Effect of level of corn oil in the diet of horses on the nutrient digestibilities

A digestibility trial was carried out in a completely randomized design with five treatments and seven replicates to compare the effects of different levels of dietary corn oil (0, 250, 500, 750ml) on,nutrient apparent digestibility in horses. Twenty eight animals with age between six and 10 years and weight between 400kg and 500kg were used. The diet composition was based on coast cross hay (Cynodon dactylon) and commercial concentrate. The feed dry matter was based on 2% of body weight and 1:1 forage concentrate ratio. The treatment means were compared by Student's test, at 5% level. Increasing corn oil level in the diet did not affect dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber apparent digestibility, however increased the ether extract and crude energy apparent digestibility. The results showed that 750ml of corn oil can be added to the daily concentrate of equine (8.3% in the total diet) until 23 clays to increase the energetic level of the diet without a corresponding increase in the dry matter.