Effect of Diet on Concentration of Protein, Urea Nitrogen, Sugar and Cholesterol of Blood Plasma of Horses

Abstract

Blood samples were collected from six mature horses at the end of 2-wk. feeding periods of metabolism trials in two Latin square designed experiments. In experiment I, the diets were alfalfa, bermudagrass, bromegrass, canarygrass, fescue and orchardgrass hays. In experiment II, corn, barley and oats were fed in a factorial combination with alfalfa and Reed canarygrass hays. In both experiments, horses fed the higher protein diets (alfalfa, alfalfa-grain and oats-canarygrass) had a higher plasma urea nitrogen concentration. Perhaps protein was supplied by these diets in excess of the requirement. The protein of alfalfa hay caused a small increase in plasma protein concentration over a lower protein orchardgrass hay. There was a higher plasma sugar (total carbohydrate) concentration in horses consuming alfalfa hay over bermudagrass hay. Alfalfa hay significantly lowered the plasma cholesterol concentration both when fed alone and in combination with grains, which is ascribed to its high saponin content. Copyright © 1969. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1969 by American Society of Animal Science