Investigations on amount and composition of the gastrointestinal tract and postprandial parameters in blood and urine according to type of feed

Untersuchung zum Einfluss der Futterart auf Füllung und Zusammensetzung des Verdauungskanals sowie postprandiale Blut- und Harnparameter

Meyer H, Stadermann B, Radicke S, Kienzle E, Nyari A

DOI: 10.21836/PEM19930102
Year: 1993
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Pages: 15-25

In an experiment with 8 ponies, which were fed twice daily with hay or concentrate (corn 84%, wheat bran 12%) * 10% hay (a animals each group), the apparent digestibility of organic and inorganic feed components, the time course of postprandial (ppr). water intake and renal output as well as several parameters in blood (protein, urea, glucose, triglycerids, minerals) were investigated. Post mortem (5 h ppr.) the fill of the gastrointestinal tract (crude and bound water, dry matter, major elements) and the mineral composition of the bile were estimated. The apparent digestibility of organic matter was lower with hay than with concentrare feeding (30% points). The digestibility of crude protein was nearly identical with both diets. The main part of water intake was observed during feed intake (with hay more than with mixed feed). The renal warer output showed a delayed increase (4th h ppr.) with both ration types and peaked in the 6th h ppr., followed by an ondulatory time course later on. The net absorption of calcium was significantly higher with hay (56%) than with concenrrate feeding (45%). For magnesium and phosphorus no significant differences could be recognized. After hay feeding significant elevations of total plasma protein (23 %; reduction of plasma volume) and urea levels in plasma were observed during the 1st and 2nd h pp.. The level of blood glucose increased within t h according ro concentrate (with high starch content) feeding from 57 to 85 mgldl and in the 3rd h ppr. to 99 mg/dl. Hay feeding resulted in a moderare augmentation from 63 to 86 mgldl. The amouts of dry matter in the intestinal tract were nearly identical with both feeding groups with a rrend to higher amounts in the dorsal colon and lower in the cecum and ventral colon in concentrate fed ponies. The water (84-122 mg/kgBV), Na and K contents (244-308 mg sodium; 198-230 mg potassium/kg BW in the intestinal tract with roughage feeding exceeded those in the concentrate group (water 30%; sodium -120%; potassium 16%), whereas no differences were obtained for chloride (121-136 mglkg BW. The pan of bound water in chyme rose up predominantly in the small colon and feces. The pH in chyme was significantly higher with hay (7,4-8,3) than with mixed feed (5,4-7,6). The Na concentration in the chyme reached maximal values in the small intestine (up to 4,1 mmol/kg fresh marter) and tended to decrease in the large bowel. The Ca, Mg and P contents in the chyme (dry matter) increased continuously in the distal segments of intestine with significant higher concentrations in the mixed feed group. The Na and Cl contents of bile were comparable to those of plasma, the other major and trace elements were present in higher concentrations.