J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl)
September 2024
Slow feeding devices (SFDs) are useful tools in order to improve the horse well-being and to reduce wastage, but their use may result in unnatural posture during feeding and frustration behaviours. Moreover, it may be important to evaluate the laterality during feeding. The aim of the study was to investigate ponies' feeding behaviour (i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the last decade, haynets and slow feeders have been promoted as sustainable tools to improve the feeding management of horses and reduce forage waste, but little is known about their effects on ponies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects of different hay feeding methods on the ingestive behaviors, intake rate and mouth shaping of ponies belonging to two breed types, which are characterized by different head morphologies. Shetland type (SH, = 5) and Welsh/Cob type (WC, = 4) ponies were fed hay using four feeding methods: on the ground (G), a fully filled haynet (HF), a partially filled haynet (HL), and a slow-feeder hay box (HB).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl)
May 2024
The application of hay feeding devices, such as the use of hay nets or slow feeders, can help with the management of weight in ponies; however, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding their effect on equine posture. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the effect of different feeding devices on the posture of ponies using morphometric analysis. Two different breed types, Shetland type (SH, n = 5) versus Welsh Cob type (WC, n = 4), were fed the same forage in four different ways: on the ground (G), using a fully filled haynet (HF), using a partially filled haynet (HL) and using a slow-feeder hay box (HB).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite greater efforts made over recent years to teach animal nutrition to veterinary students, more needs to be done to develop teaching methods and improve education on equine nutrition. The flipped classroom and peer-assisted learning (FC/PAL) approach is a teaching technique suggested to support learning; however, research into FC/PAL in veterinary education is scarce and little is known about students' views on this approach. This study examined the results of a questionnaire administered to assess veterinary students' perceptions of/views about the suitability of FC/PAL applied in an equine nutrition course.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHorses reared for meat production are generally fed a diet rich in starch with the aim of maximizing production performances. This study evaluated the effects of two feeding management systems on horse welfare by analysing the relative time spent engaged in different behavioural activities. Nineteen Bardigiano horses aged 14.
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