Feed Concentrate Palatability in Welsh Ponies: Acceptance and Preference of Flavors.
Authors: Khelil-Arfa Hajer, Reigner Fabrice, Blard Thierry, Barrière Philippe, Gesbert Amandine, Lansade Léa, Faugeron Joëlle, Blanchard Alexandra
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Feed Concentrate Palatability in Welsh Ponies Palatability significantly influences feed acceptance in equines, yet research on flavour additives remains limited despite their widespread use in commercial concentrates. Khelil-Arfa and colleagues conducted a preference trial with 33 Welsh ponies, offering five concentrate options (apple, caramel, raspberry, anise, and unflavoured control) at 300 g/tonne flavour inclusion rates, with intake and eating behaviour measured over two-minute free-choice periods following a one-week olfactory adaptation phase. Apple concentrate was most readily consumed (116 g over two minutes), significantly outperforming raspberry (85.31 g) and control (90.80 g) options when adjusted for consumption rate, whilst caramel and anise occupied intermediate positions; notably, flavour type did not influence chewing frequency, sniffing duration or head-shaking behaviour. These findings suggest that whilst ponies demonstrate clear palatability preferences with potential to enhance feed intake and compliance—particularly valuable when incorporating less palatable, high-fibre materials into concentrates—the physiological mechanisms driving flavour selection remain distinct from sensory exploration behaviour. For practitioners formulating bespoke feeds or addressing intake problems in fussy individuals, apple-based flavourings warrant consideration over alternatives, though individual variation warrants on-farm assessment before wholesale dietary reformulation.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Apple-flavored concentrates may improve feed intake in ponies more effectively than raspberry, caramel, or anise flavoring at 300 g/t inclusion rates
- •Flavor supplementation can increase concentrate acceptance without requiring extensive training periods—one week of brief daily olfaction exposure was sufficient
- •When formulating palatability-enhanced feeds for equines, apple flavoring shows superior performance over other common flavor options tested
Key Findings
- •Apple-flavored concentrate was most consumed at 116 g/2-min offering compared to raspberry (85.31 g) and control (90.80 g)
- •Apple flavor showed significantly higher consumption rate (g/sec) compared to caramel, raspberry, and anise flavors (P<0.05)
- •Welsh ponies accepted a wide range of flavors with no effects observed on chewing behavior, olfaction time, or headshaking between treatments
- •One week of olfaction-only adaptation period successfully prepared ponies for flavor preference testing