Influences of Oil-Based Palatants on Eating Behavior in Gestating Mares.
Authors: Crowell Cierra N, Fenton Jesse M, Perry Erin B
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Oil-Based Palatants and Gestating Mare Feeding Behaviour Late-pregnancy mares exhibit distinct sensory preferences that differ markedly from open mares, according to research examining how oil-based flavour additives influence feeding behaviour during the final 120 days of gestation. Using paired preference testing with corn oil, anise, and apple flavourings applied to a basal pelleted diet, researchers compared consumption patterns and feeding-related behaviours in five gestating and four open mares, recording detailed observations of sniffing, hovering, chewing, ingestion, and other oral interactions over 20-minute feeding sessions. Gestating mares demonstrated significantly faster consumption rates for their first diet choice (P = .05) and engaged in notably more olfactory investigations across all diet options (P < .01), yet paradoxically showed fewer actual consumption interactions than open mares (P = .01)—suggesting heightened smell-driven curiosity without proportionally increased feed intake. These findings indicate that pregnant mares in late gestation experience genuine changes in chemoreceptive behaviour, potentially reflecting physiological and metabolic shifts during this demanding reproductive stage. For practitioners, this research highlights the value of appealing to heightened olfactory sensitivity in gestating mares through strategic use of oil-based palatants, which may facilitate more efficient eating patterns despite the increased investigative sniffing behaviour, whilst also prompting further investigation into whether such sensory changes correlate with nutritional requirements or appetite regulation during late pregnancy.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Gestating mares in the final 120 days of pregnancy display heightened smell-based food investigation; consider this when assessing appetite or feed refusal in late gestation
- •Increased olfactory interest coupled with reduced consumption suggests gestating mares are more selective feeders—palatant strategies may help maintain intake if needed
- •Oil-based flavoring additives can be used as a practical management tool to support feeding behavior in late-term pregnant mares, though actual intake benefits require further validation
Key Findings
- •Gestating mares consumed their first diet choice 50% faster than open mares (P = 0.05)
- •Gestating mares showed significantly greater olfactory investigation frequency across all diets compared to open mares (P < 0.01)
- •Gestating mares had fewer consumption interactions overall despite increased olfactory engagement (P = 0.01)
- •Oil-based palatants (corn oil, anise, apple) elicited detectable behavioral differences in late-term gestating versus open mares