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- Title
Initial Impact of Different Feeding Methods on Feed Intake Time in Stabled Icelandic Horses.
- Authors
Ragnarsson, Sveinn; Víkingsdóttir, Sigríður Vaka; Stefánsdóttir, Guðrún Jóhanna
- Abstract
Simple Summary: The natural behaviour of horses is to spend the majority of their time foraging. The feed intake time of stabled horses is often far from that, since their feed intake is limited to their nutritional requirements in order to avoid overfeeding and obesity. To approach their natural foraging time, it is important to find methods which can extend the feed intake time for stabled horses. The aim of this study was to estimate if different feeding methods could extend horses' feed intake times. We measured how long it took for four Icelandic horses to eat 7 kg of high-energy haylage (3.5 kg/meal), from a haynet, hayball, manger, and straight from the box floor, for one day per method. To record the horses' feed intake time, a video surveillance system was applied using two cameras. All horses stayed healthy throughout the study and ate all feed that was offered. From this study, it can be concluded that feeding high-energy haylage in a hayball or in a haynet can increase the feed intake time of maintenance-fed horses by 13% per day, as compared to more traditional methods. Thus, with simple feeding methods, it is possible to extend the feed intake time of stabled horses, thereby closer resembling horses' natural foraging time. 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.
- Subjects
HORSE breeding; ANIMAL feeds; HORSES; VIDEO surveillance; MAGIC squares; NUTRITIONAL requirements
- Publication
Animals (2076-2615), 2024, Vol 14, Issue 8, p1211
- ISSN
2076-2615
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/ani14081211