Feed intake patterns of sport ponies and warmblood horses following iso-energetic intake of pelleted fibre-rich mixed feed, muesli feed and semicrushed oat grains.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to compare diverse feed intake patterns in sport ponies and warmblood-type horses after feeding iso-energetic amounts of three different concentrates: a pelleted fibre-rich mixed feed (PF), a muesli feed (MF) and semicrushed oat grains (OG). Four sport ponies and six warmblood-type horses received the concentrates and meadow hay according to maintenance (0.52 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) kg body weight (BW) /day). Both breeds were allocated at random to three groups and received once daily for 8 days either OG (1 g starch/kg BW/meal) or iso-energetic quantities of PF and MF according to a crossover design. On the 8th day, feed intake patterns (chewing frequency (CF) in number of chewings (NC), NC/s), feed intake time (FIT , min/kg dry matter (DM); FIT , min/kg NDF) and chewing intensity (CI, NC/kg DM) were measured using modified halters. In warmbloods, PF tended to be ingested faster than MF and OG (10.3 ± 1.9, 13.0 ± 1.3, 14.4 ± 2.0 min/kg DM, respectively; p = 0.05). In ponies, a similar trend was observed (13.5 ± 2.5, 13.6 ± 2.0 and 15.4 ± 1.1 min/kg DM, respectively; p > 0.05). Ponies needed more time to ingest PF than warmbloods (p < 0.05). The CF of ponies was affected by the type of concentrate (PF and MF 1.43 ± 0.11 vs. OG 1.28 ± 0.093 NC/s; p < 0.05). The results indicate that concentrate intake of breeds follows a similar pattern and that breed differences were limited to PF only. In both breeds, PF induced chewing patterns different from those observed for OG and/or MF. However, an interpretation of these differences needs to take into consideration the diverse chemical compositions of the concentrates. Upcoming studies should address the throwback regarding PF and also examine the metabolic consequences of concentrate intake in ponies.
Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition © 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2017-06-20 PubMed ID: 28627056DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12732Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
Summary
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The research article is about a study that examines the feeding patterns of sport ponies and warmblood-type horses when provided with three different types of feed. The study aims to uncover differences or similarities in feed intake patterns and feeding times for different breeds and types of feed.
Objective of the Research
The research aimed to compare differences in feed intake patterns in sport ponies and warmblood-type horses. The animals were provided three types of feed including a pelleted fibre-rich mixed feed (PF), a muesli feed (MF), and semi-crushed oat grains (OG).
- The energy content of the provided feed was maintained consistent for a fair comparison.
- The study was conducted over 8 days with different feed types provided on each day.
Methodology
The research used four sport ponies and six warmblood horses as subjects.
- The animals were randomly assigned to different groups and were provided one of the three types of feed each day.
- The feed intake patterns were measured on the 8th day, capturing parameters like chewing frequency, feed intake time, and chewing intensity. These measurements were collected using modified horse halters.
Results
The results indicated that both sport ponies and warmblood horses have similar feed intake patterns.
- Warmblood horses ingested PF faster than the other two feeds. Sport ponies also showed a similar trend.
- Sport ponies took more time to ingest PF than warmblood horses.
- The chewing frequency of the ponies was affected by the type of feed. Ponies chewed PF and MF more frequently than OG.
Conclusion
Data analysis indicated that the intake pattern for different breeds followed a similar hierarchy, with breed differences only apparent in the intake of PF.
- Both breeds differed in their chewing patterns for PF compared to MF and OG.
- The study concludes that interpretation of these differences needs consideration of the different feed components.
- The researchers recommended further exploration on the peculiar feed intake pattern observed with PF and the potential metabolic effect it may have on ponies.
Cite This Article
APA
Bochnia M, Boesel M, Bahrenthien L, Wensch-Dorendorf M, Zeyner A.
(2017).
Feed intake patterns of sport ponies and warmblood horses following iso-energetic intake of pelleted fibre-rich mixed feed, muesli feed and semicrushed oat grains.
J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl), 101 Suppl 1, 37-42.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.12732 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Group Animal Nutrition, Institute for Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany.
- Group Animal Nutrition, Institute for Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany.
- Group Animal Nutrition, Institute for Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany.
- Biometrics and Informatics in Agriculture Group, Institute for Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany.
- Group Animal Nutrition, Institute for Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Avena
- Diet / veterinary
- Dietary Fiber / analysis
- Eating
- Edible Grain
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Male
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Liu Q, Yuan H, Xu J, Cui D, Xiong G, Schwarzacher T, Heslop-Harrison JS. The mitochondrial genome of the diploid oat Avena longiglumis. BMC Plant Biol 2023 Apr 26;23(1):218.
- Glatter M, Bochnia M, Wensch-Dorendorf M, Greef JM, Zeyner A. Feed Intake Parameters of Horses Fed Soaked or Steamed Hay and Hygienic Quality of Hay Stored following Treatment. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 18;11(9).
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