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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(21); 2999; doi: 10.3390/ani12212999

Posture and Pull Pressure by Horses When Eating Hay or Haylage from a Hay Net Hung at Various Positions.

Abstract: These studies assessed the pressure forces exerted by horses to extract forage from haynets. Study 1 measured horse posture and pressure in Newtons (10 N = 1 kg Force) exerted on haynets when feeding from either a single (SH) or double layered (DH) haynet (3 kg Hay), hung low or high. Mean and maximum pull forces were higher for the DH vs. SH (DH: 81 ± 2 N, max 156 N; SH: 74 ± 2.9 N, max 121 N; p < 0.01). Horses pulled harder on low (max pull 144 ± 8 N) compared to high (109 ± 8 N; p < 0.05) hung haynets. Mean maximum angles (nose-poll-withers) recorded were 90° ± 9 for SH and 127° ± 10 for DH (p < 0.01). Study 2 was a latin square design measuring forces exerted by 10 horses when eating from haynets (6 kg fill) with hay or haylage and attached to the wall at single or double points. Pull pressures were significantly higher when eating haylage compared to hay (mean: 7.5 kg vs. 2 kg and max: 32 kg versus 12 kg, respectively, (p < 0.001). Forage type and fracture properties had the greatest effect on apprehension rates of hay from haynets. In this study, the majority of force exerted when eating from haynets was below 70 N for hay and for haylage 50% of pulls were higher than 50 N with 8% of pulls above 200 N.
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Publication Date: 2022-10-31 PubMed ID: 36359123PubMed Central: PMC9659009DOI: 10.3390/ani12212999Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 research investigates the pressure exerted by horses when they eat hay or haylage from a haynet hung at different heights. The study found that the way haynets are hung and the type of forage affect how hard horses pull when feeding.

Two-part Study

The first part of the study measured horse posture and the pressure in Newtons exerted on haynets when feeding. This part of the study compared a single and double-layered haynet, hung at either a low or high position.

  • Horses pulled harder on double-layered nets compared to single-layered ones, with the mean and maximum pull forces higher in double-layered nets (81 ± 2 N and 156 N) as opposed to single-layered nets (74 ± 2.9 N and 121 N).
  • When it comes to the position of the haynet, horses pulled harder on low hung haynets (with a maximum pull of 144 ± 8 N) as compared to high hung haynets (109 ± 8 N).
  • Keeping track of the angles recorded between the horses’ nose, poll (highest point on the horse’s skull, between the ears), and withers (the highest point on the horse’s back), the angles were 90° ± 9 for single-layered haynets and 127° ± 10 for double-layered haynets.

The second part of the study used a latin square design to measure the forces exerted by 10 horses when eating from haynets filled with either hay or haylage and hung at single or double points on the wall.

  • The horses exerted significantly higher pull pressures (7.5 kg mean and 32 kg max) when eating haylage as compared to hay (2 kg mean and 12 kg max).
  • The type of forage and its fracture properties (how easily it breaks apart when pulled) greatly affected how quickly the horses could remove hay from the haynets.
  • Most of the force exerted when eating from haynets was below 70 N for hay. However, for haylage 50% of the pulls were higher than 50 N with 8% of pulls exceeding 200 N.

Implications of the Study

These findings can influence how equine caretakers feed their horses—taking into account the type of net, the height at which it’s hung, and the type of forage—to reduce strain on horses and possibly extend feeding times by adjusting these factors.

Cite This Article

APA
Hodgson S, Bennett-Skinner P, Lancaster B, Upton S, Harris P, Ellis AD. (2022). Posture and Pull Pressure by Horses When Eating Hay or Haylage from a Hay Net Hung at Various Positions. Animals (Basel), 12(21), 2999. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12212999

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 21
PII: 2999

Researcher Affiliations

Hodgson, Samantha
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK.
Bennett-Skinner, Pam
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK.
Lancaster, Bryony
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK.
Upton, Sarah
  • School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Science, Brackenhurst Campus, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell NG25 4QF, UK.
Harris, Patricia
  • Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Freeby Lane, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UK.
Ellis, Andrea D
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK.
  • School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Science, Brackenhurst Campus, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell NG25 4QF, UK.
  • Unequi Ltd., 12 Bridgford Street, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire NG2 6AB, UK.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Bordin C, Raspa F, Greppi M, Harris P, Ellis AD, Roggero A, Palestrini C, Cavallini D, Bergero D, Valle E. Pony feeding management: the role of morphology and hay feeding methods on intake rate, ingestive behaviors and mouth shaping. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1332207.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1332207pubmed: 38681853google scholar: lookup
  2. Ragnarsson S, Víkingsdóttir SV, Stefánsdóttir GJ. Initial Impact of Different Feeding Methods on Feed Intake Time in Stabled Icelandic Horses. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 18;14(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14081211pubmed: 38672359google scholar: lookup
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