Temporary Turnout for Free Exercise in Groups: Effects on the Behavior of Competition Horses Housed in Single Stalls

In Germany, most competition horses are housed in single stalls and free exercise is not permitted in many cases. The reason for not allowing free exercise is mostly the risk of injury. Additionally, opinions exist that the horses’ demand for exercise is fulfilled by training and that the horses’ willingness to perform is negatively influenced by free exercise. In the present study, three turnout practices were investigated with regard to their effect on the behavior of four horses: daily training without free exercise (no turnout), 2-hour turnout (for free exercise) before training, and 2-hour turnout after training. The aim of this study was to determine any differences in the horses’ behavior between the three treatments. The horses’ behavior in the stable was observed through video recordings. The behavior during turnout was observed directly and during training was evaluated by the riders with the aid of a questionnaire. Additionally, the distance covered during turnout was measured by Global Positioning System devices. The behavior within the stall was more restless in the treatment without turnout—which became apparent in significantly more frequent changes between behaviors as compared with the treatments with turnout. The results of Global Positioning System measurement during turnout showed a significantly shorter distance covered when horses were trained before they were turned out compared with turnout before training. If the horses were turned out after training, they also showed less trotting and cantering and more dozing. The horses’ willingness to perform was not significantly different between the three treatments.     

Fecal pH and Microbial Populations in Thoroughbred Horses During Transition from Pasture to Concentrate Feeding

Abrupt dietary transitions and feeding of rapidly fermentable diets are common practices in the horse industry and have been associated with digestive and metabolic disorders that can impair the performance of horses. The present study investigated the effect of dietary transition from pasture grazing to confinement with concentrate feeding, and back, on fecal pH and bacterial populations of Streptococcus spp and Lactobacillus spp. Six Thoroughbred fillies, previously grazing perennial ryegrass and white clover-based pasture, were housed in individual stalls and fed an increasing ratio of concentrate to conserved forages for 13 days (days 1-13), followed by an abrupt transition back to only pasture-grazing for 3 days (days 14-16). The concentrate was initially offered at 0.83 kg dry matter (DM)/d and increased to 5 kg DM/d, whereas ensiled alfalfa was initially offered at 0.61 kg DM/d, increasing to 1.22 kg DM/d. Meadow hay was initially offered at 6.73 kg DM/d, decreasing to 1.6 kg DM/d. Fecal specimens were collected daily for determination of pH, and every 2 days for quantitative analysis of Streptococcus spp and Lactobacillus spp. Mean fecal pH increased significantly from pasture baseline values (pH 6.18) during the initial confinement and supplementation on day 1 (6.37), day 2 (6.52), day 3 (6.58), and day 4 (6.43) (standard error of mean [SEM]: 0.056; P < .001). By day 5, mean fecal pH values had decreased to, and remained at, baseline values until the horses returned to pasture, when another increase occurred at day 15 (6.45). Fecal colony forming units (cfu) of Streptococcus spp and Lactobacillus spp increased linearly (r = 0.94; P < .001) from 6.0 and 6.1 log₁₀ cfu/g on day -4, to 7.8 log₁₀ cfu/g on day 14 (SEM: 0.2 P < .001), respectively. Fecal cfu decreased on return to a pasture-only diet (P < .001). In this study, the increment of bacterial populations was associated with a relatively stable fecal pH and highlights the difficulty in identifying the effects of dietary transition on the equine hindgut health, without microbial culture.     

Competition Horses Housed in Single Stalls (I): Behavior and Activity Patterns during Free Exercise According to Its Configuration

Although welfare of animals has become more important, housing horses in systems that limit natural behavior patterns is still widespread. Single stalls are the predominant housing system in Germany, especially for competition horses. Free exercise on fields or paddocks helps to improve welfare for the animals, but allowing it is not taken for granted by many horse keepers. In the present study, three common management practices were investigated with regard to their effect on the behavior of six competition horses housed in single stalls: 2-hour turnout after training in groups of two horses (group turnout [GT]), solitary turnout (ST) after training for 2 hours, and no turnout (NT) in addition to training. The aim of the study was to determine the differences in the horses’ behavior during turnout, training, and in the stable caused by the treatments. This article focuses on the behavior and activity patterns during turnout. The horses’ behavior was observed directly by the scan sampling method (5-minute interval), and the distance covered during turnout was measured by global positioning system devices. During turnout, the horses spent most of the time eating. After 1 hour of being turned out, eating decreased, and occupation, locomotion, and social interaction increased. When turnout was allowed in groups (GT), the horses spent more time in social interactions and less time walking and trotting than in ST. Therefore, they also covered a greater distance in ST than in GT. The distance covered in ST also showed a greater deviation both within and between days compared with GT.     

Effect of Restricted Pasture Access on Pasture Dry Matter Intake Rate,Dietary Energy Intake,and Fecal pH in Horses

Eight mature horses were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to determine the effect of restricted pasture access on dry matter intake rate (DMIR), energy intake, and fecal pH. Horses were randomly assigned to one of four groups (HGRPs), each containing two horses. HGRPs were randomly assigned to one of four treatments consisting of 3, 6, 9, or 24 hours of pasture access, for a period of 7 days. Treatments were switched every 7 days. The 3- and 6-hour groups were fed free choice mature grass hay while not grazing. Daily pasture dry matter intake (DMI) for each HGRP was estimated by calculating the difference between initial herbage mass of the grazing cell before grazing and residual herbage mass after 7 days of grazing. Total dry matter intake was the sum of pasture and hay DMI for the 3- and 6-hour treatments. Fecal pH was measured on day 7 of each period. Response variables were analyzed using analysis of variance for Latin square design. Restricting pasture access decreased mean pasture DMI (P = .02), pasture dietary energy (DE) (P = .02), and fecal pH (P < .001), but increased DMIR (P = .02). Mean total dry matter intake was not different (P = .16) among treatments. In conclusion, restricting pasture access accelerates pasture DMIR and decreases fecal pH, and although restricting pasture access decreases DE intake from pasture, it did not result in a decrease in total DE intake for horses having ad libitum access to hay.     

Competition Horses Housed in Single Stalls (II): Effects of Free Exercise on the Behavior in the Stable, the Behavior during Training, and the Degree of Stress

Although housing horses in single stalls limits their natural behavior to a great extent, this housing system is widespread in Germany, especially for competition horses. To improve the welfare of this system, free exercise on pastures or paddocks is deemed suitable, but it is also feared because of injuries and decreased willingness or motivation to perform. In the present study, three treatments were investigated with regard to their effect on the behavior of six competition horses in the stable, behavior during training, and on their degree of stress: daily training without free exercise (no turnout [NT]), solitary turnout for 2 hours after training, and 2-hour turnout in groups of two after training (group turnout). The horses’ behavior in the stable was continuously analyzed through video recordings (2 pm to 6 am) on 3 days at the end of each treatment. The degree of stress was evaluated daily by heart rate variability at rest. The behavior during training was evaluated by a questionnaire answered by the riders, and the distance covered during training was measured by global positioning system. When NT was allowed, the horses showed less lying in the stable compared with the treatments with turnout. Heart rate variability measurements resulted in great individual differences, but generally, there was a higher degree of stress shown with the treatment NT according to the following parameters: standard deviation of inter-beat-intervals (SDNN), square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between successive inter-beat-intervals (RMSSD), and ratio between low frequency and high frequency (LF/HF). The willingness to perform was evaluated as being slightly better in the treatments with turnout than in the treatment without turnout.     

Effects of Turnout to Pasture and Dietary Fat Supplementation on Milk Fat Composition and Conjugated Linoleic Acid in Dairy Cows

Turnout to pasture involves considerable changes in the feed intake and metabolism of dairy cows. The aim of this study was to investigate how these changes affect milk production and milk fat composition, in cows selected for high (HFI) or low (LFI) milk fat content producing the same yield of 4% fat-corrected milk. Furthermore, two different concentrates, with high or low inclusion of soya oil, were studied. The experiment was conducted with 44 multiparous mid-lactating cows over a 4 week period. Samples of milk and blood were obtained before turnout to pasture, during transition to pasture and when cows were adapted to pasture. Milk yield decreased with 3.6 kg energy-corrected milk (ECM) on average during the first 5 days after turnout to pasture. This decrease, together with a drop in plasma insulin and increased plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), indicated nutritional insufficiency at turnout to pasture. Milk fat composition changed towards more long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) and fewer de novo synthesized fatty acids. This was probably caused by an increased supply of LCFA of feed and body origin to the udder. LFI cows showed higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid at pasture than HFI cows.     

The Content of Amino Acids in Pasture Vegetation and Their Apparent Digestibility in 2-year-old Horses

Ten samples of plant vegetation and 10 samples of fresh excrement were taken from the same pasture area. The excrement were collected from 10 2-year-old Old Kladruber horses that received the pasture vegetation daily. The apparent digestibility of nitrogen and amino acids in pasture vegetation was determined by using the acid-insoluble ash marker method. In comparison with excrement, the pasture vegetation contained higher levels of Ser, Ala, Leu, and His and higher levels of Pro (P ≤ .01), Met (P ≤ .01), and Arg (P ≤ .05). The mean level of Ile in pasture vegetation was lower than in excrement (P ≤ .05). The apparent digestibility of amino acids from pasture vegetation was high for Pro and Met (86.75 and 89.39%), moderate for Ser, Ala, Leu, His, and Arg (68.61%-76%), and low for Asp, Thr, Glu, Gly, Val, Leu, Tyr, Phe, and Lys (56.15%-66.03%). The digestibility of lysine and Ile was relatively low (56.39% and 56.15%, respectively). The total content of nitrogen per dry matter was 10.98 ± 2.46 g/kg for pasture vegetation and 12.12 ± 2.38 g/kg for excrement, whereas the content of protein nitrogen was 7.20 ± 0.25 g/kg and 6.89 ± 0.21 g/kg of dry matter in pasture vegetation and excrement, respectively. This means that only 65.55% and 56.90% of N is bound in proteins in pasture vegetation and excrement, respectively. Non-protein nitrogen accounts for 34.45% in pasture vegetation and for 43.10% in excrement.     

Equal Outcomes with and without Human-to-Horse Eye Contact When Catching Horses and Ponies in an Open Pasture

Each of 104 horses and ponies was approached for catching at pasture by the same human handler in a standard manner, either maintaining human-to-animal eye contact (EC+; n = 51) or avoiding eye contact (EC−; n = 53). A subset of 74 of these subjects were reevaluated 3 weeks later under similar standard conditions except with the eye contact condition opposite to that used in the first round. Nonparametric statistical methods were used to evaluate between subjects (round 1, n = 104) and within subjects (rounds 1 and 2, n = 74) comparisons of successful or unsuccessful catching outcome with EC+ and EC−. Catching outcomes were similar with eye contact condition. Although this study represents a single handler at one study site, results suggest that human-to-horse eye contact may not be an important influence on catching pastured horses. Certainly, further work is needed to better understand the role of eye contact in horse handling.     

Pharmacopuncture Versus Acepromazine in Stress Responses of Horses During Road Transport

Acupuncture has been shown to have the beneficial effect of reducing stress responses in animals and humans. Pharmacopuncture is the injection of subclinical doses of drugs into acupoints to give therapeutic results without side effects. This study compared the effects of injecting the usual dose of acepromazine (ACP; 0.1 mg/kg, intramuscularly [I.M.]) with those of pharmacopuncture (1/10 ACP dose at the governing vessel 1 [GV 1] acupoint) on the stress responses of healthy horses undergoing road transport for 2.5 hours. Four different treatments were applied immediately before loading, with 8 animals/treatment: injection of saline or ACP (0.1 mg/kg, I.M.) at the base of the neck; and injection of saline or 1/10 ACP (0.01 mg/kg) at the GV 1 acupoint. The road transport increased heart rate (HR), respiratory rate, body temperature, and serum cortisol of the untreated horses (injected with saline at the base of the neck). Pharmacopuncture at GV 1 reduced the average HR and transport-induced increase in HR at unloading, without changing the other variables. On the other hand, ACP (0.1 mg/kg) produced significant sedation and reduced the transport-induced increase in respiratory rate but without preventing the stress-induced increase of cortisol. Other acupuncture points and drugs should be tested to verify the beneficial effect of this therapy to reduce stress in horses during road transport.     

Evaluation of Horse Fitness for Exercise: The Use of a Logit-Log Function to Model Horse Postexercise Heart Rate Recovery

The aim of this study was to test the adjustment of the logistic-log model with postexercise heart rate (HR) recovery data in horses and introduce the logit-log model as a parsimonious model, with the half recovery time as a measure of horse fitness. Postexercise HR (bpm) measurements at different timings were obtained from 32 polo ponies in two different exercise regimes: n = 16 “full chukker” and n = 16 in “half chukker.” Measurements were taken at rest, immediately after exercise and then 2, 4, 6, 10, and 20 minutes after exercise. The HR variable was transformed into a logit (HR) variable, and time was transformed into log (time). Means of logit (HR) at the different log (times) were obtained, creating two time series of transformed variables that were then adjusted by simple linear regression. The degree of adjustment of the model is high with values of r² = 0.989 for the full chukker and r² = 0.998 for the half chukker. Full chukker ponies have a half recovery time of 5.7 minutes and half chukker ponies of 11.2 minutes, with the former showing to be fitter than the latter, which is why they are chosen to play for longer periods. The logit-log model is parsimonious, and the half recovery time can be easily determined. The half recovery time has potential to be used as a measure of fitness degree, allowing comparison between horses.     

Evaluation of Echocardiographic Parameters During Increasing Infusion Rates of Dobutamine in Isoflurane-Anesthetized Horses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in echocardiographic parameters during increasing infusion rates of dobutamine in isoflurane-anesthetized horses and to compare our results with those of previous studies. Six Standardbred female healthy horses were included in this study. All animals were anesthetized and infused with dobutamine at different rates. mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and some echocardiographic measurements were recorded. Statistical analysis was applied. Under basal conditions (time 0 [T0]), HR ranged between 32 and 42 beats per minute (bpm), and MAP was between 39 and 63 mm Hg. MAP increased significantly from T0 compared with values at T2, T2, and T3 in a dose-dependent manner, while HR increased significantly only at T3 if compared to the other measuring times. Left ventricular internal diameter during diastole (LVDs) decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, with increasing of the infusion rate of dobutamine. Interventricular septal dimension during diastole (IVSs) increased significantly, and end-systole left ventricular volumes (LVVols) decreased significantly at T2 and T3 compared to T1. Ejection fraction (%) increased significantly between T0 and T1, T2, and T3. Cardiac output increased significantly only at the higher dosage (T3 vs. others) of dobutamine, but cardiac power output was enhanced significantly at T2 versus that at T0 and T1 and at T3 versus all the previous measurements. Arrhythmias were diagnosed in 5 of 6 (83.3%). In this study, the increase of MAP was found to be dose-dependent, according with literature. The HR and MAP values registered at T0 were comparable to previous results obtained both in anesthetized and conscious horses, while at T1, T2, and T3, HR and MAP values were similar only too those reported in anesthetized horses. IVSs increased and LVDs decreased significantly with the increment of dobutamine infusion rate. These findings suggest that dobutamine, even at low infusion rates, induces an enhancement in cardiac systolic function. The dose-dependent increase of IVSs and decrease of LVDs measurements are in line with those reported for dobutamine administered in conscious horses but with lower values. The LVVols dose-dependent reduction obtained in this study is in line with that in other reports, but both LVold and LVVols values after dobutamine infusion at different dosages are lower if compared to previous studies. The low LVol values and the wide standard deviation have influenced consequently the derived indices values (stroke volume [SV], EF, cardiac output [CO]). In the present study, SV did not significantly increase during dobutamine infusion. These results disagree with those reported by others. The increment of CO might be due mainly to the enhanced HR rather than to the weak changes of SV. Cardiac power output increased significantly from the 5 mcg/kg/min dosage in a dose-dependent manner, as reported by others.     

Association of Season and Pasture Grazing with Blood Hormone and Metabolite Concentrations in Horses with Presumed Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction

Background: Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a risk factor for pasture‐associated laminitis, which follows a seasonal pattern. Hypothesis: Hormonal responses to season differ between PPID and unaffected horses. Animals: Seventeen horses aged 8–30 years (14 horses ≥ 20 years of age). Methods: Longitudinal observational study. Blood was collected monthly from August 2007 until July 2008 after pasture grazing and again after overnight stall confinement. Blood hormone and metabolite concentrations were measured and pasture grass samples were analyzed to determine carbohydrate content. Analysis of variance analysis for repeated measures was performed. Results: Mean ACTH concentrations varied significantly over time (P < .001), with higher concentrations detected in August, September, and October compared with November–April. Pasture × time effects were detected for glucose and insulin concentrations, with peaks observed in September. Horses were retrospectively allocated to PPID (n = 8) and control (n = 9) groups on the basis of plasma ACTH concentrations. Changes in insulin concentrations over time differed in the PPID group when compared with the control group. Insulin concentrations were positively correlated with grass carbohydrate composition. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: PPID did not affect the timing or duration of the seasonal increase in ACTH concentrations, but higher values were detected in affected horses. Insulin concentrations differed between groups, but hyperinsulinemia was rarely detected. Glucose and insulin concentrations peaked in September when horses were grazing on pasture, which could be relevant to the seasonal pattern of laminitis.     

Inflammatory Cytokine Gene Expression in Blood During the Development of Oligofructose-Induced Laminitis in Horses

Systemic inflammation is a risk factor for laminitis in horses and precedes the onset of lameness in experimental models. We therefore hypothesized that whole-blood inflammatory cytokine expression would increase during the development of laminitis in a carbohydrate overload model. Blood samples were obtained from 14 horses undergoing laminitis induction with 10 g/kg oligofructose as part of another study. Samples were collected at 0, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 hours, and lameness evaluations were performed every 4 hours. Expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α were measured in whole blood by using real-time PCR. IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-10 expression increased above baseline from 8 to 24 hours (P < .001), and IL-6 expression increased at 16 and 20 hours (P = .005). Expression of tumor necrosis factor-α did not change over time. All horses developed clinical laminitis between 12 and 24 hours. Increased mean IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-10 expression detected at 8 hours therefore preceded the onset of lameness. We conclude that peripheral leukocyte cytokine expression increases as systemic inflammation develops in an alimentary carbohydrate overload model of laminitis, and this precedes detection of lameness. Results support current recommendations to control the systemic inflammatory response in order to lower the risk of laminitis in horses.     

云南中海拔地区改良草地生态环境研究报告

[目的]通过改良草地生态环境的试验研究,旨在为合理、持续利用本地区草地提供理论依据。[方法]对云南中海拔地区的昆明小哨1996年建植的改良草地开展了除杂、补播、施维持肥料和放牧控制等方法。[结果]改良草地四年平均干物质产量5 368.84±624.25kg/hm2,载畜量为0.83hm2饲养1头西门塔尔牛;在全放牧条件下,西门塔尔牛的公母牛平均体重初生45.25kg,6月龄245.70kg,12月龄325.03kg,18月龄405.61kg,24月龄465.63kg,36月龄604.33kg,成年793.07kg。群体繁殖成活率85.19%。[结论]改良草地生态平衡可持续利用的关键在于每年施用维持肥料、适时除杂并补播和放牧控制。     

Endurance Training Has Little Impact on Mineral Content of the Third Metacarpus in Two-Year-Old Arabian Horses

Although previous research suggests that short bouts of high-speed exercise will increase bone mass in horses, little research has been conducted to determine the impact of endurance exercise on bone. Although many in the equine industry believe that months of slow training will increase bone strength, we hypothesized that endurance training would not alter bone mineral content as determined through optical density. Eleven 2-year-old Arabians were split into two groups, Exercised (E, 6 geldings) or Control (C, 5 fillies), with radiographs taken on day 0 for estimation of bone mineral content by radiographic bone aluminum equivalence (RBAE). The E horses were then trained on a high-speed treadmill for 90 days; training consisted of walking (1.6 m/second), trotting (4 m/second) and cantering (8 m/second) at increasing distances until the target of 60 km/day was met. On day 90, E horses were confined to 9 × 14 m dry lots and placed on a regular exercise schedule, including a 60-km endurance test once every 3 weeks. The C horses remained on pasture throughout the study. On day 162, radiographs were made again on all 11 horses. No differences between treatments, days, or interactions were noted in any cortex or the total RBAE, suggesting that endurance exercise does little to alter bone optical density compared with free-choice exercise on pasture.     

Gender Differences of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers and Erythrocyte Damage in Well-Trained Horses During Exercise

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of gender differences on the blood oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant defenses, and resistance of erythrocytes to hemolytic agents of trained horses before and after exercise. The study was carried out on nine mares and 14 stallions of Ukrainian Warmblood well-trained horses, involved in jumping, eventing, and dressage. Oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant defenses, and osmotic resistance of erythrocytes were assessed. Trained stallions showed a decrease in lipid peroxidation and higher glutathione reductase activity, whereas mares presented a higher superoxide dismutase activity after exercise. The resistance of erythrocytes was similar in female and male. No statistically significant differences were observed in the percentage of hemolyzed erythrocytes between after and before exercise. A correlation between the oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant defenses in the stallions after exercises were observed, which may indicate a protective response of superoxide dismutase and catalase against exercise-induced oxidative stress.