Hands-on Horse Research: How Is the Nutrient Content of Samples Determined?

Part of any digestion trial is the collection period, when feces and urine are collected to determine the digestibility of nutrients. Two days prior to the beginning of the collection period, horses are outfitted with metabolic collection harnesses, commonly referred to as “nappies,” which allow complete and separate accumulation of urine and feces. Horses are stalled on rubber mats, and nappies are emptied three times a day. When wearing nappies, horses are exercised on a mechanical walker or hand-walked two times a day.

Samples of feed, urine, and feces are taken each day. Feed and fecal samples are then chemically analyzed for dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, lignin, fat, starch, water-soluble carbohydrates, gross energy, ash, and minerals.

Urine samples are analyzed for crude protein and minerals. The minerals of interest are calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, chloride, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and molybdenum.

Apparent and true digestibilities can be calculated for each nutrient.

Learn more about KER’s research program here.