Volume 16, Issue 3 (9-2025)
Res Anim Prod 2025, 16(3): 106-117 |
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Sareminejad P, Kiani A, Azizi A. (2025). The Effect of Restricted Access to Feeder by a Hay Net on the Apparent Digestibility of Nutrients and Repetitive Abnormal Behaviors of Arabian Horses. Res Anim Prod. 16(3), 106-117. doi:10.61882/rap.2025.1749
URL: http://rap.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-1479-en.html
URL: http://rap.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-1479-en.html
1- Department of Animal Science, Lorestan University, Khoramabad, Iran
Abstract: (1149 Views)
Extended Abstract
Background: Limiting feed intake, low fiber, and high grain can increase the risk of stereotypical behavior in horses, which indicates poor welfare. Extending meal consumption time is closer to natural grazing behavior and leads to a reduction in the feed intake rate and the risk of diseases such as colic. Therefore, conducting research to limit meals increases the feed consumption rate in horses. On the other hand, it has been found that consuming a large amount of feed once a day leads to an increase in the passage rate of substances in the digestive system and, therefore, decreases the digestibility of nutrients in horses. Increasing the feed consumption time increases chewing activity in horses, and as a result, increasing chewing activity can have a positive effect on enzymatic and microbial digestion in the horse's digestive system. Therefore, the present research aimed to investigate the effect of restricting access to feed by a hay net on the apparent digestibility of nutrients and nutritional behavior in Arabian horses.
Methods: In this experiment, eight purebred Arabian horses (average age 9 ± 3 years and average weight 396 ± 45 kg) were studied in two groups, including horses fed with a hay net and hay on the ground for two 28-day rotation periods (56 days). Each period included 3 weeks of habituation and 1 week of stool sample collection. Throughout the period, the horses were fed individually and had free access to clean water and mineral supplements. The remaining hay and concentrate were weighed by looking at the place of feeding on the ground and hay nets. Then, the total amount of feed consumed was measured both in free and hay net treatments. The start and end times of each meal by the horses were examined using cameras placed in the stable to measure the actual time of feed consumption per 24 hours. The feed consumption rate was calculated in grams per 24 hours. Horse feces were sampled through the rectum 2 hours after the morning meal for 7 days at the end of each experimental period. The apparent digestibility of nutrients was measured through feces point sampling (twice a day) one hour after feeding (morning and evening meal) between days 22 and 28 of each cycle. Feces samples were analyzed for dry matter, organic matter, ash-free neutral detergent fiber, ash-free acid detergent fiber, and crude protein. The acid-insoluble ash of the samples was measured by boiling the ash in hydrochloric acid for 5 minutes. Nutrient digestibility was determined by the acid-insoluble ash method. To measure feces pH, a sample of fresh stool (10 g removed from the rectum) was homogenized with an equal amount of distilled water, and the pH of its extract was immediately measured after filtering using a mobile automatic pH meter calibrated at the same place. The daily behavior of horses was recorded using fixed cameras around the clock for 48 hours. Behavioral observations of horses were evaluated as well. Finally, the results of the experiment were analyzed with the statistical program SAS version 9.1.
Results: Feeding using the hay net significantly increased (P < 0.05) feeding time from 257 to 659 minutes per day and decreased (P < 0.05) the forage consumption rate from 1592 to 610 g/h. Moreover, the results showed the improved apparent digestibility of nutrients, including protein, compared to the control group (P = 0.06), although this effect was not significant. In addition, the pH of the rectal contents was not affected by the treatment, but the results of the horses' behavior showed that the use of hay nets significantly reduced the behavior of searching in the stall in the absence of feed (P < 0.05). The hay net use significantly reduced abnormal behaviors, such as turning and restlessness in the stable, swallowing air, and throwing the head in the air, compared to the control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The use of a hay net was effective in increasing the accsess time to forage. In addition to improving the apparent digestibility of nutrients, including protein, it has a significant effect on reducing some aggressive and abnormal behaviors in Arabian horses.
Background: Limiting feed intake, low fiber, and high grain can increase the risk of stereotypical behavior in horses, which indicates poor welfare. Extending meal consumption time is closer to natural grazing behavior and leads to a reduction in the feed intake rate and the risk of diseases such as colic. Therefore, conducting research to limit meals increases the feed consumption rate in horses. On the other hand, it has been found that consuming a large amount of feed once a day leads to an increase in the passage rate of substances in the digestive system and, therefore, decreases the digestibility of nutrients in horses. Increasing the feed consumption time increases chewing activity in horses, and as a result, increasing chewing activity can have a positive effect on enzymatic and microbial digestion in the horse's digestive system. Therefore, the present research aimed to investigate the effect of restricting access to feed by a hay net on the apparent digestibility of nutrients and nutritional behavior in Arabian horses.
Methods: In this experiment, eight purebred Arabian horses (average age 9 ± 3 years and average weight 396 ± 45 kg) were studied in two groups, including horses fed with a hay net and hay on the ground for two 28-day rotation periods (56 days). Each period included 3 weeks of habituation and 1 week of stool sample collection. Throughout the period, the horses were fed individually and had free access to clean water and mineral supplements. The remaining hay and concentrate were weighed by looking at the place of feeding on the ground and hay nets. Then, the total amount of feed consumed was measured both in free and hay net treatments. The start and end times of each meal by the horses were examined using cameras placed in the stable to measure the actual time of feed consumption per 24 hours. The feed consumption rate was calculated in grams per 24 hours. Horse feces were sampled through the rectum 2 hours after the morning meal for 7 days at the end of each experimental period. The apparent digestibility of nutrients was measured through feces point sampling (twice a day) one hour after feeding (morning and evening meal) between days 22 and 28 of each cycle. Feces samples were analyzed for dry matter, organic matter, ash-free neutral detergent fiber, ash-free acid detergent fiber, and crude protein. The acid-insoluble ash of the samples was measured by boiling the ash in hydrochloric acid for 5 minutes. Nutrient digestibility was determined by the acid-insoluble ash method. To measure feces pH, a sample of fresh stool (10 g removed from the rectum) was homogenized with an equal amount of distilled water, and the pH of its extract was immediately measured after filtering using a mobile automatic pH meter calibrated at the same place. The daily behavior of horses was recorded using fixed cameras around the clock for 48 hours. Behavioral observations of horses were evaluated as well. Finally, the results of the experiment were analyzed with the statistical program SAS version 9.1.
Results: Feeding using the hay net significantly increased (P < 0.05) feeding time from 257 to 659 minutes per day and decreased (P < 0.05) the forage consumption rate from 1592 to 610 g/h. Moreover, the results showed the improved apparent digestibility of nutrients, including protein, compared to the control group (P = 0.06), although this effect was not significant. In addition, the pH of the rectal contents was not affected by the treatment, but the results of the horses' behavior showed that the use of hay nets significantly reduced the behavior of searching in the stall in the absence of feed (P < 0.05). The hay net use significantly reduced abnormal behaviors, such as turning and restlessness in the stable, swallowing air, and throwing the head in the air, compared to the control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The use of a hay net was effective in increasing the accsess time to forage. In addition to improving the apparent digestibility of nutrients, including protein, it has a significant effect on reducing some aggressive and abnormal behaviors in Arabian horses.
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