Apparent digestibility and plasmatic concentration of triglycerides and cholesterol in horses fed vegetable oil

Abstract

To determine apparent digestibility, cholesterol and plasmatic triglycerides of equine diets containing different sources of vegetable oil, 4 cross-breeding foals aging 18,5±1,3 month and weighing 322±15kg were tested during 60 days in randomized 4x4 Latin square. Treatments differed according to the source of vegetable fat (soybean oil, linseed, canola or palm) added at 5% of total diet. The evaluation of the digestibility of nutrients was performed using total collection of feces during three consecutive days, after eight days of diet adaptation, and at the third day of each fecal collection period, blood samples were collected for assessment of plasma lipids. We conclude that the oil palm, soybean, canola and flaxseed, may be used interchangeably as an energy source in diets for horses.