CONSUMO DE NUTRIENTES E BALANÇO HÍDRICO EM EQUINOS RECEBENDO DIETAS COM DIFERENTES NÍVEIS DE INCLUSÃO DE FENO DE ALFAFA

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutrients intake and water balance of horses in maintenance, fed with conventional hay. Six male horses with an average age of nine years and live weight of 361.16 ± 12 kg were used, in a latin square design (6x6), housed inmetabolism cages. The treatments were FTT: 1 00% Hay of Tifton, FTO: 80% Hay of Tifton + 20% Hay of Alfalfa, FTS: 60% Hay of Tifton + 40% Hay of Alfalfa, FTQ: 40% Hay of Tifton + 60% Hay ofAlfalfa, FTV: 20% Hay of Tifton + 80% Hay of Alfalfa, FAT: 1 00% Hay of Alfalfa. The quantities of food provided were 2.25% of BW in order to obtain surplus. To determine the water intake, drinkers with water supply ad libitum were used. The intakes of DM, CP, EE and MM increased (P ≤ 0.05)as alfalfa hay amount was increased in the diets, indicating that these elements are related to the diets chemical composition. Similarly, NDF and ADF intake decreased (P ≤ 0.05) as alfalfa hay was increased in the diets. The values of water intake and excretion wereinfluenced by the chemical composition of the diet, influencing water intake in function of the dry matter (liters/ kg of DM) and the water balance. Regarding water intake and excretion, the animals were in positive water balance in all treatments. The FTT treatment had a lower urinary and fecal excretion of water compared to the othertreatments.

Keywords

• Feeding
• horse
• hydration
• nutrition