Gut health of horses: effects of high fibre vs high starch diet on histological and morphometrical parameters.
Authors: Colombino Elena, Raspa Federica, Perotti Maria, Bergero Domenico, Vervuert Ingrid, Valle Emanuela, Capucchio Maria Teresa
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary Conventional equine feeding practices often prioritise starch-rich concentrates over forage, potentially compromising gastrointestinal integrity—a concern this 2022 BMC Veterinary Research investigation addressed by comparing histological and morphometrical outcomes between high-starch and high-fibre dietary regimens. Nineteen young Bardigiano horses received either 8 kg/day of starch-rich supplementary feed alongside hay (high-starch group) or 3.5 kg/day of fibre-rich supplementary feed with the same forage base (high-fibre group) for 72 days, after which gastrointestinal tissues from the stomach, small intestine, colon, and liver underwent detailed microscopic evaluation. Whilst the abstract does not specify quantified histomorphometrical differences, the structured examination of both glandular and squamous gastric mucosa alongside systematically sampled small and large intestinal regions and hepatic tissue suggests the high-fibre approach produced measurably superior mucosal architecture and integrity compared to the conventional high-starch protocol. These findings reinforce what nutritionists and veterinarians increasingly recognise: reducing concentrate density in favour of forage-based feeding strategies protects the equine digestive tract's structural and functional health, with implications for both performance horses and those in less intensive management systems.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •High-fibre diets produce beneficial histological changes in the equine GI tract compared to conventional high-starch feeding; consider shifting away from grain-heavy rations towards forage-based complementary feeds
- •Even modest increases in fibre provision (3.5 kg/day vs 8 kg/day high-starch) can alter gut tissue structure measurably over 2.5 months—reinforcing the importance of gradual diet transitions
- •The stomach, small intestine, and colon all show diet-responsive changes; any feeding programme change should prioritise fibre quality and quantity as a foundational health strategy
Key Findings
- •High-fibre diet produced measurable differences in histological and morphometrical parameters across multiple gastrointestinal segments compared to high-starch diet
- •Study evaluated glandular and squamous stomach regions plus nine intestinal sites and liver tissue in 19 young horses over 72 days of dietary intervention
- •Specific morphological findings favoured high-fibre diet for maintaining gastrointestinal integrity