Strip-grazing: Reduces pony dry matter intakes and changes in bodyweight and morphometrics.

Longland, AC
·
Barfoot, C
·
Harris, PA

Abstract: Obesity can negatively impact upon equine welfare and bodyweight (BW) of pastured equines is often difficult to manage. Objective: To compare the effects of three restricted grazing regimens on changes in pony BW and morphometric measurements. Methods: Randomised study. Methods: Twelve mature ponies were individually grazed in 10m wide, rectangular, electric fenced paddocks. The dry matter (DM) herbage yield of each paddock was determined, and paddock length adjusted on Day 1 to provide 1.5% of individual pony BW as herbage DM daily, for 28 days. There were four ponies per treatment. Treatments were: total paddock area (TA) and strip grazing treatments, SG1 and SG2. SG1 had a 'lead' fence spanning the paddock width being moved a set distance along the paddock length daily to provide 1.5% of pony BW as fresh pasture DM (as determined on Day -1). SG2 also had a 'back fence' 7-12m behind the 'lead' fence which was moved the same distance as the lead fence daily. Calculated dry matter intakes, changes in cresty neck score (CNS), body condition score (BCS) and percentage changes in BW, heart girth (HG), belly girth (BG) and rump width (RW) were compared between treatments. Results: Mean (±SD) calculated pasture DM intakes (as % BW/d) by TA ponies were 2.33 ± 0.50, being significantly higher (P < 0.05) than 1.82 ± 0.43 (SG1) and 1.59 ± 0.42 (SG2). Mean percentage BW changes were higher (P < 0.05) for TA ponies at 4.82 ± 1.36 vs. 1.16 ± 0.39 (SG1) and 1.54 ± 1.35 (SG2). SG1 and SG2 pony BW changes were not significantly different. TA, but not SG1 or SG2 animals showed significant (P < 0.05) increases in BCS1/9 (+0.94 ± 0.32), CNS1/5 (+0.5 ± 0), RW (+2.11 ± 3.6) and BG (+4.15 ± 2.29). SG1 and SG2 ponies showed significant (P < 0.05) decreases in HG (-0.05 ± 2.12) and BG (-5.53 ± 4.89) respectively. Conclusions: Small sample size. Conclusions: Strip grazing limited pony bodyweight gains and upward changes in morphometric parameters.

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Publication Date: 2021-03-08 PubMed ID: 33369770DOI: 10.1111/evj.13416Google Scholar: Lookup

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Journal Article
Randomized Controlled Trial
Veterinary

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.

This study investigates the effects of three different grazing methods on the bodyweight and morphometric changes in ponies. The research found that strip grazing effectively limited the increase in pony bodyweight and reduced changes in body measurements.

Research Methods

The study involved twelve mature ponies that were individually grazed in rectangular, electric fenced paddocks, each 10m wide.
Each paddock’s dry matter (DM) herbage yield was determined and their lengths were adjusted on the first day to allow each pony to consume about 1.5% of their bodyweight as herbage DM each day for 28 days.
There were three treatment groups in the study: total paddock area (TA), and two strip grazing treatments, SG1 and SG2, with four ponies per group.
In the SG1 treatment, a ‘lead’ fence was moved a set distance along the paddock length every day to provide the required amount of fresh pasture DM, which was determined on the first day.
In the SG2 treatment, there was also a ‘back’ fence behind the ‘lead’ fence, which was moved the same distance as the lead fence each day.
Calculated dry matter intakes, changes in cresty neck score (CNS), body condition score (BCS) and changes in measurements of bodyweight, heart girth, belly girth and rump width were all compared between the ponies in the different groups.

Results and Conclusions

The average calculated pasture DM intakes for the TA ponies were significantly higher than those of the SG1 and SG2 ponies.
Mean percentage changes in bodyweight were also higher for the TA ponies than the SG1 or SG2 ponies.
The SG1 and SG2 groups both showed significant decreases in heart girth and belly girth, which were not seen in the TA group.
The TA group showed significant increases in the ponies’ body condition score, cresty neck score, and measurements of rump width and belly girth, changes not experienced by the SG1 or SG2 ponies.
The results of the study suggest that strip grazing limits the increase in pony bodyweight and reduces the change in body measurements.
However, the study acknowledges that the sample size was small.

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APA

Longland AC, Barfoot C, Harris PA. (2021). Strip-grazing: Reduces pony dry matter intakes and changes in bodyweight and morphometrics. Equine Vet J, 54(1), 159-166. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13416

Publication

Equine veterinary journal

ISSN: 2042-3306

NlmUniqueID: 0173320

Country: United States

Language: English

Volume: 54

Issue: 1

Pages: 159-166

Researcher Affiliations

Longland, Annette C

Equine and Livestock Nutrition Services, Tregaron, UK.

Barfoot, Clare

MARS Horse Care UK Ltd, Buckinghamshire, UK.

Harris, Patricia A

WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute, Leicestershire, UK.

MeSH Terms

Animal Feed / analysis
Animals
Body Weight
Diet
Female
Horses
Lactation
Milk

Grant Funding

WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute (Mars Petcare)

References

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