Effects of isoenergetic quantities of a low-starch muesli feed high in fat and fibre vs. oat grains on the glycemic and insulinemic responses and feed intake patterns in sport ponies.
Authors: Bochnia M, Schürer C, Gottschalk J, Einspanier A, Hillegeist D, Wensch-Dorendorf M, Greef J M, Glatter M, Zeyner A
Journal: Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Low-Starch, High-Fat Feeds and Glycaemic Control in Sport Ponies Sport ponies fed a low-starch, fibre and fat-enriched muesli demonstrated substantially lower blood glucose and insulin responses compared to those given oat grain, despite receiving isoenergetic quantities of concentrate. Using a crossover design across six animals, researchers measured postprandial glycaemic and insulinaemic responses over five hours following concentrate meals, alongside detailed feed intake patterns; oats were consumed markedly faster (8.8 versus 15.9 minutes per kilogramme dry matter) with higher chewing frequency, whilst glucose and insulin areas under the curve were significantly elevated with oats at both 120 and 300 minutes postprandially. The practical significance lies in the altered metabolic handling of fibre and fat-based concentrates—plasma glucose tended toward decline rather than spike when ponies consumed the specialised muesli, a finding potentially valuable for animals with impaired glucose tolerance or those predisposed to metabolic conditions. However, the rapid consumption rate of oats (comparable to warmblood horses rather than typical pony feeding patterns) warrants consideration when evaluating concentrate selection and meal management strategies in the field. Further research exploring long-term metabolic and behavioural outcomes, particularly in populations with diagnosed insulin dysregulation, would strengthen recommendations for practitioners managing ponies prone to pasture-associated laminitis or equine metabolic syndrome.
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Practical Takeaways
- •For ponies with insulin resistance or poor glucose tolerance, low-starch muesli feeds high in fat and fibre produce lower glycemic and insulinemic responses than oat grains despite equivalent energy content
- •Oat grains are consumed more rapidly than compound muesli feeds; feed management and meal timing may need adjustment when switching between these concentrate types
- •Consider low-starch, high-fat/fibre concentrates as a feeding strategy for sport ponies at metabolic risk, pending further clinical validation
Key Findings
- •Oat grains produced significantly higher glucose AUC at 120 min (776 vs. 676 mmol/L·min⁻¹) and 300 min (1811 vs. 1569 mmol/L·min⁻¹) postprandial compared to low-starch muesli high in fat and fibre
- •Oat grains produced significantly higher insulin AUC at 120 min (38 vs. 22 nmol/L·min⁻¹) and 300 min (83 vs. 35 nmol/L·min⁻¹) postprandial compared to low-starch muesli
- •Oat grains were consumed faster (8.8 min/kg DM) with higher chewing frequency compared to muesli feed (15.9 min/kg DM)
- •Low-starch muesli high in fat and fibre showed a tendency for plasma glucose decline postprandially, potentially beneficial for equines with reduced glucose tolerance