The applicability of chromogens method for the determination of apparent digestibility of dry matther in mares “1/2 Breton blood breed" and 1/2 thoroughbreed

Abstract

The applicability of chromogens method for the determination of apparent digestibility of dry matter, was studied in mares 1/2 Breton blood breed and 1/2 Throughbreed. The animals were maintained in individual boxes where received the ration twice a day. All of the feed offered and any refused was weighed and recorded. Fecal collection was extended over an eight-days period after a preliminary periodo of ten-days. In order to compose representative samples for a 24 hours period, the faeces were collected with 12 hours interval and total fecal collection. There were no significant differences — P ≤ 0.05 between conventional and chromogens methods only for the eight days collection. However, the 1/2 Breton blood breed presented higher digestion coefficients than the ones found for the Throughbreed.