % of CP was highest in oats (53.03), whereas lowest was in maize (13.88%). However, NPN% of SOLP was maximum in pearl millet grain (98.39%) and minimum in oats grain (20.94). In vitro true dry matter digestibility (%) was highest in sweet potato (83.94%) followed by pearl millet (83.23%), wheat grain (82.04%) and lowest in oats grain (70.44%). IVOMD followed the similar pattern as in IVDMD (%). CH4 production (g/ kg DM incubated) ranged from 6.30 (oats grain) to 12.6 (wheat). Highest methane production (g/kg TDMD and g/kg TOMD) was observed in wheat grain (14.54 and 15.30) and lowest in oats grain (10.10 and 10.62).