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A note on behaviour of stabled horses with foraging devices in mangers and buckets

A note on behaviour of stabled horses with foraging devices in mangers and buckets
A note on behaviour of stabled horses with foraging devices in mangers and buckets
Processed feed for stabled horses is usually presented in buckets or mangers, and is easily and rapidly consumed. Foraging devices based on the Edinburgh foodball can be used to provide part of the ration. Current designs are all placed on the floor, raising concerns regarding ingestion of foreign materials along with the dispensed food. Alternative devices were evaluated, when presented within suitable, clean containers to prolong food-handling times but avoid such issues.
In four Latin square designed replicated trials we investigated behaviour of 12 stabled horses with three foraging devices. These were separately presented for 5 min, varied in sensory complexity (round, square, polyhedral) and contained 500 g high fibre pellets. In Trials 1 and 2 six geldings were presented with devices in buckets then mangers. All individuals foraged successfully from at least one device and behaviour was compared. However, all individuals exhibited some frustration while using the devices (either pawing or biting them). Horses frequently removed the devices from the buckets in Trial 1 terminating these sessions. In Trial 2 mean device foraging duration was ranked polyhedral > round > square. Mean pawing rate in Trial 2 was calculated for horses (frequency of pawing per individual/summed duration manipulation and foraging) and was highest with square (0.11, npawers = 6). In Trial 3 six stabled mares were presented with the same foraging devices in mangers. Mean foraging duration with devices again ranked polyhedral > round > square. Mean pawing rate was highest with round device (0.08, npawers = 4). Trial 4 investigated behaviour of six horses when devices initially containing five high fibre pellets became empty. Mean foraging duration with devices ranked round > polyhedral > square. Mean pawing rate was highest with square device (0.11, npawers = 4).
All horses foraged successfully from at least one foraging device in buckets and mangers. Devices met initial objectives but the unpredictability of reward suggests a source of frustration and warrants further investigation.
stabled horse, behaviour, foraging device, management, edinburgh foodball
0168-1591
238-243
Goodwin, Deborah
6a44fe30-189a-493d-8dcc-3eb8199a12ab
Davidson, Helen P.B.
15b23b91-00c8-4bc4-9b7f-fef86dc469ca
Harris, Pat
c5c0081f-0085-49cb-8993-6ae92ccbb6b2
Goodwin, Deborah
6a44fe30-189a-493d-8dcc-3eb8199a12ab
Davidson, Helen P.B.
15b23b91-00c8-4bc4-9b7f-fef86dc469ca
Harris, Pat
c5c0081f-0085-49cb-8993-6ae92ccbb6b2

Goodwin, Deborah, Davidson, Helen P.B. and Harris, Pat (2007) A note on behaviour of stabled horses with foraging devices in mangers and buckets. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 105 (1-3), 238-243. (doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2006.05.018).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Processed feed for stabled horses is usually presented in buckets or mangers, and is easily and rapidly consumed. Foraging devices based on the Edinburgh foodball can be used to provide part of the ration. Current designs are all placed on the floor, raising concerns regarding ingestion of foreign materials along with the dispensed food. Alternative devices were evaluated, when presented within suitable, clean containers to prolong food-handling times but avoid such issues.
In four Latin square designed replicated trials we investigated behaviour of 12 stabled horses with three foraging devices. These were separately presented for 5 min, varied in sensory complexity (round, square, polyhedral) and contained 500 g high fibre pellets. In Trials 1 and 2 six geldings were presented with devices in buckets then mangers. All individuals foraged successfully from at least one device and behaviour was compared. However, all individuals exhibited some frustration while using the devices (either pawing or biting them). Horses frequently removed the devices from the buckets in Trial 1 terminating these sessions. In Trial 2 mean device foraging duration was ranked polyhedral > round > square. Mean pawing rate in Trial 2 was calculated for horses (frequency of pawing per individual/summed duration manipulation and foraging) and was highest with square (0.11, npawers = 6). In Trial 3 six stabled mares were presented with the same foraging devices in mangers. Mean foraging duration with devices again ranked polyhedral > round > square. Mean pawing rate was highest with round device (0.08, npawers = 4). Trial 4 investigated behaviour of six horses when devices initially containing five high fibre pellets became empty. Mean foraging duration with devices ranked round > polyhedral > square. Mean pawing rate was highest with square device (0.11, npawers = 4).
All horses foraged successfully from at least one foraging device in buckets and mangers. Devices met initial objectives but the unpredictability of reward suggests a source of frustration and warrants further investigation.

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More information

Published date: June 2007
Keywords: stabled horse, behaviour, foraging device, management, edinburgh foodball

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 40414
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/40414
ISSN: 0168-1591
PURE UUID: 355b30d9-90da-49ba-9f1a-7f29b803c70e

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Date deposited: 06 Jul 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 08:19

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Contributors

Author: Deborah Goodwin
Author: Helen P.B. Davidson
Author: Pat Harris

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