Effect of water supply method and flow rate on drinking behavior and fluid balance in horses.
Abstract: This study investigated three methods of water supply on drinking preference and behavior in six Standardbred geldings (2-9 years, 505+/-9 kg). The water sources were buckets (B), pressure valve (PV), and float valve (FV) bowls. In an initial drinking preference test, PV was tested at three flow rates: 3, 8, and 16 l/min (PV3, PV8, and PV16), and FV at 3 l/min (FV3). Water intake was measured in l and presented as the percentage of the total daily water intake from each of two simultaneously presented alternatives. The intake from PV8 was greater than from both PV3 (72+/-11% vs. 28+/-11%) and PV16 (90+/-4% vs. 10+/-4%). All horses showed a strong preference for B, 98+/-1% of the intake compared to 2+/-1% from PV8. Individual variation in the data gave no significant difference in preference between the two automatic bowls. In the second part of the study, drinking behavior and fluid balance were investigated when the horses drank from FV3, PV8, and B for 7 consecutive days in a changeover design. Despite a tendency for an increase in total daily drinking time from FV3, the daily water intake was significantly lower (43+/-3 ml/kg) than from PV8 (54+/-2 ml/kg) and B (58+/-3 ml/kg). Daily net water gain [intake-(fecal+urinary output)] was only 0.5+/-3 ml/kg with FV3, resulting in a negative fluid balance if insensible losses are included. These results show that the water supply method can affect both drinking behavior and fluid balance in the horse.
Publication Date: 2001-06-12 PubMed ID: 11399288DOI: 10.1016/s0031-9384(00)00432-7Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research paper explores how different methods of water supply and flow rates influence the drinking behaviour and fluid balance in horses. The experiment revealed that the drinking preference and fluid balance in horses can change based on the type of water supply method used.
Methods Used
- The study was conducted on six Standardbred geldings aged between 2-9 years, weighing approximately 505 kg.
- The researchers examined three methods of water feeding: buckets (B), pressure valve (PV), and float valve (FV) bowls.
- The pressure valve was tested at three different flow rates – 3, 8, and 16 liters per minute (l/min), while the float valve was used at only 3 l/min.
- The amount of water intake was measured and recorded as the percentage of the total daily water intake from each of two simultaneously available water sources.
Findings
- The water intake from the 8 l/min flow rate pressure valve (PV8) was higher than the intake from the 3 l/min (PV3) and 16 l/min (PV16) flow rates.
- The experiment found that all horses significantly preferred drinking water from buckets, accounting for 98% of their total intake, compared to only 2% from the PV8.
- There was no statistically significant difference in preference for the automatic bowls (PV and FV), even though individual variation did exist.
Consequences
- In the second phase of the study, the researchers examined drinking behavior and fluid balance over seven consecutive days from three sources: FV3, PV8, and bucket.
- Even though horses drinking from FV3 showed a tendency for an increase in total daily drinking time, they consumed less water over the day compared to those drinking from PV8 and buckets.
- This inadequate intake led to a slight daily net water gain and could result in a negative fluid balance considering insensible water loss (i.e., via respiration, sweating, or evaporation).
Conclusion
- The researchers concluded that the method of water supply could significantly influence both the drinking behavior and fluid balance in horses. Therefore, considering the welfare and healthy hydration of horses, better water supply methods and appropriate flow rates should be chosen.
Cite This Article
APA
Nyman S, Dahlborn K.
(2001).
Effect of water supply method and flow rate on drinking behavior and fluid balance in horses.
Physiol Behav, 73(1-2), 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0031-9384(00)00432-7 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7045, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden. sara.nyman@djfys.slu.se
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Choice Behavior / physiology
- Drinking Behavior / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Thirst / physiology
- Water Supply
- Water-Electrolyte Balance / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Harvey AM, Ramp D, Mellor DJ. Review of the Foundational Knowledge Required for Assessing Horse Welfare.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 1;12(23).
- Raspa F, Cavallarin L, McLean AK, Bergero D, Valle E. A Review of the Appropriate Nutrition Welfare Criteria of Dairy Donkeys: Nutritional Requirements, Farm Management Requirements and Animal-Based Indicators.. Animals (Basel) 2019 Jun 1;9(6).
- Jonckheer-Sheehy VS, Houpt KA. Management methods to improve the welfare of horses used in research.. Lab Anim (NY) 2015 Sep;44(9):350-8.
- Bøe KE, Ehrlenbruch R, Andersen IL. The preference for water nipples vs. water bowls in dairy goats.. Acta Vet Scand 2011 Sep 22;53(1):50.
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