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The effect of location and variety on foraging behaviour of stabled horses

The effect of location and variety on foraging behaviour of stabled horses
The effect of location and variety on foraging behaviour of stabled horses
In two replicated trials we initially aimed to investigate positional foraging preferences in stabled horses presented with a standard forage. Using the same protocol we then investigated preferences for single and multiple forage sources and interactions with the effect of location. Ten stabled horses, four females and six geldings, aged from 18 months to 21 years, maintained at Writtle College Stud took part in these trials. In Trial 1 four 60 litre containers holding 2.7 kg of chopped English ryegrass were located in the centre of the front, back, left and right walls of the horses' 3.5m2 Monarch-style loose-boxes. In Trial 2 three containers each containing 2.7 kg of forage (chopped Italian ryegrass, chopped timothy, chopped alfalfa) and one container containing 2.7 kg of an equal parts mixture of these three forages (i.e. 0.9kg of each forage) were presented in the same locations according to a Latin Square design to control for location order effects. In both trials the horses' behaviour was recorded for 30 minutes using wall mounted video cameras. Data was harvested from tapes according to an11 behaviour mutually exclusive ethogram using the Observer v.5 package and analysed using SPSS v.12. Data were analysed using Freidman's analysis. In Trial 1 a significant difference in position was found with total foraging duration greatest in the front position (P<0.005, df 3,2=14.0 ). In Trial 2 a significant difference in duration of foraging was found with highest duration recorded for single ryegrass (P<0.001, df3, 2=21.4). When a variety of forages were presented the effect of location was NS. In these short term trials horses showed a preference for foraging location when a single forage was presented. When a variety of forages were presented single ryegrass was the preferred forage and forage preferences overrode positional preferences.
P.198
ISAE Scientific Committee 2006 for the Organising Committee of the 40th ISAE Congress
Yates, Tina
466f83b5-3d49-4167-9af0-3cd4762abb91
Goodwin, Deborah
6a44fe30-189a-493d-8dcc-3eb8199a12ab
Kennedy, Mark
a28c9dec-b498-4a96-aae3-f349bf41114b
Harris, Pat
c5c0081f-0085-49cb-8993-6ae92ccbb6b2
Mendl, M.
Burman, O.H.P.
Butterworth, A.
Harris, M.J.
Held, S.D.E.
Jones, S.M.
Littin, K.E.
Main, D.C.J.
Nicol, C.J.
Parker, R.M.A.
Paul, E.S.
Richards, G.
Sherwin, C.M.
Statham, P.T.E.
Toscano, M.J.
Warriss, P.D.
Yates, Tina
466f83b5-3d49-4167-9af0-3cd4762abb91
Goodwin, Deborah
6a44fe30-189a-493d-8dcc-3eb8199a12ab
Kennedy, Mark
a28c9dec-b498-4a96-aae3-f349bf41114b
Harris, Pat
c5c0081f-0085-49cb-8993-6ae92ccbb6b2
Mendl, M.
Burman, O.H.P.
Butterworth, A.
Harris, M.J.
Held, S.D.E.
Jones, S.M.
Littin, K.E.
Main, D.C.J.
Nicol, C.J.
Parker, R.M.A.
Paul, E.S.
Richards, G.
Sherwin, C.M.
Statham, P.T.E.
Toscano, M.J.
Warriss, P.D.

Yates, Tina, Goodwin, Deborah, Kennedy, Mark and Harris, Pat (2006) The effect of location and variety on foraging behaviour of stabled horses. Mendl, M., Burman, O.H.P., Butterworth, A., Harris, M.J., Held, S.D.E., Jones, S.M., Littin, K.E., Main, D.C.J., Nicol, C.J., Parker, R.M.A., Paul, E.S., Richards, G., Sherwin, C.M., Statham, P.T.E., Toscano, M.J. and Warriss, P.D. (eds.) In Proceedings of the 40th International Congress of ISAE. ISAE Scientific Committee 2006 for the Organising Committee of the 40th ISAE Congress. P.198 .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

In two replicated trials we initially aimed to investigate positional foraging preferences in stabled horses presented with a standard forage. Using the same protocol we then investigated preferences for single and multiple forage sources and interactions with the effect of location. Ten stabled horses, four females and six geldings, aged from 18 months to 21 years, maintained at Writtle College Stud took part in these trials. In Trial 1 four 60 litre containers holding 2.7 kg of chopped English ryegrass were located in the centre of the front, back, left and right walls of the horses' 3.5m2 Monarch-style loose-boxes. In Trial 2 three containers each containing 2.7 kg of forage (chopped Italian ryegrass, chopped timothy, chopped alfalfa) and one container containing 2.7 kg of an equal parts mixture of these three forages (i.e. 0.9kg of each forage) were presented in the same locations according to a Latin Square design to control for location order effects. In both trials the horses' behaviour was recorded for 30 minutes using wall mounted video cameras. Data was harvested from tapes according to an11 behaviour mutually exclusive ethogram using the Observer v.5 package and analysed using SPSS v.12. Data were analysed using Freidman's analysis. In Trial 1 a significant difference in position was found with total foraging duration greatest in the front position (P<0.005, df 3,2=14.0 ). In Trial 2 a significant difference in duration of foraging was found with highest duration recorded for single ryegrass (P<0.001, df3, 2=21.4). When a variety of forages were presented the effect of location was NS. In these short term trials horses showed a preference for foraging location when a single forage was presented. When a variety of forages were presented single ryegrass was the preferred forage and forage preferences overrode positional preferences.

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More information

Published date: 20 August 2006
Venue - Dates: 40th International Congress of ISAE, Bristol, UK, 2006-08-07 - 2006-08-11

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 63491
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/63491
PURE UUID: 1da96cf9-9a88-4807-afb7-a3e9edb40e89

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Date deposited: 15 Oct 2008
Last modified: 11 Dec 2021 18:14

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Contributors

Author: Tina Yates
Author: Deborah Goodwin
Author: Mark Kennedy
Author: Pat Harris
Editor: M. Mendl
Editor: O.H.P. Burman
Editor: A. Butterworth
Editor: M.J. Harris
Editor: S.D.E. Held
Editor: S.M. Jones
Editor: K.E. Littin
Editor: D.C.J. Main
Editor: C.J. Nicol
Editor: R.M.A. Parker
Editor: E.S. Paul
Editor: G. Richards
Editor: C.M. Sherwin
Editor: P.T.E. Statham
Editor: M.J. Toscano
Editor: P.D. Warriss

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