Abstract
In Portuguese irrigated mixed swards, white clover often dominates botanical composition. Clover physiology induces non structural carbohydrates (NSC) high concentration. In horse diets, high amounts of NSC are likely to be associated to Equine Gastric Ulceration Syndrome (EGUS) and with laminitis. In this study we analysed data from an old experiment on white clover and relate NSC leaf accumulation to photosynthetic induced rates under different plant P nutrition levels; from these data we estimate the clover intake level that could represent EGUS and laminitis potential risk. Our results showed a NSC increase under high photosynthetic rates and deficit to normal plant P nutrition level. Under these situations, clover DM intake risk level for EGUS and laminitis would correspond between 1.18% and 1.35% body weight.
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Almeida, J.P.F. (2012). White clover (Trifolium repens L.): do non-structural carbohydrates account?. In: Saastamoinen, M., Fradinho, M.J., Santos, A.S., Miraglia, N. (eds) Forages and grazing in horse nutrition. Forages and grazing in horse nutrition, vol 132. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-755-4_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-755-4_5
Publisher Name: Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen
Online ISBN: 978-90-8686-755-4
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