Fibre Composition and Maturity of Forage-Based Diets Affects the Fluid Balance, Faecal Water-Holding Capacity and Microbial Ecosystem in French Trotters

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Horses are herbivores and hindgut fermenters, which makes forage-based diets a natural choice. Traditionally, diets for horses have comprised large portions of starch-rich concentrate shown to adversely affect intestinal health. Feeding more forage and less concentrate benefits health and performance in horses. However, forage nutritional quality can differ greatly and further studies on forage diets for horses are needed. Increased knowledge on which type of forages are suitable for different horse categories is important for the horse industry, advisors, veterinarians and the diet formulations industry. This study compared a grass forage diet, a legume forage diet and a concentrate and forage diet, on the fluid balance, body weight and function of the large intestine in French trotters. The results showed that an early-harvested grass forage diet implied greater faecal water-holding capacity without increasing body weight and greater faecal concentrations of total bacteria. In conclusion, early-harvested forage might promote the fluid balance of high-performing horses. Early-harvested forage that can fulfil the energy and protein requirements with no need to add concentrate also promotes hindgut health. ABSTRACT: Racing events challenge the fluid balance of athletic horses. The equine large intestine functions as a fluid reservoir, since the properties of dietary forage fibre affect the digesta water content and the milieu of this ecosystem. This study aimed to investigate the effect of grass maturity and legume forage on the faecal water-holding capacity (WHC) and microbial ecosystem, and the fluid balance and body weight (BW) of French trotters in race training. Six geldings were offered three diets with different fibre compositions: concentrate and late-harvested mature grass haylage (35:65 energy ratio) (CMGH); early-harvested grass haylage and mature grass haylage (80:20) (EGH); and lucerne and mature grass haylage (80:20) (LH), for 24 days in a Latin square design. Body weights were lower and faecal WHC higher when the horses were fed EGH compared to CMGH and LH (485 vs. 492 and 492 kg, p < 0.001; 12.6 vs. 11.1 and 11.4 g H(2)O/g dry faeces, p = 0.014, respectively). Total water intake and output did not differ between diets, but water excretion via faeces was lower and via urine was greater on EGH compared to CMGH and LH (13.1 vs. 18.8 and 17.6 kg, p = 0.001; 10.5 vs. 7.6 and 7.9 kg, p = 0.032, respectively). Total bacteria concentrations were higher on EGH than CMGH and LH (5.4 × 10(11) vs. 2.8 × 10(11) and 2.8 × 10(11) CFU/mL, p = 0.018, respectively). Concentrations of butyrate were greater, and pH was lower when fed EGH compared to CMGH and LH (3.0 vs. 2.0 and 1.6 mmol/L, p = 0.034; 6.5 vs. 6.9 and 7.2, p = 0.005, respectively). In conclusion, forage harvested at an early stage of maturity could benefit athletic horses’ fluid balance by providing a more available large intestine fluid reservoir without increasing BW.