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International journal of biometeorology2025; doi: 10.1007/s00484-025-02881-z

Investigation of the impact of seasonal climate conditions on feed intake and body weight in horses.

Abstract: This study aimed to examine the impact of climatic conditions on feed intake, body weight, and rectal temperature in horses residing in the hot Summer Mediterranean climate zone. Eight gelding Italian Saddle horses, with an average body weight of 427.78 ± 54.55 kg and aged between 10 and 13 years, participated in the research. All horses were individually housed in a paddock (800 m/horse), and fed ad libitum. Food intake, body weight, and rectal temperature were recorded every 10 days at four 30-day collection periods in the year: January, April, July, and October. The formula adapted from Thom (Weatherwise, 12,57-61, 1959) was used to calculate the temperature-humidity index (THI). The total and daily average feeding intake was computed based on the recorded temperature and humidity for each season. No statistical difference among seasons and data points in the total and daily average feeding ingestion, body weight and rectal temperature were recorded. This study demonstrates that horses kept in paddocks and provided ad libitum access to uniformly high-quality hay exhibit consistent feed intake, body weight, and rectal temperature across different seasons, with minimal inter- and intra-subject variability in the hot Mediterranean summer climate.
© 2025. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to International Society of Biometeorology.
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Publication Date: 2025-02-26 PubMed ID: 40009160DOI: 10.1007/s00484-025-02881-zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article details a study aimed at understanding how seasonal weather changes affect the food intake, body weight, and rectal temperature of Italian Saddle horses living in the hot summer Mediterranean climate.

Objective of the Study

  • The main objective of this study was to understand the influence of seasonal climatic conditions on the feed intake, body weight, and rectal temperature of horses, with a particular focus on those dwelling in the hot summer Mediterranean climatic zone.

Study Setup and Methodology

  • The study included eight Italian Saddle geldings aged between 10 and 13 years. These horses each weighed an average of 427.78 ± 54.55 kg.
  • Each horse was housed individually in an 800 m/horse paddock and was provided with food ad libitum.
  • Feeding intake, body weight, and rectal temperature measurements were taken every 10 days over four 30-day periods in January, April, July, and October to cover all seasons.
  • The researchers calculated the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) using Thom’s formula, which helps determine how the combined factors of temperature and humidity affect horses.
  • Total and average daily feeding intake was computed in relation to the recorded temperature and humidity for each season.

Results and Findings

  • No statistical differences were found in total and average daily feeding intake, body weight, or rectal temperature among seasons and individual data points.
  • The study found that horses kept in paddocks and provided consistent access to high-quality hay exhibited consistent feed intake, body weight, and rectal temperature across different seasons.
  • Minimal variability was observed both between horses (inter-subject) and within the same horse across time (intra-subject)
    in the hot Mediterranean summer climate.

In conclusion, the study highlights that horses, specifically Italian Saddle geldings, showed consistent food intake, body weight, and rectal temperature irrespective of the seasonal changes in the hot summer Mediterranean climate. The findings suggest that these horses show incredible resilience and consistency under these conditions.

Cite This Article

APA
Giannetto C, Aragona F, Fazio F, Piccione G, Giudice E, Arfuso F, Zumbo A. (2025). Investigation of the impact of seasonal climate conditions on feed intake and body weight in horses. Int J Biometeorol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-025-02881-z

Publication

International journal of biometeorology
ISSN: 1432-1254
NlmUniqueID: 0374716
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Giannetto, Claudia
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Via Palatucci n 13, 98168, Messina, Italy. clgiannetto@unime.it.
Aragona, F
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Via Palatucci n 13, 98168, Messina, Italy.
Fazio, F
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Via Palatucci n 13, 98168, Messina, Italy.
Piccione, G
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Via Palatucci n 13, 98168, Messina, Italy.
Giudice, E
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Via Palatucci n 13, 98168, Messina, Italy.
Arfuso, F
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Via Palatucci n 13, 98168, Messina, Italy.
Zumbo, A
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Via Palatucci n 13, 98168, Messina, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Animal ethics: All housing conditions and welfare management were in accordance with the standard recommended in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and Directive 86/609 CEE. Consent to participate: Written informed consent has been obtained from the owners to publish this paper. Competing interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
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  3. da Silva GWC, Dias FCR, do Carmo Cupertino M, do Nascimento Silva AA, Batista ÂMV, de Oliveira Filho EF, de Carvalho FFR, Figueiredo Porto AL, Júnior VADS. Activity of Different Types of Cactus Forage on Testicular Function and Morphology of Sheep Subjected to Environmental Heat Stress. Vet Sci 2025 May 19;12(5).
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