Impacts of olfactory cues on equine feeding behavior.
Authors: Perry Erin B, Handlos Grace C, Fenton Jesse M
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Impacts of olfactory cues on equine feeding behavior Perry, Handlos and Fenton (2024) investigated whether anise aroma influences feeding behaviour in horses, addressing a gap in our understanding of olfactory palatability cues. Eight stock-type horses participated in a crossover preference trial over six days, presented with oat-containing bowls paired with either anise-soaked gauze (0.375 ml) or corn oil control, with video analysis of sniffing, consumption order, and intake volumes. Anise-treated feeds demonstrated significantly greater initial attraction (horses sniffed anise first in 2 out of 3 trials; *P* = 0.02) and consumption preference (*P* = 0.04), whilst notably doubling the amount of feed consumed compared to control (*P* < 0.01), though horses showed a strong tendency to investigate through olfaction before committing to consumption (*P* < 0.01). For practitioners managing horses with poor appetites—whether due to illness, stress, or palatability concerns—these findings suggest anise aroma warrants investigation as a practical feed additive to stimulate intake; however, critical questions about effective dose thresholds, duration of effect, and performance in clinical settings remain unanswered and merit further research before widespread recommendation.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Anise aroma may be an effective palatability enhancer to increase feed intake in horses, with consumption rates doubling compared to untreated feeds
- •Olfactory stimulation appears to drive initial feed selection and consumption decisions, suggesting smell-based feeding strategies could benefit horses with poor appetites
- •Further research is needed to establish optimal anise concentrations and identify which horses or conditions would most benefit from this approach
Key Findings
- •Horses showed significantly elevated preference for sniffing anise-treated oats compared to control (P = 0.02)
- •First consumption occurred more frequently with anise treatment (P = 0.04)
- •Amount consumed for anise treatment was twice the daily average of control (P < 0.01)
- •Sniffing behavior was more frequent than consuming behavior across all trials (P < 0.01)