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Abstract
Supplementation of yeast culture has yielded variable results in many species. Improving the digestibility of lower quality forages could be advantageous both for the producer and horse health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of non-viable Saccaromyces cerevisiae on digestibility of high and low quality forage in mature horses. Sixteen geldings of Quarter Horse (n = 14) and Thoroughbred (n = 2) breeding, were used in a 4 x 4 Latin Square design with 28-d treatment periods with total collection the last 3 days of each period. Diets consisted of a commercial grain and either high or low quality forage, with or without the addition of yeast culture (HY, HC, LY, and LC). Digestibility of CP, NDF, and hemicellulose was significantly increased when yeast culture was supplemented with low quality hay. Supplementation of yeast culture to mature horses improved digestibility of lower quality bermudagrass hay.