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Forage, Freedom and Friends to Care Health, Nutritional and Ethological...
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Forage, Freedom and Friends to Care Health, Nutritional and Ethological Needs of the Equine

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Equids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 16287

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Emanuela Valle

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Turin, Italy
Interests: equine nutrition; welfare; gut health; applied clinical nutrition; feeding behavior and ethological need; feeding practice
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Federica Raspa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
Interests: equine nutrition; welfare; behaviour; ethological needs; gut health; feeding practice

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The nutritional and ethological needs of equines represent a key aspect to take into account to safeguard their health and welfare. Although there is a great deal of evidence-based knowledge to support good feeding practices, there is the need to constantly strengthen the importance of accomplishing the nutritional and ethological needs of equines. We are pleased to invite you to submit original research articles, critical reviews, and commentaries regarding relevant aspects of equine health and welfare, with particular attention to their connection with the equine nutritional and ethological needs for all life stages and the different purposes in which equines are involved.

Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: equine welfare, welfare assessment, feeding practices, gut health, gastrointestinal microbiome, gut–brain axis, behavior, and fair training techniques.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Emanuela Valle
Dr. Federica Raspa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • welfare
  • nutrition
  • gut health
  • feeding practice
  • ethological need
  • ethological behavior and training

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1587 KiB  
Article
The Establishment of Fibrolytic Bacteria in the Foal Gastrointestinal Tract Is Related to the Occurrence of Coprophagy by Foals
by Morgan Pyles, Miranda Agbana, Susan Hayes, Michael Flythe and Laurie Lawrence
Animals 2023, 13(17), 2718; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13172718 - 26 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1158
Abstract
The consumption of maternal feces (coprophagy) is commonly observed in healthy foals and is a proposed contributor to microbial colonization of the foal’s gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This study investigated the role of coprophagy in the establishment of fibrolytic bacteria in the foal GIT. [...] Read more.
The consumption of maternal feces (coprophagy) is commonly observed in healthy foals and is a proposed contributor to microbial colonization of the foal’s gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This study investigated the role of coprophagy in the establishment of fibrolytic bacteria in the foal GIT. Nine thoroughbred mares were dosed with chromic oxide, an indigestible marker, as a method to detect the occurrence of coprophagy by their foals. Foal fecal samples were collected from 12 h to 21 d after birth to measure chromic oxide and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and to enumerate cellulolytic bacteria using culture-based techniques. Milk yield was estimated at 7 and 14 d postpartum. Coprophagy was detected as early as 3 d after birth and detected in all foals by 7 d of age. There were strong relationships between coprophagy and cellulolytic bacteria and NDF in foal feces at 7 d of age (r = 0.9703 and r = 0.7878, respectively; p < 0.05). Fecal NDF and chromic oxide concentrations were negatively related to milk yield (r = –0.8144 and r = –0.6966, respectively; p < 0.05), suggesting milk availability affected the incidence of coprophagy. Based on the relationships identified, maternal feces are an important source of fiber and live microbes for the foal, contributing to the development of the microbial community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forage, Freedom and Friends to Care Health, Nutritional and Ethological Needs of the Equine)
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10 pages, 827 KiB  
Article
Changes in Management Lead to Improvement and Healing of Equine Squamous Gastric Disease
by Lieuwke C. Kranenburg, Simone Henriëtte van der Poel, Tim Sebastiaan Warmelink, David Anthonie van Doorn and Robin van den Boom
Animals 2023, 13(9), 1498; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13091498 - 28 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1504
Abstract
Equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) is common in horses and poses a serious welfare problem. Several risk factors have been identified and ESGD is routinely treated with omeprazole. Fourteen mares, previously used as embryo recipients and diagnosed with ESGD, were selected. Horses were [...] Read more.
Equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) is common in horses and poses a serious welfare problem. Several risk factors have been identified and ESGD is routinely treated with omeprazole. Fourteen mares, previously used as embryo recipients and diagnosed with ESGD, were selected. Horses were confined to individual stalls, exercised once daily, and fed ad libitum hay, 1 kg of a low starch compound complementary feed and a mineral supplement. Half of the horses received a compound containing hydrolysed collagen (supplement) and the other half did not (control). At the start of the study, ESGD scores were 3.57 and 3.36 for the supplement and control group, respectively. After 4 weeks, the ESGD grades were significantly reduced in both groups (1.89 and 1.43, respectively, p < 0.01), and healing (ESGD < 2) occurred in 7 out of 14 horses. No treatment effect was observed (p = 0.75), and it was concluded that the change in husbandry overshadowed any potential effect of the compound. Severe ESGD can improve, and even heal, with the provision of a diet of ad libitum forage and a small amount of a compound complementary feed, without the use of omeprazole. A predictable daily routine, with a limited number of dedicated caretakers, may have contributed to the improvement of gastric health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forage, Freedom and Friends to Care Health, Nutritional and Ethological Needs of the Equine)
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29 pages, 3896 KiB  
Article
Fecal Microbiota, Forage Nutrients, and Metabolic Responses of Horses Grazing Warm- and Cool-Season Grass Pastures
by Jennifer R. Weinert-Nelson, Amy S. Biddle, Harini Sampath and Carey A. Williams
Animals 2023, 13(5), 790; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13050790 - 22 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1895
Abstract
Integrating warm-season grasses into cool-season equine grazing systems can increase pasture availability during summer months. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of this management strategy on the fecal microbiome and relationships between fecal microbiota, forage nutrients, and metabolic responses of [...] Read more.
Integrating warm-season grasses into cool-season equine grazing systems can increase pasture availability during summer months. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of this management strategy on the fecal microbiome and relationships between fecal microbiota, forage nutrients, and metabolic responses of grazing horses. Fecal samples were collected from 8 mares after grazing cool-season pasture in spring, warm-season pasture in summer, and cool-season pasture in fall as well as after adaptation to standardized hay diets prior to spring grazing and at the end of the grazing season. Random forest classification was able to predict forage type based on microbial composition (accuracy: 0.90 ± 0.09); regression predicted forage crude protein (CP) and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations (p < 0.0001). Akkermansia and Clostridium butyricum were enriched in horses grazing warm-season pasture and were positively correlated with CP and negatively with NSC; Clostridum butyricum was negatively correlated with peak plasma glucose concentrations following oral sugar tests (p ≤ 0.05). These results indicate that distinct shifts in the equine fecal microbiota occur in response different forages. Based on relationships identified between the microbiota, forage nutrients, and metabolic responses, further research should focus on the roles of Akkermansia spp. and Clostridium butyricum within the equine hindgut. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forage, Freedom and Friends to Care Health, Nutritional and Ethological Needs of the Equine)
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39 pages, 2049 KiB  
Article
Validating a Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare Index through Horse Behaviour and Trainers’ Reports of Welfare Issues in Their Horses
by Alison Glen Mactaggart and Clive Julian Christie Phillips
Animals 2023, 13(2), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13020282 - 13 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3312
Abstract
We validated a Thoroughbred racehorse welfare index, developed initially from expert opinion, by relating it to horse behaviour recorded in a range of training stables and surveying trainers to investigate the environment and management systems for Thoroughbred racehorses. Relationships between the index scores [...] Read more.
We validated a Thoroughbred racehorse welfare index, developed initially from expert opinion, by relating it to horse behaviour recorded in a range of training stables and surveying trainers to investigate the environment and management systems for Thoroughbred racehorses. Relationships between the index scores and horse behaviour were observed. Then, an Australia-wide survey of racing industry stakeholders was conducted to identify which parameters are important for welfare in a training stable. Trainers performed well on horsemanship and health/disease aspects. Provisions for ventilation, transportation and nutrition were also scored at high levels. However, provisions for weaning, wastage, assisting horses in coping with heat stress, stabling and the education of racehorses were not as well covered, indicating a need for improvement in these welfare issues. We concluded that our Thoroughbred Racehorse welfare index is able to discriminate between trainers offering differing levels of welfare for the major issues in racehorse training stables. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forage, Freedom and Friends to Care Health, Nutritional and Ethological Needs of the Equine)
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11 pages, 981 KiB  
Article
Does Feeding Management Make a Difference to Behavioural Activities and Welfare of Horses Reared for Meat Production?
by Federica Raspa, Martina Tarantola, Edlira Muca, Domenico Bergero, Dominga Soglia, Damiano Cavallini, Ingrid Vervuert, Clara Bordin, Pasquale De Palo and Emanuela Valle
Animals 2022, 12(14), 1740; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12141740 - 06 Jul 2022
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2302
Abstract
Horses 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 [...] Read more.
Horses 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 14.3 ± 0.7 months were randomly assigned to one of two group pens: one group was fed high amounts of starch-rich concentrates (HCG; n = 10), the other was fed a fibre-based diet (HFG; n = 9). Behavioural activities performed by each horse were video-recorded over a 96-h period. A scan sampling process (n = 144 scans/horse/day; total n of scans sampled = 10,368) was used, and the scans were analysed according to a specific ethogram. The mean frequency (%/24 h) spent exhibiting each behavioural activity was calculated to obtain the time budget. After checking for normality (Shapiro–Wilk test), Student’s t tests (normally distributed data) and Mann–Whitney tests (not normally distributed data) were used to compare the time budgets of the two groups of horses (HCG vs. HFG). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to identify the components explaining the variability in behavioural activities between the two groups. K-means cluster analysis subsequently confirmed the PCA results. The behavioural activities associated with feeding horses a fibre-based diet correlated with better horse welfare compared with feeding horses a starch-based diet. Feeding horses a fibre-based diet resulted advantageous from both the welfare and economic perspective; it allowed horses to spend more time expressing feeding behaviours and reduced energy expenditure in the form of excitable, or “fizzy”, behaviours. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forage, Freedom and Friends to Care Health, Nutritional and Ethological Needs of the Equine)
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Review

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16 pages, 328 KiB  
Review
The Fibre Requirements of Horses and the Consequences and Causes of Failure to Meet Them
by Colette Ermers, Nerida McGilchrist, Kate Fenner, Bethany Wilson and Paul McGreevy
Animals 2023, 13(8), 1414; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13081414 - 20 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5111
Abstract
Failure to meet the minimum forage requirement of 1.5% of the horse’s bodyweight and the opportunity for foraging for a minimum of 8 h a day (not going without this opportunity longer than four to five consecutive hours) can have both physiological and [...] Read more.
Failure to meet the minimum forage requirement of 1.5% of the horse’s bodyweight and the opportunity for foraging for a minimum of 8 h a day (not going without this opportunity longer than four to five consecutive hours) can have both physiological and behavioural consequences. To provide an energy source for horses, rations often include starch rather than fibre. This can result in health issues related to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in the horse. In the stomach, the main concern is equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) and, more specifically, equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD). Ulcerations are caused either by increasing acidity in the stomach (from starch ingestion and reduced saliva production) or splashing of acidic juices caused by a lack of a forage barrier prior to exercise or prolonged periods without fibrous feed intake, which allows the stomach to collapse and spread acidic gastric fluids into the upper squamous regions of the stomach. In the hindgut, starch that has escaped digestion in the small intestine causes microbial instability and increased production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and lactic acid. This puts horses at great risk for acidosis and subsequent laminitis. Shifts in the hindgut microbiota will also affect a horse’s behaviour via the gut-brain axis, as well as potentially compromise immune function. Reduced fluid intake caused by reduced saliva production can result in colic. Choosing a fibrous alternative for starch in a high-energy diet greatly reduces the risk of EGUS and acidosis and improves digestion, GIT pH, body condition, behaviour, immune functions, and performance. Providing hay can reduce crib-biting, wood-chewing, coprophagia, the consumption of bedding, aggression, and stress, and subsequently increase social bonding and affiliation with conspecifics. Adequate fibre intake is related to reduced clinical signs of EGUS, reduced reactivity, and better adaptation to weaning. Lignophagia (wood chewing) has also been observed in horses that are foraging, and this is thought to reflect low fibre content in the available forage (for example, early vegetative, lush pasture). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forage, Freedom and Friends to Care Health, Nutritional and Ethological Needs of the Equine)
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