Fermentative capacity of equine faecal inocula obtained from clinically normal horses and those predisposed to laminitis

The aim of the study was to assess the fermentative capacity of faecal inocula obtained from 14 mature grass-kept horses; 7 clinically normal horses (NOR) and 7 that were predisposed to laminitis (LAM). Freshly voided faeces were collected from each animal and stored at −20 °C prior to transportation on ice to the laboratory where they were used as inocula for in vitro digestibility determinations, using the gas production technique of Theodorou et al. (1994), to assess the ability of each inoculum to ferment grass hay, starch or inulin. Gas production curve fitted parameters; asymptotic gas production (A), half time of asymptotic gas production (B), inflection point (tI) and maximal fractional rate of substrate degradation (MFR) were similar for the two incoula sources; NOR and LAM. With the exception of pH, which was lower (P<0.001) in bottles inoculated with LAM compared to NOR (6.50 vs. 6.89, respectively), analysis of vessel contents following fermentation also showed no difference between inocula groups. Consequently, it would appear that there is no difference in the fermentative capacity of inocula obtained from clinically normal horses and those predisposed to laminitis. Furthermore, the GP technique appears to be valuable tool for evaluating the fermentative capacity of equine faecal inocula.