The Effect of Small Square-Bale Feeder Design on Hay Waste and Economics During Outdoor Feeding of Adult Horses |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN;2. Department of Animal and Range Science, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT;3. Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN;1. Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy;2. AUB-INFA, University of Bologna, Granarolo dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy;3. Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX;1. Université Paris-Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d''Alfort, CIRALE-Hippolia, Goustranville, France;2. INRA, USC BPLC 957, Maisons-Alfort, France;3. Université Paris-Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d''Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France;4. OTR3, Paris, France;1. Centro de Investigación en Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes, Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain;2. Unidad de Microbiología e Inmunología, Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain;3. Departamento de Anatomía, Embriología y Genética Animal, Laboratorio de Genética Bioquímica (LAGENBIO), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain;4. Departamento de Patología Animal, Hospital Veterinario, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain;1. Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland;2. Department and Clinic of Animal Reproduction, Sub-Department of Andrology and Biotechnology of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland;1. Cuerpo Académico de Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Escobedo, Nuevo León, México;2. Epidemiología Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Escobedo, Nuevo León, México;3. Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Canada;1. Department of Veterinary Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria;2. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria |
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| Abstract: | Hay waste during feeding represents a costly expense for horse owners. The objectives of this study were to determine hay waste, herd body weight (BW) change, hay intake, and economics of small square-bale feeders used in outdoor feeding of horses. Feeder designs included a hayrack, slat feeder, basket feeder, and a no-feeder control. Feeders were placed in separate outdoor dirt paddocks. Twelve horses were divided into four groups and rotated through the paddocks in a Latin square design. Horses were weighed before and after each rotation. Horses were fed grass hay at 2.5% of the herd BW split evenly at 8 AM and 4 PM. Waste hay and orts were collected before each feeding. The number of months to repay the feeder cost (payback) was calculated using hay valued at $250 per ton and improved efficiency over the no-feeder control. Mean hay waste was 13%, 5%, 3%, and 1% for the no-feeder control, hayrack, basket feeder, and slat feeder, respectively (P < .001). The hayrack, basket feeder, and slat feeder paid for themselves in 12, 11, and 9 months, respectively (P = .0049). Herds gained 10 and 7 kg when feeding from the basket feeder and hayrack, and lost 3 and 11 kg when feeding from the slat feeder and no-feeder control (P ≤ .0015). Estimated hay intake was 2.4% BW for the basket feeder and hayrack and 2.2% BW for the slat feeder and no-feeder control (P < .0001). Small square-bale feeder design affected hay waste, hay intake, herd BW change, and payback. |
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| Keywords: | Economics Hay intake Hay waste Horse body weight Small square-bale feeder |
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