Adaption of horses to a novel dynamic feeding system: movement and behavioural responses.
Abstract: Many domestic horses and ponies are sedentary and obese due to confinement to small paddocks and stables and a diet of infrequent, high-energy rations. Severe health consequences can be associated with this altered lifestyle. Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate the ability of horses to learn to use a dynamic feeder system and determine the movement and behavioural responses of horses to the novel system. Methods: A dynamic feed station was developed to encourage horses to exercise in order to access ad libitum hay. Five pairs of horses (n = 10) were studied using a randomised crossover design with each pair studied in a control paddock containing a standard hay feeder and an experimental paddock containing the novel hay feeder. Horse movement was monitored by a global positioning system (GPS) and horses observed and their ability to learn to use the system and the behavioural responses to its use assessed. Results: With initial human intervention all horses used the novel feeder within 1 h. Some aggressive behaviour was observed between horses not well matched in dominance behaviour. The median distance walked by the horses was less (P = 0.002) during a 4 h period (117 [57-185] m) in the control paddock than in the experimental paddock (630 [509-719] m). Conclusions: The use of an automated feeding system promotes increased activity levels in horses housed in small paddocks, compared with a stationary feeder. Conclusions: The novel feeder system may have application in the husbandry of horses and ponies kept in small paddocks by encouraging a natural pattern of exercise without human intervention and an ad libitum diet of hay. This may improve the health and welfare of horses.
© 2012 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2012-12-06 PubMed ID: 23216599DOI: 10.1111/evj.12002Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the effect of a dynamic feeding system on sedentary, obese horses. It finds that the system successfully promotes increased physical activity and may therefore improve the health and welfare of confined horses in small paddocks.
Objective and Methodology
- This study aimed to understand if horses could adapt to a dynamic feeder system, and to assess their movement and behavioural responses to such a system.
- The researchers developed a dynamic feed station that would encourage horses to exercise in order to access ad libitum hay, unrestricted and available as desired.
- The study was conducted using five pairs of horses (n = 10). Each pair was tested in a control paddock with a standard hay feeder and an experimental paddock with a dynamic hay feeder.
- During the experiment, the horses’ movement was monitored using a global positioning system (GPS), and the specific behaviour of the horses was observed to assess their learning ability and handler behaviour towards the system.
Findings
- All the horses learned to use the novel feeder within an hour with initial human intervention.
- However, some aggressive behaviour was noted between those horses whose dominance behaviour were mismatched.
- It was observed that horses moved more in the experimental paddock with the novel feeder as compared to the control paddock. Specifically, the median distance walked by horses during a four-hour period was significantly less in the control paddock (117 [57-185] m) than in the experimental paddock (630 [509-719] m).
Conclusion
- The use of the dynamic feeding system led to increased activity in horses living in small paddocks.
- Therefore, this system may have a potential application in the husbandry of horses and ponies confined in small paddocks. It can encourage natural exercise behaviour, allow unrestricted diet of hay, and potentially improve their health and welfare without the need for human intervention.
Cite This Article
APA
Hampson BA, de Laat MA, Monot J, Bailliu D, Pollitt CC.
(2012).
Adaption of horses to a novel dynamic feeding system: movement and behavioural responses.
Equine Vet J, 45(4), 481-484.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- The Australian Brumby Research Unit, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia. b.hampson1@uq.edu.au
MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry / methods
- Animal Welfare
- Animals
- Automation
- Behavior, Animal
- Cross-Over Studies
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Male
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Pikuła R, Zaborski D, Grzesiak W, Smugała M. An analysis of the annual mobility of Polish Konik horses depending on habitat, season, and time of the day.. Arch Anim Breed 2022;65(3):239-247.
- de Laat MA, Hampson BA, Sillence MN, Pollitt CC. Sustained, Low-Intensity Exercise Achieved by a Dynamic Feeding System Decreases Body Fat in Ponies.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Sep;30(5):1732-1738.
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