Characterisation of microbial metabolite profiles across the gastrointestinal tract of horses fed on pasture, hay or oat-supplemented rations

Milena Marie Santo, Martin Bachmann, Gerald Fritz Schusser, Monika Wensch-Dorendorf, Caroline Pisch, Mandy Bochnia, Liane Hüther, Karin Heinichen and Annette Zeyner

PLOS ONE, 2026, vol. 21, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: Dietary composition substantially influences the intensity and site of microbial metabolite production in the gastrointestinal tract. These metabolites have numerous beneficial effects on equine health, but may also be involved in the development of gastrointestinal disorders. It remains unclear whether different feeding strategies, including starch supplementation, can alter microbial metabolite profiles along the gastrointestinal tract. This study aimed to compare the metabolite profiles of the microbial communities in the gastrointestinal tract of horses fed on pasture 24 h/day (PST; n = 4), hay ad libitum (HAY; n = 8) or hay ad libitum and oats at 1 g starch/kg body weight (BW)/meal (OS1; n = 6) or 2 g starch/kg BW/meal (OS2; n = 6). After the feeding period, the horses were euthanised and dissected. Digesta samples were taken from different sections of the gastrointestinal tract and analysed for dry matter content, pH, short chain fatty acids (SCFA), ammonia and lactate. Significant differences were found among the sections for each parameter (P

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0359277

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0359277

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