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Macronutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, plasma indicators of protein metabolism and mineral absorption in horses fed a ration rich in sugar beet pulp
Author(s) -
Olsman A. F. S.,
Huurdeman C. M.,
Jansen W. L.,
Haaksma J.,
OldruitenborghOosterbaan M. M. Sloet,
Beynen A. C.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1439-0396
pISSN - 0931-2439
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2004.00487.x
Subject(s) - sugar beet , chemistry , excretion , mineral absorption , beet pulp , dry matter , nitrogen balance , pulp (tooth) , zoology , urea , carbohydrate , ammonia , nitrogen , urine , food science , agronomy , biochemistry , biology , calcium , medicine , organic chemistry , pathology
Summary In a cross‐over study with six mature horses, the effect of iso‐energetic replacement of dietary glucose by beet pulp on macronutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and mineral absorption was studied. The test ration contained 25% beet pulp in the total dietary dry matter. Beet pulp feeding significantly lowered crude fat and non‐structural carbohydrate digestibility, but had no significant effect on digestibility of other macronutrients, faecal and urinary nitrogen excretion and the faecal to urinary nitrogen excretion quotient. However, on the beet pulp diet, plasma ammonia and creatinin concentrations were significantly lower than on the glucose diet. No diet effect on magnesium absorption was observed. It is suggested that dietary beet pulp stimulates the conversion of ammonia into urea.