HESTEFORSK - Forage as a local produced protein and energy feed for horses

Mengden av grovfôr og næringsstoffinnhold har stor betydning for hestens atferd, helse og sykdom. Grovfôr til hester består nesten utelukkende av gress, og belgplanter anvendes sjeldent. Belgplanter inneholder mer råprotein enn gress, og belgplanter lokalt produsert kan potentielt erstatte importerte proteinrike råvare, som for eksempel soyabønner. Fordøyeligheten av råprotein fra grovfôr er dog for det meste ukjent hos hester, og det er vanskelig å evaluere forskjellige proteinrike fôr korrekt mot hverandre. Fôrmiddelevaluerings systemer til hester er ugjennomskuelig og mangler logisk oppbygning i de nordiske lande. Formålet med prosjektet er å skape viten av høy vitenskapelig kvalitet og med betydelig praktisk bruk for hestenæringen i de nordiske lande om protein og energiverdien av gress og belgplanter til hester.

The project is organsied into three work packages: Work package 1: Digestive and metabolic responses to legumes The digestibility of crude protein from different forage sources is largely unknown in horses, and there is a lack of consistency and transparency in feed evaluation systems for horses. In vitro systems have attained more focus in recent years, but no standardised protocols exist for horse feeds. This study will measure both in vivo, in vitro and in sacco digestibility; hence it will be possible to compare the results and validate the in vitro techniques. The aim is to investigate the digestive (pre-caecal, hindgut and total tract digestibility, hindgut pH, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and microbiota) and metabolic responses (plasma glucose, insulin, and amino acid profile) when feeding legume rich forages. Furthermore, we want to validate in sacco and in vitro measurements and develop new standards for evaluating forages typical for Norway and Sweden. Work package 2: Nutritive and antinutritive value of legumes Forage legumes as a protein source for horses is of high interest, as forage legumes have higher protein content compared to grasses and they can potentially compensate for the low content of protein in late harvested grass. However, some legumes might contain antinutritive factors limiting the extent at which legumes can be used in horses feeding. The aim is to investigate a selection of different legume forage species, in respect to their nutritive and anti-nutritive value for horses. Work package 3: Dissemination of results - Science into practice There is a lack of consistency and transparency in feed evaluation systems for horses in the Nordic countries, and this is confusing for the feed industry and horse owners. This highlights the need for bringing science into practice. Therefore, the project’s benefits for the horse industry and horse welfare will be highlighted in its own work package.