Table 2.
Longitudinal analysis of feed intake, bwt, fecal pH and fecal consistency
| Coëfficient | value | SD | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concentrate + supplement intake (kg)a | |||
| Day | 0.000 | 0.040 | 0.991 |
| Treatment | −0.171 | 0.855 | 0.841 |
| Day x treatment | 0.001 | 0.063 | 0.990 |
| Roughage intake (kg) | |||
| Day | 0.000 | 0.015 | 0.991 |
| Treatment | −0.003 | 0.320 | 0.992 |
| Day x treatment | 0.000 | 0.024 | 0.990 |
| Total feed intake (kg roughage + concentrate + supplement) | |||
| Day | −0.001 | 0.054 | 0.990 |
| Treatment | −0.175 | 1.157 | 0.880 |
| Day x treatment | 0.001 | 0.085 | 0.990 |
| Bodyweight (kg) | |||
| Day | 0.773 | 0.170 | < 0.001 |
| Treatment | −17.680 | 28.895 | 0.542 |
| Day x treatment | 0.331 | 0.236 | 0.164 |
| Fecal pH | |||
| Day | −0.013 | 0.005 | 0.005 |
| Treatment | 0.007 | 0.185 | 0.970 |
| Day x treatment | −0.005 | 0.006 | 0.423 |
| Fecal consistency (1–5 scale) | |||
| Day | −0.007 | 0.006 | 0.261 |
| Treatment | 0.113 | 0.192 | 0.560 |
| Day x treatment | −0.008 | 0.008 | 0.312 |
a Interpretation of longitudinal analysis: Horses in the placebo group ate on average 5.9 kg concentrate mixed with placebo supplement a day over the course of the study. Horses fed the butyrate supplement ate 171 g less on average, but this was not significantly different (P = 0.841)