Effect of forage conservation method on microbial flora and fermentation pattern in forage and in equine colon and faeces

The influence of forage conservation method on microbial and chemical composition in forage and on colon content and faeces in horses fed with the forages was investigated. Hay (815 g DM/kg), haylage (548 g DM/kg) and silage (343 g DM/kg) was produced from the same grass crop and fed to four fistulated horses in a crossover study. Horses were sampled in right ventral colon and of faeces after a feeding period of 21 days (for each forage). Fermentation kinetics of right ventral colon was also studied on two subsequent days in each period, with sampling times immediately before and 2, 4, 8 and 12 h after the morning meal. Forage conservation method influenced microbial and chemical composition of the forages. Silage differed from haylage and hay in more variables than haylage differed from hay. However, the different forage types had similar influence on microbial and chemical composition of right ventral colon content and faeces in horses at Day 21, with the exception of counts of Streptococci which were highest when horses were fed with hay. However, interaction among forage types and sampling locations (right ventral colon and faeces) was also present for Streptococci as well as for pH. In general, pH was lower and counts of lactate utilizing and lactate producing bacteria were higher in faeces compared to right ventral colon. Fermentation kinetics in colon varied little among forage types and sampling times, and no interaction between forage types and sampling times were found, indicating that silage, haylage and hay had very similar fermentation kinetics in right ventral colon of horses. In conclusion, silage, haylage and hay produced from the same grass crop tended to produce similar responses in microbial and chemical composition in right ventral colon and faeces in horses fed with the forages.