Liegeverhalten von Pferden in Gruppenauslaufhaltung

Abstract

SummaryTitel of the paper: Recumbence resting behaviour of horses in loose housing Systems with open yards Recumbence resting behaviour was investigated in 48 horses in four loose housing Systems with open yards subdivided in areas for feeding, recumbence and for free ränge. Continuous observations were made for each loose housing system on three independent days during a 24-hr period. In all housing Systems the horses chose exclusively the area of recumbence to rest in sternal or lateral position. On the one hand the dimension of the area of recumbence influenced we recumbence resting behaviour. In the fourth housing system the insufftcient recumbence area reduced the resting time. At the other hand the time of recumbence was dependent on social rank. The animals wiüi lower rank showed a significant shorter recumbence time than the horses with higher rank. However the frequency of recumbence was similar in all horses independent of stable, social rank and age. The results clearly show, that the dimension of the area of recumbence as the only parameter is not enough to satisfy the demand of recumbence in all horses.Key Words: horses, recumbence resting behaviour, loose housing Systems Zusammenfassung Das Liegeverhalten von 48 Pferden wurde in vier Offenställen mit getrennten Funktionsbereichen für Liegen, Fressen und Auslauf überprüft. Die Beobachtungen erfolgten an drei unabhängigen Tagen je Stall kontinuierlich über den 24-Stunden-Tag. Zum Ruhen in der Bauch-und Seitenlage wurde ausschließlich die mit Stroh eingestreute Liegehalle aufgesucht. Dies zeugt von der zentralen Bedeutung der Liegehalle im Offenstall während der kalten Jahreszeit. Die Liegezeiten der Pferde waren einerseits von der Größe der Liegefläche abhängig. Im Stall mit geringeren Abmessungen als in den Leitlinien zur Pferdehaltung (BMELF, 1995) empfohlen, wurden die kürzesten Liegezeiten festgestellt. Andererseits wurde die Dauer der Liegezeiten entscheidend von der Ranghöhe beeinflußt. Ranghöhere Pferde konnten mehr als doppelt bzw. dreimal so lange in der Bauch-bzw. Seitenlage ruhen als rangniedere. Die Abliegehäufigkeit in einer der beiden Ruhepositionen war unabhängig vom Betrieb, Rang und Alter bei allen Pferden in etwa gleich hoch. Aus den Befunden ist zu schließen, dass nicht alle Pferde in genügendem Maße ihr Ruhe-bzw. Schlafbedürfnis stillen konnten. Neben einer ausreichend groß bemessenen Liegefläche sind weitere Vorkehrungen zu treffen, um in Offenställen ein verhaltensgerechtes Ruhen für alle Pferde zu ermöglichen.

Space Allowance of the Littered Area Affects Lying Behavior in Group-Housed Horses

“…Accordingly, individually stabled horses spent more time in lateral position if kept in a larger compared to smaller box stalls ( 58 ). Nonetheless, the model estimates of the proportion of lateral recumbency in the present study were much lower compared to the reported mean ranges of 15–30% in feral horses ( 3 , 28 ) and 4–30% in group-housed horses ( 37 , 40 , 59 , 60 ). If we had not transformed our data, the model estimates of the proportion of lateral recumbency would increase continuously from 6.99% (0.68%, 13.3%) in treatment T0 to 9.07% (2.84%, 15.3%) in T0.5, 11.14% (5.03%, 17.26%) in T1, and 13.22% (6.93%, 19.51%) in T1.5; and would therefore have met the mean ranges in the literature.…”

“…If litter was available, increasing dimensions of the littered area resulted in increased durations of recumbency. In accordance therewith, previous studies also found a positive correlation between the duration of recumbency and the space allowance of the littered area, i.e., a lower total duration of recumbency in group-housed horses with smaller space allowances of the littered area compared to group-housed horses with larger dimensions at their disposal ( 35 , 37 ). With regard to the legally required minimal dimensions for the littered area in Switzerland ( 43 , 44 ), a reduction in the dimensions of the littered area from treatment T1 to T0.5 caused a decrease in the durations of recumbency both in total and on litter as well as a higher probability for an individual to be recumbent for less than 30 min per 24 h on litter.…”

“…Under housing conditions, multiple factors were found to affect lying behavior in stabled horses. Whereas little is known about gender ( 13 ), age was found to have a similar effect as in feral horses ( 35 – 37 ). Regarding the location for recumbency, areas with litter, i.e., a soft and deformable surface, are preferred compared to non-littered areas ( 38 ).…”

“…Regarding the location for recumbency, areas with litter, i.e., a soft and deformable surface, are preferred compared to non-littered areas ( 38 ). The space allowance of the littered area affects lying behavior, specifically in group-housed horses ( 35 , 37 ). Regarding the impact of group size, contradictory observations have been made and it remains unclear whether horses in smaller or larger groups show more recumbency ( 35 , 36 , 39 ).…”

“…Regarding the impact of group size, contradictory observations have been made and it remains unclear whether horses in smaller or larger groups show more recumbency ( 35 , 36 , 39 ). Further, low-ranking horses often show decreased durations of recumbency compared to high-ranking horses ( 35 , 37 , 40 ). Consequently, in order to ensure undisturbed lying behavior for all members of a given group, the provision of sufficiently suitable lying area, with respect to space allowance and comfort, is a welfare issue which has to be taken into account ( 8 , 41 , 42 ).…”