Changes in eating time, chewing activity and dust concentration in horses fed either alfalfa cubes or long-stem hay.
Abstract: Chewing is an essential physiological process in horses; yet, the physical form of feeds may affect their chewing and feeding behaviour with consequences for equine digestion and health. The present study evaluated the potential of a commercial forage cubes made from alfalfa and mixed meadow grasses to maintain chewing activity when compared with a traditional long and fibre-rich hay. An additional aim was to measure the dust formation during feeding. The experiment was a crossover design with six horses (11 ± 4 years old, mean ± SD), fed with 5 kg (as-fed basis) of their feed (long hay or alfalfa cubes) overnight. Eating and chewing activity was measured using the EquiWatch system with a sensor-based halter. Data showed that by feeding the same amount of feed overnight, cube feeding led to 24% shorter eating time (on average 67 min less) and 26% fewer total chews compared to the long hay. On an hourly basis, horses also spent more time eating and chewing the long hay compared to the cubes. The cube feeding led to a higher dust concentration of the inhalable fraction (<100 μm), but not of the thoracic (<10 μm) fraction. Nevertheless, average dust concentrations were generally low for both cubes and hay, whereby both were of sound hygienic status. Our data suggest that feeding alfalfa-based cubes overnight generated shorter eating time and less chews than the long hay without major differences in the thoracic dust. Therefore, because of the decreased eating time and chews, alfalfa-based cubes should not be fed a sole forage source, especially when it is to be fed without restriction.
© 2023 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Publication Date: 2023-03-06 PubMed ID: 36877631PubMed Central: PMC10188088DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1102Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article discusses a study that compared the effects of feeding horses with alfalfa cubes versus long-stem hay, particularly focusing on differences in eating time, chewing activity, and dust concentration. These aspects are studied with the consideration of their impact on equine digestion and health.
Research Methodology
- The study was conducted using a cross-over design and involved six horses aged 11 ± 4 years.
- The horses were fed 5 kg of either alfalfa cubes or long-stem hay overnight.
- The feeding behaviour, in particular, eating and chewing activities, were recorded using the EquiWatch system equipped with a sensor-based halter.
- Dust concentration during feeding was also measured. Three types of dust fractions were measured – inhalable fraction (less than 100 μm), thoracic fraction (less than 10 μm), and the hygienic status of both feed sources.
Research Findings
- The study found that feeding with the same amount of alfalfa cubes leads to a 24% shorter eating time (an average of 67 minutes less) and 26% fewer total chews compared to feeding with long-stem hay.
- On an hourly basis, it was also observed that horses spent more time eating and chewing long hay compared to the cubes.
- Cube feeding resulted in a greater dust concentration in the inhalable fraction, but not in the thoracic fraction. However, the study clarifies that the general average dust levels were low for both cubes and hay, indicating sound hygienic status.
Research Implications
- The findings suggest that feeding horses with alfalfa-based cubes generate less eating time and fewer chews than long hay.
- However, these results do not imply any major differences in thoracic dust produced during feeding.
- The implications of the research advise against using alfalfa-based cubes as the sole forage source for horses particularly if this fodder was supposed to be fed without restrictions, due to the decreased eating time and less chews, which may affect horses’ digestion and health.
Cite This Article
APA
Petz V, Khiaosa-Ard R, Iben C, Zebeli Q.
(2023).
Changes in eating time, chewing activity and dust concentration in horses fed either alfalfa cubes or long-stem hay.
Vet Med Sci, 9(3), 1154-1162.
https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.1102 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Mastication / physiology
- Medicago sativa
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Feeding Behavior
- Poaceae
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interests.
References
This article includes 33 references
Citations
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