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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(24); 3677; doi: 10.3390/ani14243677

Anticipatory Behaviour During the Approach to Feeding Times as a Measure of Horse Welfare.

Abstract: Anticipatory behaviour is increasingly being recognised as a measure of animal welfare. This behaviour is linked to reward sensitivity, which reflects the balance of positive and negative experiences. This study examined anticipatory behaviour in horses fed either ad libitum or rationed diets, aiming to identify differences in behaviour patterns during the periods of one hour immediately before and after feeding. Behavioural data were collected via video surveillance over five days, focusing on the pre- and post-feeding periods of stabled horses. The data were successfully fit to Poisson models. The results indicate that ration-fed horses exhibit more stereotypic and arousal behaviours, with anticipatory behaviour intensifying closer to feeding times. These findings suggest a potential link between feeding stress and anticipatory behaviour, especially in horses on rationed diets. This study underscores the importance of considering feeding practices in horse welfare management and highlights anticipatory behaviour as a valuable indicator for assessing animal well-being. Such assessments, rooted in circadian rhythms, offer a less resource-intensive means for ongoing welfare monitoring in animal care settings.
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Publication Date: 2024-12-20 PubMed ID: 39765580PubMed Central: PMC11672559DOI: 10.3390/ani14243677Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article is a study on horse behavior that uses anticipatory actions before feeding times to determine the animal’s well-being. The research suggests that diet limitations can increase stress in horses and that this can be measured by an increase in certain behaviors as feeding times approach.

Introduction

  • The research focuses on anticipatory behavior in horses, which is increasingly viewed as an important indicator of animal welfare. Anticipatory behavior is associated with reward sensitivity – the ability to anticipate pleasurable experiences, such as feeding. This balance between positive and negative experiences can provide insight into the animal’s overall quality of life.
  • The aim of this study was to observe and analyze differences in horses’ behavior prior to feeding times depending on whether the horses are fed on an ad libitum (as much as they want) or rationed feeding schedule.

Methodology

  • The researchers recorded behavioral data through video surveillance over a period of five days. The focus was specifically on the one hour period before and after each feeding of stabled horses.
  • The data collected was then interpreted using Poisson models, which provided a statistical view of the relationships between feeding schedule, anticipatory behavior, and overall animal welfare.

Findings

  • The study found that horses fed on a rationed diet showed more stereotypic and arousal behaviors. They also demonstrated a more intense anticipatory behavior as feeding times approached. Stereotypic behaviors are repetitive, invariant sequence of movements without obvious goal or function, which is often used as an indicator of stress in animals.
  • These findings suggest a correlation between feeding-related stress and anticipatory behavior, particularly in horses fed a restricted diet. It shows that if horses recognize that they will only be fed limited amounts, this knowledge can lead to increased stress as the feeding time approaches.

Significance

  • This research highlights the importance of carefully considering feeding practices when managing horse welfare. The results underscore that limited feeding can be a source of stress and can negatively impact animal welfare.
  • The use of anticipatory behavior as an indicator of animal welfare is also emphasized in the study, suggesting that observing such behaviors could provide a more accessible and less resource-intensive way to monitor animal welfare routinely in animal care settings.

Cite This Article

APA
Mata F, Boyton G, Young T. (2024). Anticipatory Behaviour During the Approach to Feeding Times as a Measure of Horse Welfare. Animals (Basel), 14(24), 3677. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14243677

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 24
PII: 3677

Researcher Affiliations

Mata, Fernando
  • Centre for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua da Escola Industrial e Comercial Nun'Alvares 34, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
Boyton, Georgina
  • School of Life Science, Wrexham Glyndŵr University Northope Campus, Holywell Road, Northop, Mold CH7 6AA, UK.
Young, Tamsin
  • School of Life Science, Wrexham Glyndŵr University Northope Campus, Holywell Road, Northop, Mold CH7 6AA, UK.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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