In vitro gas production from colon contents in electrolyte supplemented horses

Abstract

Electrolyte overload is a common preventive practice. However, its impact on the fermentation process has never been studied. This work aimed to evaluate the impact of different levels of electrolyte supplementation on fermentation process from right dorsal colon contents of horses. Experimental design was a split-plot randomized blocks and treatments were electrolyte supplementation: control; medium and high dose. Inoculum was obtained from three horses cannulated at right dorsal colon. Coast-cross hay was used as substrate. In vitro gas production technique and a bicompartimental fermentation model were used. No significant effects of electrolyte supplementation were observed on coast-cross hay fermentation profile. The model parameters observed were Vf1 20.3 ml; C1 23.4% h-1; L 6.4 h; Vf2 121.9 ml; C2 2.8% h-1. Oral electrolyte did not alter in vitro fermentation characteristics of inoculum from right dorsal colon collected after 12 hours of supplementation.