Evaluating a Digestibility Marker for Improving Equine Nutrition Trials

Advancing nutritional research by utilizing an inert marker in a diet can further clarify proper diets to improve horse health. Researchers will evaluate the appropriateness of titanium dioxide as a digestibility marker in horse nutrition trials. Titanium dioxide estimations of fecal output will be compared with previously validated chromic oxide estimations and total fecal output measured with fecal collection harnesses. If titanium dioxide is proven to be an accurate and reliable digestibility marker, it will provide a safer alternative to chromic oxide use and will improve welfare for horses on digestibility trials by eliminating the need for fecal collection harnesses.