The Effect of Feeding Two or Three Meals Per Day of Either Low or High Nonstructural Carbohydrate Concentrates on Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Concentrations in Horses

Eight mature idle gelding horses (mean body weight [BW], 558 ± 45 kg) were used in a replicated 2 × 2 Latin square design study. Horses received either two or three meals per day (MPD) for 7 days, of either a high (H; 43%; 215 g/100 kg BW) or low (L; 18%; 90 g/100 kg BW) nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrate feed to achieve four treatment groups: low NSC in two MPD (L2), low NSC in three MPD (L3), high NSC in two MPD (H2), and high NSC in three MPD (H3). On day 7 of the treatments, blood was collected before (baseline) and for 5 hours after feeding the morning meal (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, and 300 minutes after feeding). Baseline insulin concentrations tended (P = .093) to be higher for horses fed high NSC than low NSC, and horses fed two MPD tended (P = .092) to have higher baseline insulin concentrations than horses fed three MPD. In addition, baseline glucose-to-insulin ratio (GIR) was higher in horses fed high NSC compared with low NSC (P < .001). Horses fed high NSC had higher area under the curve of insulin and higher peak insulin after feeding than those fed low NSC. These findings suggest that NSC content of a concentrate feed has an impact on baseline insulin and GIRs and on postprandial insulin concentrations. Meanwhile, the number (and therefore size) of MPD had fewer impacts on glucose metabolism.     

Effect of Sward Height on Pasture Nonstructural Carbohydrate Concentrations and Blood Glucose/Insulin Profiles in Grazing Horses

Six mature stock-type geldings with maintenance only requirements were used in a randomized cross-over design to determine the effect of sward height on pasture plant nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations and blood glucose and insulin concentrations. Horses were randomly assigned to one of two tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum Schreb cv Max-Q, Pennington Seed, Madison, GA) grazing cells (0.37 ha) having two different sward heights for a period of 7 days: (1) short (approximately 15 cm; n = 3) or tall (between 30 and 40 cm; n = 3). After the first 7-day period, treatment groups were reversed by moving horses to ungrazed cells having similar characteristics to those used in the first 7 days, so that all horses receive all treatments resulting in six observations per treatment. Both short and tall grazing cells were mowed to a height of approximately 15 cm 32 days before the experiment starts. The short grazing cells were removed to approximately 15 cm at 11 days before the start of the first 7-day period and again 1 day before the start of each 7-day period. All horses had access to pasture for 10 h/d beginning at 8 AM and ending at 6 PM. Although not at pasture, all horses were individually housed in 3.7 × 12.2 m partially covered pens containing automatic water troughs and a crushed stone surface. Herbage mass (kg DM/ha) was determined by use of a falling plate meter for each pasture to ensure that both groups of horses had adequate dry matter to provide grazing for at least 7 days. On day 7 of each period, jugular venous blood samples were collected from each horse before being turned out to pasture, and then at 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after turn-out. Pasture samples were also collected from each grazing cell at the same time blood samples were taken. Serum and plasma from blood samples were harvested and analyzed for insulin and glucose concentrations, respectively. Pasture samples were analyzed for water soluble carbohydrate (WSC), ethanol soluble carbohydrate (ESC), and starch. The sum of WSC and starch were used as an estimate of NSC. Area under the curve (AUC) and peak concentration were calculated for both plasma glucose (PPG) and serum insulin (PSI) concentration and were analyzed using analysis of variance for randomized cross-over designs. Pasture WSC, ESC, starch, and NSC concentrations were analyzed using analysis of variance for randomized complete block design. A P value of < .05 was considered significant. Mean pasture plant NSC, WSC, and ESC concentrations were lower (P < .001) in short as compared with tall. Pasture plant starch concentration was not different between treatments. Mean pregrazing plasma glucose concentrations, PPG concentrations, and plasma glucose AUC were not affected by treatment. Mean pregrazing serum insulin concentrations were not affected by treatment. Mean PSI and insulin AUC were greater (P < .01) when horses grazed tall, as compared with short. In conclusion, decreasing the sward height by mowing pasture decreased NSC, WSC, and ESC concentrations and subsequently decreased the postprandial insulin response of horses grazing the pasture. These findings may be important in developing strategies aimed at preventing insulin resistance in grazing horses.     

Interaction of Grazing Muzzle Use and Grass Species on Forage Intake of Horses

The impact of horse preference and grass morphology on grazing muzzle effectiveness has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of grazing muzzle use at reducing forage intake when horses grazed grasses with different morphology and preferences. The study was conducted in 2012 and 2013. Four horses were grazed in 2012, and three horses were grazed in 2013. Four species of perennial cool-season grasses were grazed in 2012 including Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), meadow fescue (Schedonorus pratensis Huds.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.). In 2013, only Kentucky bluegrass and reed canarygrass were grazed because of winter kill of other species. Horses were allowed to graze a small pasture seeded with an individual species for 4 hours each day in June and August of 2012 and August and September of 2013. Horses grazed the same grass species for two consecutive days, one day with a muzzle and one day without. Before and after each grazing, a strip was mechanically harvested to determine initial and residual herbage mass. The difference was used to estimate forage intake. The effectiveness of a grazing muzzle was not affected by forage species (P ≥ .05). Use of a grazing muzzle decreased the amount of forage consumed by an average of 30% compared with not using a grazing muzzle (P < .0001). Results will aid horse owners and professionals in estimating forage intake of muzzled horses on pasture.     

稗草品种与栽培密度对生物学产量影响研究初报

采用裂区试验设计，对3个稗草品种不同栽培密度和刈割次数对生物产量的影响进行了研究，结果表明：谷稗产量最高，哈尔滨大散穗和拉林锁链稗产量分别为第二和第三位，其差异水平已达显著和极显著水平；栽培密度分析表明，在285000 ～570000株／hm^2的密度范围内，密度与产量之间不存在明显的关系；3个品种一次性刈割的产量均高于二次性刈割的产量；3个品种间的分蘖数存在明显的差异。     

不同种牧草的产量和品质

在中国科学院海北高寒草甸定位站以一年生黑麦草(Lolium perenne)、小黑麦(Triticale hexaploide)、燕麦(Avena sativa)和垂穗披碱草(Elymus nutans)为研究对象,对其产草量、牧草营养品质进行测定,以探讨不同牧草的产量和品质。结果表明:小黑麦干草产量为1345.50 g·m^-2,显著高于一年生黑麦草(974.93 g·m^-2)、垂穗披碱草(301.75 g·m^-2)和燕麦(329.60 g·m^-2)。小黑麦产量是垂穗披碱草和燕麦干草产量的4~4.5倍,是黑麦草干草产量的1.4倍。垂穗披碱草粗蛋白(CP)含量显著高于一年生黑麦草和小黑麦(P<0.05),一年生黑麦草粗蛋白(CP)含量最小。单位面积粗蛋白(CP)产量、粗脂肪(EE)产量、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)产量和酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)产量以一年生黑麦草最高,显著高于小黑麦、垂穗披碱草和燕麦(P<0.05)。     

利用分子标记鉴定草品种的方法探讨

简述了目前分子标记在不同繁育方式的草品种鉴定中应用的原理和方法,并对今后的研究提出了建议。     

重庆市区主要的草坪草种及其利用特点

针对重庆市特殊的过渡气候类型 ,对目前建植使用的草坪草种作了介绍 ,并比较了不同草坪草的坪用特性及其利用特点 ,分析了重庆市草坪建植与管理中应注意的杂草、病虫害等主要问题     

美国优良牧草引种及其利用初探

本文论述从美国俄勒岗淋巴恩布莱格公司引进３６个优良牧草品种，并在福建省上杭县试种筛选的过程。探索在本地区栽培管理这批优良牧草技术及预测在我国南方利用发展前景。     

A Modified Parainguinal Approach for Cryptorchidectomy in Horses An Evaluation in 107 Horses

A modified parainguinal approach was used to castrate 119 abdominal cryptorchid horses. The operative time ranged from 10 to 30 minutes. Follow-up information was obtained for 107 horses. Swelling, more severe than that expected in routine castrations, was reported in six horses. An incisional abscess had to be drained in one horse and one horse died of unexplained causes 3 days after the surgery.     

11种优良坪用禾草对禾草云斑病抗性的初步研究

１９９７～１９９８年选用１１种坪用禾草品种在自然条件下做了对禾草云斑病的抗性鉴定。结果表明,结缕草、细叶结缕草及狗牙根不发病,表现免疫;高羊茅抗病;草地早熟禾、紫羊茅、黑麦草及匍茎剪股颖发病较重,表现感病。