Equine and Livestock Nutrition Services, Tregaron, UK.
MARS Horse Care UK Ltd, Buckinghamshire, UK.
Equine Vet J. 2022 Jan;54(1):159-166. doi: 10.1111/evj.13416. Epub 2021 Mar 8.
Obesity can negatively impact upon equine welfare and bodyweight (BW) of pastured equines is often difficult to manage.
To compare the effects of three restricted grazing regimens on changes in pony BW and morphometric measurements.
Randomised study.
Twelve mature ponies were individually grazed in 10m wide, rectangular, electric fenced paddocks. The dry matter (DM) herbage yield of each paddock was determined, and paddock length adjusted on Day 1 to provide 1.5% of individual pony BW as herbage DM daily, for 28 days. There were four ponies per treatment. Treatments were: total paddock area (TA) and strip grazing treatments, SG1 and SG2. SG1 had a 'lead' fence spanning the paddock width being moved a set distance along the paddock length daily to provide 1.5% of pony BW as fresh pasture DM (as determined on Day -1). SG2 also had a 'back fence' 7-12m behind the 'lead' fence which was moved the same distance as the lead fence daily. Calculated dry matter intakes, changes in cresty neck score (CNS), body condition score (BCS) and percentage changes in BW, heart girth (HG), belly girth (BG) and rump width (RW) were compared between treatments.
Mean (±SD) calculated pasture DM intakes (as % BW/d) by TA ponies were 2.33 ± 0.50, being significantly higher (P < 0.05) than 1.82 ± 0.43 (SG1) and 1.59 ± 0.42 (SG2). Mean percentage BW changes were higher (P < 0.05) for TA ponies at 4.82 ± 1.36 vs. 1.16 ± 0.39 (SG1) and 1.54 ± 1.35 (SG2). SG1 and SG2 pony BW changes were not significantly different. TA, but not SG1 or SG2 animals showed significant (P < 0.05) increases in BCS1/9 (+0.94 ± 0.32), CNS1/5 (+0.5 ± 0), RW (+2.11 ± 3.6) and BG (+4.15 ± 2.29). SG1 and SG2 ponies showed significant (P < 0.05) decreases in HG (-0.05 ± 2.12) and BG (-5.53 ± 4.89) respectively.
Small sample size.
Strip grazing limited pony bodyweight gains and upward changes in morphometric parameters.
肥胖会对马的福利产生负面影响，牧场马的体重往往难以管理。
比较三种限制放牧方案对小马体重和形态测量变化的影响。
随机研究。
12 匹成熟的小马分别在 10 米宽的矩形电围栏牧场中放牧。测定每个牧场的干物质（DM）牧草产量，并在第 1 天根据小马的个体体重调整牧场长度，以每天提供 1.5%的小马 DM 作为牧草 DM，持续 28 天。每个处理有四匹马。处理方法为：全牧场面积（TA）和条带放牧处理 SG1 和 SG2。SG1 有一个“主导”围栏横跨牧场宽度，每天沿着牧场长度移动一定距离，以提供 1.5%的小马 BW 作为新鲜牧场 DM（根据第-1 天确定）。SG2 还有一个“后围栏”，位于“主导”围栏后面 7-12 米处，每天与主导围栏移动相同的距离。比较不同处理之间的计算干物质摄入量、冠颈评分（CNS）变化、体况评分（BCS）和体重（BW）、胸围（HG）、腹围（BG）和臀部宽度（RW）的百分比变化。
TA 小马的平均（±SD）计算牧场 DM 摄入量（%BW/d）为 2.33±0.50，明显高于 SG1（1.82±0.43）和 SG2（1.59±0.42）（P<0.05）。TA 小马的平均体重变化百分比更高（P<0.05），为 4.82±1.36，而 SG1 为 1.16±0.39，SG2 为 1.54±1.35。SG1 和 SG2 小马的 BW 变化无显著差异。TA 动物（但不是 SG1 或 SG2 动物）的 BCS1/9（+0.94±0.32）、CNS1/5（+0.5±0）、RW（+2.11±3.6）和 BG（+4.15±2.29）均有显著增加（P<0.05）。SG1 和 SG2 小马的 HG（-0.05±2.12）和 BG（-5.53±4.89）分别有显著下降（P<0.05）。
样本量小。
条带放牧限制了小马体重的增加和形态参数的向上变化。
