FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Initial Impact of Different Feeding Methods on Feed Intake T...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(8); doi: 10.3390/ani14081211

Initial Impact of Different Feeding Methods on Feed Intake Time in Stabled Icelandic Horses.

Abstract: The natural behaviour of horses is to spend the majority of their time on feed intake The feeding of stabled horses is, however, often far from that, as their feed intake is limited to their nutritional requirements. In order to approach their natural foraging time, it is important to extend the feed intake time of stabled horses. The aim of this study was to estimate if the feed intake time differs when feeding haylage in a haynet, hayball, metal corner manger, or from the box floor. The experimental design consisted of a Latin square, occurred across four days with four adult Icelandic horses and four treatments. Horses were stabled in individual boxes and fed 7 kg of high-energy haylage in two even meals while the intake time was recorded. The feed intake time per kg DM was shorter from the manger or the box floor than from a haynet or hayball (81 or 85 min versus 94 or 96 min; p < 0.05). It can be concluded that feeding haylage in a hayball or in a haynet can increase the feed intake time by 13% per day (12 min/kg DM/day) when compared to the more traditional methods. Thus, with simple alternatives, it is possible to extend the feed intake time of stabled horses.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2024-04-18 PubMed ID: 38672359PubMed Central: PMC11047569DOI: 10.3390/ani14081211Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 study investigates how different feeding methods impact the length of time stabled Icelandic horses spend eating. It finds that using a hayball or haynet can increase the time these horses spend eating by 13%, bringing it closer to the natural feeding behaviour of horses in the wild.

Objective of the Research

  • The main goal of this study was to determine if the time horses spend eating varies depending on the method used for feeding them haylage. Specifically, the researchers were interested in feed intake time when using a haynet, hayball, metal corner manger, or feeding from the box floor.

Design of the Study

  • The research design was a Latin square experiment conducted over four days. This type of design is known for its efficiency in controlling two potential sources of variability and allows the researchers to effectively isolate the effects of different feeding methods.
  • The study was done with four adult Icelandic horses that were stabled in individual boxes.
  • The horses were each fed 7 kg of high-energy haylage in two equal portions while the researchers recorded the intake time.

Findings of the Study

  • The study found that the length of time horses spent eating per kg of dry matter (DM) was shorter when they were fed from the manger or the box floor. However, feeding time was longer when the haylage was given in a haynet or hayball.
  • Specifically, the intake times were 81 or 85 minutes for the manger or box floor respectively, compared to 94 or 96 minutes for the haynet or hayball.

Conclusion

  • The researchers concluded that using a hayball or haynet can increase feed intake time by 13% per day (or 12 minutes per kg of DM per day) when compared to traditional feeding methods.
  • This suggests a simple method for extending the feed intake time of stabled horses, helping to mimic their natural feeding behavior in the wild and potentially improving their well-being.

Cite This Article

APA
Ragnarsson S, Víkingsdóttir SV, Stefánsdóttir GJ. (2024). Initial Impact of Different Feeding Methods on Feed Intake Time in Stabled Icelandic Horses. Animals (Basel), 14(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14081211

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 8

Researcher Affiliations

Ragnarsson, Sveinn
  • Department of Equine Science, Hólar University, 551 Sauðárkrókur, Iceland.
Víkingsdóttir, Sigríður Vaka
  • Department of Equine Science, Hólar University, 551 Sauðárkrókur, Iceland.
Stefánsdóttir, Guðrún Jóhanna
  • Department of Equine Science, Hólar University, 551 Sauðárkrókur, Iceland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

This article includes 38 references
  1. Janis C. The evolutionary strategy of the Equdae and the origins of rumen and caecal digestion.. Evolution 1976;30:757–774.
    doi: 10.2307/2407816pubmed: 28563331google scholar: lookup
  2. Ellis A.D. Biological basis of behaviour in relation to nutrition and feed intake in horses.. .
  3. Boyd L.E, Carbonaro D.A, Houpt K.A. A 24-hour time budget of Przewalski horses.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1988;21:5–17.
    doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(88)90098-6google scholar: lookup
  4. McGreevy P. Equine Behavior. A Guide for Veterinarians and Equine Scientists.. .
  5. Hothersall B, Nicol C.J. Effects of diet on behaviour, -normal and abnormal.. .
  6. Wickens C.L, Heleski C.R. Crib-biting behavior in horses: A review.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2010;128:1–9.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2010.07.002google scholar: lookup
  7. Henderson A.J.Z. Don’t fence me in: Managing psychological well being for elite performance horses.. J. Appl. Anim. Welf. Sci. 2007;10:309–329.
    doi: 10.1080/10888700701555576pubmed: 17970632google scholar: lookup
  8. Normando S, Meers L, Samuels W.E, Faustini M, Ödberg F.O. Variables affecting the prevalence of behavioural problems in horses. Can riding style and other management factors be significant?. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2011;133:186–198.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2011.06.012google scholar: lookup
  9. Harris P.A, Ellis A.D, Fradinho M.J, Jansson A, Julliand V, Luthersson N, Santos A.S, Vervuert I. Feeding conserved forage to horses: Recent advances and recommendations.. Animal 2017;11:958–967.
    doi: 10.1017/S1751731116002469pubmed: 27881201google scholar: lookup
  10. Sarrafchi A, Blokhuis H.J. Equine stereotypic behaviors: Causation, occurrence, and prevention.. J. Vet. Behav.-Clin. Appl. Res. 2013;8:386–394.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2013.04.068google scholar: lookup
  11. Sneddon J.C, Argenzio R.A. Feeding strategy and water homeostasis in equids: The role of the hind gut.. J. Arid. Environ. 1998;38:493–509.
    doi: 10.1006/jare.1997.0354google scholar: lookup
  12. Halldórsson P. Hestafóður. Stöðumat á Fóðrun Reiðhesta. [e. Feeds for Horses. Status of Riding Horses’ Feeding]. .
  13. Müller C.E. Equine ingestion of haylage harvested at different plant maturity stages.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2011;134:144–151.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2011.08.005google scholar: lookup
  14. Ragnarsson S, Lindberg J.E. Nutritional value of timothy haylage in Icelandic horses.. Livest. Sci. 2008;113:202–208.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2007.03.010google scholar: lookup
  15. Lindberg J.E. Feedstuffs for horses.. .
  16. Ragnarsson S, Lindberg J.E. Nutritional value of mixed grass haylage in Icelandic horses.. Livest. Sci. 2010;131:83–87.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2010.03.003google scholar: lookup
  17. NRC. Nutrient Requirements of Horses.. 6th ed..
  18. Ragnarsson S. Digestibility and Metabolism in Icelandic Horses Fed Forage-Only Diet.. .
  19. Ragnarsson S, Jansson A. Comparison of grass haylage digestibility and metabolic plasma profile in Icelandic and Standardbred horses.. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr. 2011;95:273–279.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2010.01049.xpubmed: 20796073google scholar: lookup
  20. Stefánsdóttir G. Útifóðrun hrossa. [e. Feeding horses outside]. Eiðfaxi 2010;33:20–23.
  21. Wyse C.A, McNie K.A, Tannahil J.K, Murray J.K, Love S. Prevalence of obesity in riding horses in Scotland.. Vet. Rec. 2008;162:590–591.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.162.18.590pubmed: 18453379google scholar: lookup
  22. Jensen R.B, Danielsen S.H, Tauson A.H. The prevalence of obesity in mature Icelandic horses in Danmark.. Acta Vet. Scand. 2015;57((Suppl. S1)):O9.
    doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-57-S1-O9pmc: PMC5073991pubmed: 27766968google scholar: lookup
  23. Pratt-Phillips S, Munjizun A. Impacts of Adiposity on Exercise Performance in Horses.. Animals 2023;13:666.
    doi: 10.3390/ani13040666pmc: PMC9951652pubmed: 36830453google scholar: lookup
  24. Lundqvist H, Müller C.E. Feeding time in horses provided roughage in different combinations of haynets and on the stable floor.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2022;253:105685.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105685google scholar: lookup
  25. Ellis A.D, Redgate S, Zinchenko S, Owen H, Barfoot C, Harris P. The effect of presenting forage in multi-layered haynets and at multiple sites on night time budgets of stabled horses.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2015;171:108–116.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2015.08.012google scholar: lookup
  26. Glunk E.C, Hathaway M.R, Weber W.J, Sheaffer C.C, Martinson K.L. The effect of hay net design on rate of forage consumption when feeding adult horses.. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2014;34:986–991.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2014.05.006google scholar: lookup
  27. Rochais C, Henry S, Hausberger M. “Hay-bags” and “Slow feeders”: Testing their impact on horse behaviour and welfare.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2018;198:52–59.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.09.019google scholar: lookup
  28. Correa M.G, e Silva C.F.R, Dias L.A, Junior S.D.S.R, Thomes F.R, do Lago L.A, Carvalho A.D.M, Faleiros R.R. Welfare benefits after the implementation of slow-feeder hays bags for stabled horses.. J. Vet. Behav.-Clin. Appl. Res. 2020;38:61–66.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2020.05.010google scholar: lookup
  29. Ellis A.D, Fell M, Luck K, Gill L, Owen H, Briars H, Barfoot C, Harris P. Effect of forage presentation on feed intake behaviour in stabled horses.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2015;165:88–94.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2015.01.010google scholar: lookup
  30. Stefánsdóttir G.J, Björnsdóttir S. Mat á holdafari hrossa [e. Estimation of horses’ body condition]. Eiðfaxi-Ræktun 2001;24:60–65.
  31. Henneke D.R, Potter G.D, Kreider J.L, Yeates B.F. Relationship between condition score, physical measurements and body fat percentage in mares.. Equine Vet. J. 1983;15:371–372.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1983.tb01826.xpubmed: 6641685google scholar: lookup
  32. Efnagreining.is. 2012. [(accessed on 15 April 2024)]. Available online: https://efnagreining.is/
  33. Austbø D. Energy and protein requirements for horses in the Nordic countries.. .
  34. Benz B, Münzing C, Krüger K, Winter D. Ethological investigation of hayracks in equine husbandry.. Landtechnik 2014;69:239–244.
  35. Waters A.J, Nicol C.J, French N.P. Factors influencing the development of stereotypic and redirected behaviours in young horses: Findings of a four year prospective epidemiological study.. Equine Vet. J. 2002;34:572–579.
    doi: 10.2746/042516402776180241pubmed: 12357996google scholar: lookup
  36. Whisher L, Raum M, Pina L, Pérez L, Erb H, Houpt C, Houpt K. Effects of environmental factors on cribbing activity by horses.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2011;135:63–69.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2011.09.001google scholar: lookup
  37. Raspa F, Roggero A, Palestrini C, Marten Canvesio M, Bergero D, Valle E. Studying the Shape Variations of the back, the neck, and the Mandibular Angle of Horses Depending on Specific Feeding Postures Using Geometric Morphometrice.. Animals 2021;11:763.
    doi: 10.3390/ani11030763pmc: PMC7998216pubmed: 33801885google scholar: lookup
  38. Hodgson S, Bennett-Skinner P, Lancaster B, Upton S, Harris P, Ellis A.D. Posture and pull pressure by horses when eating hay or haylage from a hay net hung at various positions.. Animals 2022;12:2999.
    doi: 10.3390/ani12212999pmc: PMC9659009pubmed: 36359123google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.