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

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 .

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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