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Mastication characterization of horses fed bermudagrass hay in a two-part field study
J Farmer Long1, R Hutton1, A Abrams1
1Department of Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, University of Georgia, 425 River Road, Athens, GA, 30602, United States.
Background:
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) is a common forage in the southeastern United States but remains controversial in equine diets due to reported associations with impaction colic. Reduced fiber digestibility has been proposed as a contributing factor, however differences in mastication of fine-stemmed bermudagrass hay have not been studied and may play a role in digestive disturbances.
Aims/Objectives:
To compare chewing characteristics, including chews per unit weight and chews per minute, in horses consuming bermudagrass hay compared to other common hay types.
Methods:
Two studies were conducted. In the preliminary study, five sport horse warmblood geldings (ages 16.4 ± 6.4 years, 534 ± 50 kg) routinely fed bermudagrass and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) hays were monitored for chewing activity. In the main study, eight horses (ages 5.5 ± 1 years, 5 mares, 3 geldings, 494.8 ± 29.8 kg, Quarter horse or Quarter horse cross) were fed bermudagrass, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) hay in a randomized block design at 1.5% of body weight (BW) as fed daily. Chewing activity was recorded using the EquiWatch® automated halter-based sensor.
Results:
Horses took fewer chews per kg when consuming bermudagrass compared to timothy, orchardgrass, alfalfa, and annual ryegrass (P < 0.0001).
Conclusion:
Consumption of bermudagrass hay led to reduced mastication in horses, and further investigation into this relationship with digestive disturbances is warranted.
