EVALUATION OF THE INCLUSION OF VITAMIN K2 AND CITOKINASE ON INFLAMMATORY PARAMETERS OF EQUINES FED WITH HIGH LEVEL OF SOLUBLE CARBOHYDRATES

• Grant number: 23/10963-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: November 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Augusto de Oliveira Gobesso
• Grantee: Maria Clara Lança Lopes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of the inclusion in increasing levels of Fort Pec K2® on the digestive health of horses submitted to a diet with high inclusion of soluble carbohydrates. Will be used eight males, healthy, castrated ponies of the Mini Horse breed, aged approximately 13 years and body weight between 130 and 180 kg. The diet will be formulated to feature the inclusion of high amounts of soluble carbohydrates. The daily nutritional intake considered will be 1.75% of body weight (BW) in dry matter, with 1.05% from concentrate and 0.7% from roughage, characterizing a concentrate/roughage ratio of 60:40, water and Mineral salt will be provided ad libitum. The concentrate will be provided in the form of mash feed, formulated and manufactured within the Campus, while the forage used will be Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon ssp.). The Fort Pec K2® additive will be supplied together with the concentrate in the top dressing system with different concentrations. The development of the scientific initiation project is expected to last for one year, starting in September 2023 and ending in September 2024. The inflammatory parameters of fecal IgA, fibrinogen, plasma cytokines, haptoglobin and amyloid A will be evaluated, in addition to transabdominal ultrasound to determine the thickness of the intestinal wall and measurement of abdominal circumference. If the components of the supplement prove to be really effective for horses, they can be routinely used for animals with risky diets, performing high-performance activities or recovering from gastrointestinal diseases. Furthermore, this fact is beneficial for animals that are proven to be negatively affected by the use of these substances by altering the intestinal microbiota of the digestive tract.