Feeding and Management of Horses with and without Free Faecal Liquid: A Case-Control Study.
Authors: Lindroth Katrin M, Lindberg Jan-Erik, Johansen Astrid, Müller Cecilia E
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Feeding and Management of Horses with Free Faecal Liquid Free faecal liquid—characterised by the biphasic excretion of solid faeces followed by liquid discharge—is a recognised problem affecting hindleg dermatitis in horses, yet its aetiology remains poorly understood. Researchers in Sweden and Norway conducted a case-control study across 50 private farms, collecting detailed dietary and management data from 100 horses: 50 with FFL and 50 control animals matched without the condition. Horses exhibiting FFL were fed substantially higher concentrate proportions (roughly double per 100 kg bodyweight daily) and consumed more starch and water-soluble carbohydrates, whilst their diets contained significantly less straw and lucerne and lower digestible crude protein and neutral detergent fibre compared to unaffected controls; total forage intake and general management practices showed no meaningful differences between groups. Although the dietary variations identified were modest, the consistent pattern linking elevated non-structural carbohydrate intake and reduced fibre quality to FFL occurrence warrants further investigation, potentially prompting practitioners to reconsider concentrate feeding strategies and forage composition in horses presenting with this condition. These findings suggest that FFL may be partially managed through dietary manipulation rather than attributable to broader husbandry factors alone, offering a practical avenue for nutritional intervention in affected animals.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Review concentrate feeding levels in horses with FFL; consider reducing concentrate proportion and increasing roughage (straw, lucerne) in the diet
- •Monitor starch and water-soluble carbohydrate intake in susceptible horses, as excessive amounts appear associated with FFL development
- •FFL may be preventable through dietary management rather than changes to management practices, offering a practical intervention strategy for affected horses
Key Findings
- •Horses with FFL were fed significantly higher proportions of concentrates in their diet compared to control horses (p < 0.001)
- •Case horses consumed twice as much concentrate per 100 kg body weight daily and had higher daily intake of starch and water-soluble carbohydrates compared to controls (p < 0.05)
- •Horses with FFL had lower daily intake of straw, lucerne, digestible crude protein, and neutral detergent fibre compared to control horses (p < 0.05)
- •Forage type and general management practices were similar between case and control horses, suggesting diet composition rather than management is the primary factor in FFL occurrence