2002 Volume 55 Issue 7 Pages 417-420
To clarify intestinal fermentation in newborn foals, fecal pH, volatile fatty acid (VFA), and lacticacid were analyzed in 113 fecal samples from 40 nursing neonates between birth and 7 weeks of age. Average values were fecal pH-7.52, VFA-0.26%, and lactic acid-0.01%(fresh basis). Mean molar ratioswere as follows: acetic acid 64%, propionic acid 21%, and butyric acid 15%. Large individual differences were observed in fecal pH, lactic acid, and VFA levels and ratios. Though fetal feces on birth day contained less VFA, fecal-VFA levels tended to rise thereafter, with maximum concentration occurring from 1 day to 1 week of age. Extremely high concentrations of lactic acid occurred in some fecalsamples on 0 and 1 day and 1 week of age. After declining at 1 week of age, fecal pH then tended to increase. It was concluded that it is possible for gut fermentation to produce VFA in neonatal foalsimmediately after colostrum feeding.