The impact of restricted grazing systems on the behaviour and welfare of ponies.
Authors: Kirton Roxane, Sandford Imogen, Raffan Eleanor, Hallsworth Sarah, Burman Oliver H P, Morgan Ruth
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary As obesity management increasingly relies on dietary restriction and grazing limitation, the welfare consequences of common grazing systems remain poorly understood. Kirton and colleagues conducted a crossover trial with four groups of pasture-kept ponies, each experiencing strip-grazing and track systems for four-week periods whilst measuring 24-hour behavioural surveillance, weekly morphometric assessments, and activity tracking via electronic monitoring. Ponies on the track system demonstrated significantly greater movement (3.23% versus 2.02% of time spent moving) and daily travel distances (7013 metres versus 5332 metres), alongside markedly reduced agonistic interactions (0.14 versus 0.21 instances per hour), despite identical accessible grazing areas between systems. The findings suggest that track systems confer both physical and psychological benefits over strip-grazing—likely through spatial perception and resource distribution—implying that grazing system design warrants consideration alongside caloric restriction when managing equine obesity, particularly for multi-animal operations where social tension may compound welfare concerns.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •When advising weight-loss management through grazing restriction, consider track systems over strip-grazing as they promote increased movement and reduce aggressive interactions between animals
- •The psychological impact of grazing system design appears important for pony welfare; track systems may feel less restrictive despite offering equivalent caloric control
- •Monitor behavioural changes (agonistic interactions, movement patterns) when implementing grazing restrictions, as these can indicate welfare concerns beyond simple dietary control
Key Findings
- •Ponies on track systems moved significantly more (3.23% vs 2.02% of time; p=0.001) compared to strip-grazing systems
- •Track system ponies travelled greater distances (7013.47m vs 5331.91m per 24 hours; p<0.001) than strip-grazing ponies
- •Agonistic behaviour was reduced on track systems (0.14 vs 0.21 incidents per hour; p=0.02) despite matched accessible grazing areas
- •Track systems may provide both physical and psychological welfare benefits over strip-grazing for weight management in outdoor-living ponies