Does Feeding Management Make a Difference to Behavioural Activities and Welfare of Horses Reared for Meat Production?
Authors: Raspa Federica, Tarantola Martina, Muca Edlira, Bergero Domenico, Soglia Dominga, Cavallini Damiano, Vervuert Ingrid, Bordin Clara, De Palo Pasquale, Valle Emanuela
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Starch-heavy concentrate feeding dominates commercial equine meat production, yet its impact on horse welfare remains poorly understood. Researchers compared nineteen Bardigiano horses fed either high-starch concentrates or fibre-based diets, video-recording their behaviour continuously over 96 hours and analysing 10,368 scan samples using ethographic methodology. Horses on the fibre-based diet spent significantly more time engaged in natural feeding behaviours and exhibited notably fewer excitable or reactive behaviours compared to the concentrate-fed group, with multivariate analysis confirming these behavioural differences were substantial and distinct between the two feeding systems. These findings suggest that fibre-based feeding protocols not only improve measurable welfare indicators—particularly oral stereotypies and stress-related activities—but also reduce the metabolic demands that high-starch diets place on young horses destined for production. For professionals involved in equine nutrition and welfare assessment, this research provides evidence-based justification for advocating fibre-centred feeding strategies in commercial settings, demonstrating that improved behavioural expression and reduced excitability can be achieved without compromising production viability.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Fibre-based feeding systems improve horse welfare in production settings by allowing more time for natural foraging and feeding behaviours, while reducing stress-related hyperactivity
- •Switching from high-starch to fibre-based diets can reduce management challenges associated with excitable behaviour without compromising production economics
- •Diet composition directly influences behavioural expression and welfare; nutritional planning should prioritize natural behaviour expression alongside performance goals
Key Findings
- •Horses fed fibre-based diets spent significantly more time expressing natural feeding behaviours compared to those fed high-starch concentrates
- •Fibre-based feeding resulted in reduced excitable/fizzy behaviours, indicating better welfare outcomes
- •Fibre-based diet management was advantageous from both welfare and economic perspectives in meat production systems
- •Behavioral activity patterns differed significantly between high-concentrate and high-fibre diet groups across 96-hour observation period (10,368 total scans analysed)