Nutrient digestibility was assessed through the use of internal (acid detergent insoluble ash, ADIA) and external (Titanium IV Dioxide, rutile; Sigma–Aldrich) markers. On d 27, baseline fecal samples were collected. From d 28 to 41, 5 g of titanium dioxide (TiO2) was mixed into each concentrate meal. After a 10-d supplementation period, feces were collected from d 38 to 41 of the study. To account for diurnal variation of marker concentration, feces were collected twice daily at 12-h intervals, advancing by 3 h each subsequent day, which resulted in 8 fecal samples per mare over a 4-d collection period. After each collection time point, a 200 to 400 g sample of feces was stored at −20 °C before analysis.
To prepare samples for analysis, feces, hay, and grain were dried in a forced air oven at 55 °C for 96 h and allowed to equilibrate to room temperature for 24 h. All samples were weighed before and after the drying process to determine partial dry matter (DM) percentage. Samples were ground in a Wiley mill through a 1 mm screen. To determine overall DM percentage, samples were exposed to a 105 °C drying oven for 24 h. Similarly, to determine organic matter (OM) percentage, difference in sample weight was measured before and after exposure to a combustion oven at 450 °C for 8 h. The NDF and ADF values were determined by the Ankom Fiber Analyzer with sodium sulfite and α-amylase admitted and without correction for residual ash (Ankom Technology Corp., Macedon, NY). A Parr 6300 Calorimeter (Parr Instrument Company, Moline, IL) was used to measure gross heat energy (GE) for hay, grain, and fecal samples.
Forage consumption was estimated by TiO2 analysis following a previously established protocol (Myers et al., 2004 (link)). Concentrate, hay, and fecal samples were ashed at 450 °C for 12 h then exposed to concentrated sulfuric acid (95% to 98% w/w) for 2 h before the addition of 30% hydrogen peroxide solution. Samples were digested at 350 °C for 45 min in a SCP digester. Absorbance at 410 nm was measured and compared with standards of 10, 8, 6, 4, or 2 mg TiO2 per 50 g solution. The following calculations were used to estimate voluntary DMI of nutrients in the diet: mg TiO2 / g = (mg TiO2 sample / g sample) − (mg TiO2 baseline / g sample); fecal output (kg/d) = (10 g/d TiO2) / ([TiO2] feces (g/kg), where [TiO2] indicates concentration of TiO2 in the feces; and DMI (kg/d) = fecal output (kg/d) × ([ADIA] feces/[ADIA] feed), where [ADIA] indicates concentration of ADIA.
To prepare samples for analysis, feces, hay, and grain were dried in a forced air oven at 55 °C for 96 h and allowed to equilibrate to room temperature for 24 h. All samples were weighed before and after the drying process to determine partial dry matter (DM) percentage. Samples were ground in a Wiley mill through a 1 mm screen. To determine overall DM percentage, samples were exposed to a 105 °C drying oven for 24 h. Similarly, to determine organic matter (OM) percentage, difference in sample weight was measured before and after exposure to a combustion oven at 450 °C for 8 h. The NDF and ADF values were determined by the Ankom Fiber Analyzer with sodium sulfite and α-amylase admitted and without correction for residual ash (Ankom Technology Corp., Macedon, NY). A Parr 6300 Calorimeter (Parr Instrument Company, Moline, IL) was used to measure gross heat energy (GE) for hay, grain, and fecal samples.
Forage consumption was estimated by TiO2 analysis following a previously established protocol (Myers et al., 2004 (link)). Concentrate, hay, and fecal samples were ashed at 450 °C for 12 h then exposed to concentrated sulfuric acid (95% to 98% w/w) for 2 h before the addition of 30% hydrogen peroxide solution. Samples were digested at 350 °C for 45 min in a SCP digester. Absorbance at 410 nm was measured and compared with standards of 10, 8, 6, 4, or 2 mg TiO2 per 50 g solution. The following calculations were used to estimate voluntary DMI of nutrients in the diet: mg TiO2 / g = (mg TiO2 sample / g sample) − (mg TiO2 baseline / g sample); fecal output (kg/d) = (10 g/d TiO2) / ([TiO2] feces (g/kg), where [TiO2] indicates concentration of TiO2 in the feces; and DMI (kg/d) = fecal output (kg/d) × ([ADIA] feces/[ADIA] feed), where [ADIA] indicates concentration of ADIA.