Effects of feeding methods on eating frustration in stabled horses

Abstract

Five feeding methods were tested in stabled horses: (i) cutting hay (hay was cut into 5 cm lengths), (ii) delaying feeding time (feeding was delayed until 1 h after the usual time), (iii) increasing the feeding frequency (hay was divided into two portions; one half was given at the normal time and the other 1 h later), (iv) increasing the feeding locations (hay was available at three locations), and (v) increasing the hay varieties (three species of hay were used). The behavioral durations in the 2 h after the experimental feedings were compared with those after usual feeding. In the cutting hay treatment, hayeating time decreased (P < 0.05), whereas bedding-eating time and resting time tended to increase. In the delaying feeding time treatment, bedding investigation time increased (P < 0.01) and hay-eating time tended to increase. In the increasing the feeding frequency treatment, hay-eating time tended to increase. In the increasing the feeding locations treatment, bedding investigation time tended to decrease. In the increasing the hay varieties treatment, resting time tended to decrease and hay-eating time tended to increase. It was suggested that the former two feeding methods might stimulate and the latter three feeding methods might suppress eating frustration in terms of increasing consummatory behavior (eating) and decreasing appetitive (investigating) and displacement behavior (resting).

The use of different objects during a novel object test in stabled horses

“…The latter behavior is sometimes considered as a reflection of frustration. It seems to be influenced by the motivation to eat and increases after feeding when feeding time is delayed (Hughes and Duncan, 1998;Ninomiya et al, 2004). However, in this study, this result might be related to the experimental setup.…”

Qualitative Behaviour Assessment of horses exposed to short-term emotional treatments

“…Boissy et al, 2007;Feh and de Mazières, 1993;McBride et al, 2004;Van Den Bos et al, 2003). In contrast, two negative treatments, food competition (FC) and waving of a plastic bag (PB), were hypothesised to result in frustration and fear, respectively (Christensen et al, 2008;König von Borstel et al, 2010;Ninomiya et al, 2004). We have recently demonstrated that these treatments are associated with consistent variation in a measure (angle) of eye wrinkle expression in horses (Hintze et al, 2016).…”

Welfare assessment at a Spanish Army Equine Breeding Centre

“…In the stallions, the proportion of concentrate in the diet is much higher, necessary for their special energy requirements for the sport, so they could be more satiated (higher presence of feeding lumps). Moreover, for stabled horses, feeding satisfaction is considered mainly a welfare issue that can be assessed by bed and crib inspection together with after lunch rest behaviour appraisal (Ninomiya et al 2004). For this reason, we have considered the presence of food traces as a housed animal satiety estimator which exhibited the highest OR (14.903).…”