Generic article
Domesticated equines differ in their faecal microbiota composition
Comparative studies aiming to identify differences in the fibre degrading potential of the hindgut microbiome between different types of equines are lacking, particularly as donkeys are known to degrade fibre more effectively than horses and ponies.
Within the EQUIANFUN project, a study was conducted to determine the effect of equine type on the faecal microbiota of three types of domesticated equines: ponies, donkeys and pony × donkey hybrids (i.e. mules/hinnies). The preliminary findings of this study were presented at the 9th European Workshop on Equine Nutrition, Uppsala, Sweden.