Abstract
The present study aimed at evaluating the repeatability and reproducibility of digestibility measurements in horses. In a longitudinal study, four mature geldings were fed the same batch of grass hay and concentrate feed at a 70:30 ratio and a 1.7% BW total dry matter intake level for 3 weeks adaptation prior to and throughout the study. Four digestibility trials were performed in total, in week 1, 2, 7 and 8. Total tract digestibility was determined from both a 3-days total faecal collection (TFC) and a 4-days partial faecal collection (PFC). The PFC was evaluated using both ADL and AIA as internal markers. The repeatability and reproducibility of DM, OM, NDF, ADF, hemicelluloses, cellulose and CP digestibility were calculated. Average repeatability was 73.7% (12.5–99.6%) while average reproducibility was 52.5% (6.0–94.4%), depending on the method and nutrient studied. This study raised relevant questions about the reliability of digestibility measurements in horses.
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Goachet, A.G., Varloud, M., Julliand, V. (2012). Repeatability and reproducibility of digestibility measurements in horses fed forage based diets. In: Saastamoinen, M., Fradinho, M.J., Santos, A.S., Miraglia, N. (eds) Forages and grazing in horse nutrition. Forages and grazing in horse nutrition, vol 132. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-755-4_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-755-4_8
Publisher Name: Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen
Online ISBN: 978-90-8686-755-4
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