EFFECT OF CECECTOMY ON DIGESTIBILITY COEFFICIENTS AND NITROGEN BALANCE IN PONIES

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Abstract
Two balance studies were conducted using intact and cecectomized ponies to compare the utilization of low and high concentrate diets as well as low concentrate diets with and without added urea. In addition, the use of chromic oxide in digestion was evaluated. Apparent digestibility coefficients for dry matter, energy, protein, crude and acid-detergent fiber were consistently lower when the indicator method as opposed to the total collection procedure was employed. With the exception of fat, for which digestibility increased, the digestilities of dry matter, energy, protein, crude and acid-detergent fiber decreased following removal of the cecum. Cecectomy had no effect on nitrogen balance. There were no interactions between the effects of surgery and those of diets. This shows that there was no apparent advantage resulting from cecal fermentation in the utilization of the low concentrate diet. Addition of urea to a low protein, low concentrate diet tended to improve nitrogen balance regardless of cecectomy.

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