Horse Behavior Around Feeding Times
Author Information
Author(s): Mata Fernando, Boyton Georgina, Young Tamsin
Primary Institution: Centre for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo
Hypothesis
There are significantly different anticipatory behaviours in pre-feeding and post-feeding periods between horses fed a rationed diet and those fed ad libitum.
Conclusion
Horses on rationed diets show more stress-related behaviours as feeding time approaches compared to those on free-access diets.
Supporting Evidence
- Horses on restricted diets displayed more signs of stress and repetitive actions as feeding time approached.
- Anticipatory behaviour is linked to reward sensitivity and reflects the balance of positive and negative experiences.
- Monitoring anticipatory behaviours can be a low-cost way to assess horse welfare over time.
Takeaway
Horses get really excited or stressed when they know it's almost time to eat, especially if they're not getting as much food as they want.
Methodology
Video monitoring of horses was conducted one hour before and after feeding over five days to observe their behaviour.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from the horses' previous experiences and the controlled environment of the study.
Limitations
The study was limited to a small sample size of six horses and specific feeding conditions.
Participant Demographics
All horses were stabled in the same yard for a minimum of 14 months.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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