The present study was carried out at the Animal Science Department at Universidade Federal de Lavras - MG, in order to determine the nutritional value of some equine feedstuffs. Each feed was evaluated by using a metabolism assay, six horses in six replications each one represented as experimental unit.. Three feed concentrates were tested: full-fat toasted soybean, steam-flaked corn and flaxseed, as well as, 3 hays: cassava stem leaf, carrot stem leaf and Tifton. A total faeces collection method was used to determine for each feed nutritional values by using the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC). Results based on dry matter obtained for full-fat toasted soybean were: 32% of digestible protein (DP) and 3.732 kcal/kg of metabolizable energy (ME); steam-flaked corn: 7,7% DP and 3.325 kcal/kg ME; flaxseed: 16,5% DP and 3.724 kcal/kg ME; cassava stem leaf hay: 3,3% DP and 874 kcal/kg ME; carrot stem leaf hay: 7,89% DP and 1.405 kcal/kg ME, and finally, Tifton hay: 7,1% DP and 1.427 kcal/kg ME. These results indicate that among the concentrates tested, the full-fat toasted soybean should supply sufficiently both protein and energy intake. Even with similarly high EM levels of full-fat toasted soybean, detected for both flaxseed and steam-flaked corn, they were respectively 48% and 76%. The hay results shown highest content in DP was verified in carrot stem leaf hay, which was close to that of tifton. In conclusion based on the chemistry analyses and nutritional values results observed on this experiment for the tested feeds should contribute on adequate equines ration formulation.
Equines; full-fat toasted soybean; steam-flaked corn; flaxseed; cassava stem leaf hay; carrot stem leaf hay; tifton hay and feed apparent digestibility coefficient
