# Effect of Management System on Fecal Microbiota in Arabian Horses: Preliminary Results

## TL;DR

This study found that different management systems did not significantly affect the gut microbiota of Arabian horses, which could help understand how gut bacteria relate to equine health and performance.

## Contribution

The study provides preliminary data on the equine fecal microbiota under different management systems without observing significant differences.

## Key findings

- The fecal microbiota of Arabian horses was predominantly composed of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes.
- No statistically significant differences in alpha and beta diversity were found between the two management systems.
- Ruminococcaceae was identified as the most prevalent bacterial family in the samples.

## Abstract

Studies on the gut microbiota are currently of considerable importance in various research fields, both in human medicine and in veterinary medicine. With regard to equines, some studies are currently aimed at characterizing the intestinal microbial components and their stability, which can influence the psychophysical health and well-being in horses. The aim of this study was to analyze the fecal microbiota of 12 purebred Arabian horses by comparing microbial communities under two different management systems (Group 1 = box 22 h/day + paddock 2 h/day and Group 2 = paddock 24 h), while maintaining the same hay-based diet. This analysis also considers the growing interest in the relationship between breed and gut microbiota in equines. Fecal samples were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA V3-V4 amplicons. The management system did not influence the characteristics of the fecal microbiota in the subjects examined. The study of these characteristics in Arabian horses, with a strong aptitude for resistance exercises, could also contribute to the understanding of the relationships between intestinal microbiota and sports performance.

The gut microbiota plays a basic role in maintaining the psychophysical health and well-being of horses. Understanding the complex interactions among microbial communities in relation to age, management, and health is a topic of growing interest. The equine microbiota, given its complexity, is subject to variations caused by internal or external stressors that can lead to metabolic problems and pathologies, i.e., obesity and laminitis. The aim of this study was to characterize the fecal microbiota of 12 purebred Arabian horses and to compare the microbial communities in two distinct management systems (Group 1 = box 22 h/day + paddock 2 h/day and Group 2 = paddock 24 h). Fecal samples were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA V3-V4 amplicons. The microbiota was predominantly composed of Firmicutes (32–53%) and Bacteroidetes (32–47.8%), with Ruminococcaceae emerging as the most prevalent bacterial family (10.9–24%). Comparisons of alpha and beta diversity revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups based on different management systems. This preliminary characterization contributes valuable data for understanding the equine fecal microbiota and lays the groundwork for future studies on the relationship among intestinal microbiota and equine health, performance, and management strategies.