Publications by authors named "Veronica T Bill"
Article Synopsis
- Equine obesity is on the rise, leading to increased focus on weight loss diets for horses, while some horses may also be too thin.
- Various methods to estimate body fat exist, each with its own advantages and drawbacks.
- This study compared four fat estimation methods in 14 Thoroughbred horses, finding that body condition scores and measurements like the heart girth-to-body weight ratio correlate positively with body fat levels, suggesting practical ways to monitor horse health.
Dietary starch source has been shown to affect fecal bacterial communities of horses fed minimally processed cereal grains. However, processing may increase foregut starch digestibility, reducing effects of starch source on fecal bacterial communities. This study aimed to determine the effect of starch source in pelleted concentrates on fecal Lactobacillus spp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdult horses depend on the microbial community in the hindgut to digest fiber and produce short-chain fatty acids that are use for energy. Colonization of the foal gastrointestinal tract is essential to develop this symbiosis. However, factors affecting colonization are not well understood.
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