Dietary Trace Mineral Level and Source Affect Fecal Bacterial Mineral Incorporation and Mineral Leaching Potential of Equine Feces

Ashley L. Fowler, Mieke Brümmer-Holder and Karl A. Dawson
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Ashley L. Fowler: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
Mieke Brümmer-Holder: Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
Karl A. Dawson: Alltech Inc., Center for Animal Nutrigenomics and Applied Animal Nutrition, Nicholasville, KY 40356, USA

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 24, 1-12

Abstract: Minerals excreted in feces have the potential to leach or runoff to water-ways, negatively impacting water quality. This study examined the effect of dietary trace mineral levels, and their source, on the leaching potential of minerals from equine feces. Nine horses were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin Square, with three dietary treatments provided as pellets: no added trace minerals (CON), added inorganic trace minerals (ING), and added organic trace minerals (ORG). Supplemental trace minerals included Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn. Horses were allowed ad libitum access to forage and fed their treatment pellets for 16 days prior to fecal sample collection. Estimated dietary mineral intake exceeded requirements for supplemented minerals. Regardless of the source, adding dietary trace minerals increased the fecal leaching potential of Cu, Zn, and P ( p < 0.05). More Co leached from ORG compared to ING, while Zn leached in greater amounts from ING compared to ORG ( p < 0.05). Fecal bacterial Zn content was greater ( p < 0.05) for ORG compared to ING. Negative correlations were observed between bacterial mineral content and leaching for several minerals. Supplementing trace minerals in forms that increase microbial incorporation may provide a strategy to control fecal mineral leaching.

Keywords: bacterial biomass; leaching; trace mineral (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:7107-:d:296826

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