Digestibility of nutrients and energy metabolism in the body of Yakut foals with a hay diet in the Arctic zone of Yakutia
The article considers the digestibility of hay nutrients when fed to young animals of 6 months of age in the Amginsky and Momsky uluses. Horses are bred in the arctic (Momsky) and middle taiga (Amginsky) regions of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The main goal for us was to identify the characteristics of the digestibility of nutrients by foals bred in the Arctic zone. In our studies, the coefficients of digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber and BEV were established. Thus, the digestibility of dry matter at 6 months of age was higher in foals of Momsky ulus by 1,3% (P>0.95), organic matter - by 1,4% (P>0.95), crude protein by 2,05% (P>0.95), nitrogen-free extractive impurities by 1,2% (P>0.95), and the foals of the Amga population digested more crude fiber by 73,53 g (11,69%). We associate the high digestibility of foals of the Momsky ulus with the balance of hay in terms of nutrients. Most likely, the hayfields of the Momsky ulus are more balanced in terms of nutrients. The digestibility coefficients in the Amginsky ulus are lower, which we attribute to the deficiency of some essential elements. It should be noted that in the Momsky ulus there are a lot of eroded rocks in summer, in connection with this, the concentration of micro-macroelements in plants is higher. Therefore, in order to increase the productivity of the horses of the Amga population, it is necessary to balance the feed and make up for the deficiency of mineral and nutrients. Our data indicate that the hay of both the Amginsky and Momsky uluses is not able to fully satisfy the needs of young animals of the Yakut breed for energy and minerals, and this significantly affects the growth and development of horses.