Digestion Coefficients, Blood Glucose Levels and Molar Percentage of Volatile Acids in Intestinal Fluid of Ponies Fed Varying Forage-Grain Ratios

Abstract

Two trials were conducted in which ponies were fed varying forage-grain ratios to study the effects of the various ratios on digestibility, molar percentages of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in intestinal fluid and blood glucose levels in ponies. No interactions or associative effects on digestibility due to forage-grain ratio were observed. Blood glucose levels were not influenced by the forage-grain ratio. The total concentration of VFA in cecal fluid and the percentage of acetate was decreased and the percentages of propionate, isovalerate and valerate were increased when high grain diets were fed. Copyright © 1971. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1971 by American Society of Animal Science.