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Application of astrology to health psychology : psychological and astrological factors and fertility treatment outcome
No full textEThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
To stable, or not to stable? That is the question
No full textThe horse:human conflict of interests began as a predator prey relationship. When the horse was domesticated it traded its freedom of movement ability to choose its own mates and diet, for a relationship with man where food, protection from predators and health care were provided. However, the ease with which domestic horses can assume a feral lifestyle indicates that the basic biology of its behavior, which ensured its survival for 65 million years, remains relatively unchanged. One of the major changes that domestication has imposed on the horse has been restriction in its opportunity to choose its own food. Many competition and leisure horses are currently maintained under very different conditions from those in which their ancestors evolved. The diet of feral domestic horses includesa range of forbes, grasses and browse species, however, the majority of stabled horses are provided with a single forage. In the trials reported here we offered horses the opportunity to choose between environments with restricted and multiple forage sources available and studied their behavior.In a series of four replicated trials, twelve competition horses were introduced for five minutes into each of two identical stables which contained either a single forage, or six forages.Their behavior as recorded on videotape and compared using an ethogram of 13 mutually exclusive behavior patterns. At the end of these sessions the horses were allowed a further five minutes to choose between the stables and the duration in each stable was recorded and compared.Data was analyzed using the Observer 3 and SPSSPCV 8. Square root transformations normalized the data allowing GLM factorial ANOVAs to be used. When in the single forage stable, horses looked out over the stable door more frequently (F=66.0, df=ll P<0.001), moved around the stable for longer (F=161.6, df=ll P<0.001), manipulated straw bedding for longer (F=34.8, df=ll P<0.001), and exhibited a group of other behavior patterns which may have been indicative of frustration (F=8.5, df=ll P<0.05). When allowed to choose between the stables horses were found to spend significantly more time in the Multiple forage stable (t58.3, 10df, P0.001).In these trials the behavior of stabled horses with single or multiple forages available was significantly different. When allowed to choose between these stables the horses showed a clear preference for the multiple forages table. Further study is required to determine whether these effects persist over longer periods. However, it appears that when horses are allowed to choose a diverse forage diet, more closely resembling the abundance of forage species available in the feral or free-ranging state, these stabled domestic horses preferred the multiple forage stable. As the stable environment restricts much of the horses' behavioral repertoire through social isolation, making the stable environment more diverse through foraging enrichment may represent an important method of promoting the welfare of domestic horses
Behaviour of stabled horses presented with foraging devices in mangers and buckets
No full textProcessed feed for stabled horses is usually presented in buckets or mangers, and is easily and rapidly consumed. Foraging devices based on the Edinburgh Foodball can be used to provide part of the ration. Current designs are all placed on the floor, raising concerns about ingestion of foreign materials with the dispensed food. Alternative devices were evaluated, used within suitable, clean containers to prolong food-handling times but avoid such issues.
In four Latin Square designed replicated trials we investigated behaviour of 12 stabled horses with three foraging devices. These were separately presented for five minutes, varied in sensory complexity (Round, Square, Polyhedral) and contained 500g high fibre pellets. In Trials I and II six geldings were presented with devices in buckets then mangers. All individuals foraged successfully from at least one of the devices and behaviour was compared. However, all individuals exhibited some frustration while using the devices (either pawing or biting them). Horses frequently removed the devices from the buckets in Trial I terminating these sessions. In Trial II mean device foraging duration was ranked Polyhedral>Round>Square. Mean pawing rate in Trial II was calculated for horses (frequency of pawing per individual/summed duration manipulation and foraging) and was highest with Square (0.11, npawers=6). In Trial III six stabled mares were presented with the same foraging devices in mangers. Mean foraging duration with devices again ranked Polyhedral>Round>Square. Mean pawing rate was highest with Device round (0.08, npawers=4). Trial IV investigated behaviour of six horses when devices initially containing five high fibre pellets became empty. Mean foraging duration with devices again ranked Polyhedral>Round>Square. Mean pawing rate was highest with Square (0.05, npawers=3).
Device polyhedral had highest mean duration of foraging in all Trials. Devices met objective but unpredictability of pellet rewarding stimulus may indicate a source of frustration and warrants further investigation
Initial acceptance trial of flavours in a standard concentrate diet in horses at pasture.
No full textPrevious trials have focused on stabled horses in assessing flavour acceptance. In this trial we aimed to investigate flavour acceptance by pastured horses. The hypothesis was that horses would vary in acceptance of diets based on their flavour.
Eight flavours used historically as flavourants were presented to eight horses maintained at pasture, at 1% in standard meals of 100 g cereal by-product. Diet acceptance, selection and consumption times were recorded. A Latin Square design was used to control for order effects. Before data collection, two meals of 100g of base diet (a standard cereal by-product) were offered, at the usual meal times, to approximate standard hunger levels.
For the trial, horses were brought into individual familiar stables. Meals were offered in door mounted mangers, each used exclusively for that flavour to avoid residual effects. A minimum of one hour separated the meals which were terminated following complete consumption or no further interest for two minutes. Times for either; Complete consumption; Partial rejection (food partly consumed but then ignored for 2 minutes) or Total rejection were recorded. Any diet remaining was reweighed.
Mean consumption times were compared using Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. Variation in amount consumed was compared for all eight flavours using Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. This showed a significant difference existed between amount consumed (W = 0.314, n = 8, p < 0.01). Mean time to consumption or rejection was affected by individual variation and were NS for the group overall. The most accepted flavour by weight consumed was Agrimony (mean rank 2.81). The least preferred flavour was Elecampagne (mean rank 6.56).
This trial showed flavour concentrations of 1% in a standard base diet significantly affected diet selection and acceptance, but not consumption times of pastured horses. These results may have practical implications in diet formulation for pastured horses
Promoting natural foraging behaviour in stabled horses
No full textFour preliminary trials investigated foraging behaviour in stabled horses provided with
multiple forages (in press Equine Veterinary Journal). These trials suggested that
stabled horses were using foraging behaviour strategies previously recorded in freeranging
and feral horses, and other large grazing herbivores. Patch grazing strategies
allow herbivores to select a better than average diet from a heterogeneous resource.
The preliminary trials also compared the behaviour of horses in a single stable with an
otherwise identical stable containing six forages. Horses exhibited less searching
behaviour and less stereotypical behaviour in the multiple forage environment than the
same horses in an identical stable containing a single forage.
In the four replicated choice trials reported here, up to 12 competition horses were
allowed 5 minutes access to two otherwise identical stables containing single or
multiple forages. Horses were subsequently allowed to choose between the stables
during a 5 minute liberty test. In two of the trials the single forage presented was hay
and in two the single forage was a previously preferred forage. In Trial 1 and 3 (single
forage=hay), the horses showed a strong preference for the multiple forage stable (Chisquared
S/S, S/M, M/M: Chi-squared=16.4 (Trial 1) and 22.00 (Trial 3), df=2,
p<0.0001). In Trials 2 and 4 (single forage=preferred) the horses also showed a
preference, though less significant, for the multiple forage environment (S/S, S/M, M/M
(Trial 2) Chi-squared=4.7, df=2, p=0.09 and (Trial 4) Chi-squared=5.6, df=2, p=0.06).
The preliminary trials indicated that foraging enrichment prompted exhibition of wildtype
foraging behaviour in stabled horses. The four choice trials showed these stabled
horses selected an enriched over a restricted forage environment through a locational
choice. This provides further evidence to support foraging enrichment of the stable
environment to facilitate highly motivated behaviour in a restricted domestic
environment
The effects of diet and exercise on the behaviour of stabled horses
No full textIntroduction: Although it is widely asserted by horse owners that diet affects the tractability of horses, there have been few controlled studies of this subject. We report here the results of a preliminary trial to investigate the effects of diet and exercise on the behaviour of four stabled horses. The horses were maintained on all combinations of two exercise regimens (light and strenuous) and two diets (forage and mixed forage and grain). Horses were kept on each of the four diet and exercise regimens for a period of four weeks in an order determined by a Latin Square. Observations were made on 3 consecutive days in the second and fourth weeks of each period, during a set handling routine, and on 3 consecutive days in the second week during a four hour period when housed in stalls. Methods: During the handling trials the horses were observed when being [i] groomed with a rubber curry comb, [ii] a dandy brush, [iii] picking out the hooves [iv] sponging the face [v] sponging the dock [vi] applying fly spray and [vii] fitting a surcingle mounted heart monitor. In the second week of each diet/exercise treatment the horses were videotaped while housed in stalls between 12 noon and 4 pm. When in the stalls five minute scan sampling of the behaviour of each individual in turn was concentrated on three 30 minutes observation periods constituting the beginning, middle and end of the four hour period. Behaviour was recorded from videotapes using the Observer 3 and analysed using multifactor ANOVA in SPSS for Windows.Results: During the handling trials the main effect on the behaviour of the horses was associated with exercise. Horses which had been only lightly exercised exhibited significantly higher frequencies of a number of "unco-operative" behaviour patterns e.g. (Fig.1) Head Evasion (F=71.8 (1,3) P<0.01). During the periods of stall housing diet was found to have a significant effect on a number of behaviour patterns. Horses receiving the mixed diet exhibited higher frequencies of (Fig.2) Head Down (F=15.7 (1,3) P<0.05) and Rest Leg (F=10.8 (1,3) P<0.05) during the third period of scan sampling. Repeated investigation of the floor associated with Head Down and high frequencies of Rest Leg which indicated repeated transfer of weight from one back leg to the other, suggest a state of restlessness associated with confinement when maintained on a mixed diet. There was an interaction between diet and exercise for a number of redirected oral behaviour patterns e.g. (Fig.3) Lick Object (F=20.4 (1,3) P<0.05) with highest mean durations being recorded for horses receiving the mixed diet and light exercise. Only one horse exhibited Windsucking in the trial, and did so only when receiving the mixed diet. Frequency and duration of Windsucking (Fig. 4) were highest when receiving a mixed diet and light exercise. Conclusion: Although this preliminary trial is restricted by a small sample size it has indicated that both diet and exercise can produce effects on the behaviour of the four horses studied. The link between diet and behaviour in horses suggested by the trial warrants further investigation
Initial acceptance of novel flavours in diets offered to stabled horses.
No full textOdour and taste are important factors in food selected and consumed by horses. Published trials in stabled horses using fifteen flavours presented at 1% in standard meals of 100 g cereal by-product showed flavour affected diet acceptance, selection and consumption times in an otherwise identical base diet.
The study reported here aimed to investigate the effects of a lower concentration of flavour i.e. 0.5% on initial acceptance in the same base diet. Eight novel flavours were presented to eight Thoroughbred horses (1 mare, 7 geldings) according to a Latin Square design to control for order effects. The flavours were presented at 0.5% in the base diet (i.e. 0.5g by weight in 99.5g) and were fed dry. The meals were presented to the horses in hanging door mangers, with a minimum of 24 hours between trial days. No more than six meals were presented in any 24-hour period and a minimum of one hour was allowed between meals to approximate standard hunger levels. Quantity consumed, partial rejection, complete rejection and consumption times were recorded. Two flavours, agrimony and horehound were universally accepted and completely consumed by all participants. Although acceptance varied between the remaining flavours none were universally rejected. Burdock was rejected by two horses and orange by one individual. Variation in amount consumed was compared for all eight flavours using Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. This showed a significant difference existed between amount consumed (W = 0.456, n = 8, p < 0.001). Mean consumption times were affected by individual variation but were NS for the group overall (p = 0.2). This trial showed flavour concentrations of 0.5% in a standard base diet significantly affected diet selection and acceptance, but not consumption times. These results may have practical implications in diet formulation for the equine feed industry
A note on behaviour of stabled horses with foraging devices in mangers and buckets
No full textProcessed feed for stabled horses is usually presented in buckets or mangers, and is easily and rapidly consumed. Foraging devices based on the Edinburgh foodball can be used to provide part of the ration. Current designs are all placed on the floor, raising concerns regarding ingestion of foreign materials along with the dispensed food. Alternative devices were evaluated, when presented within suitable, clean containers to prolong food-handling times but avoid such issues.In four Latin square designed replicated trials we investigated behaviour of 12 stabled horses with three foraging devices. These were separately presented for 5 min, varied in sensory complexity (round, square, polyhedral) and contained 500 g high fibre pellets. In Trials 1 and 2 six geldings were presented with devices in buckets then mangers. All individuals foraged successfully from at least one device and behaviour was compared. However, all individuals exhibited some frustration while using the devices (either pawing or biting them). Horses frequently removed the devices from the buckets in Trial 1 terminating these sessions. In Trial 2 mean device foraging duration was ranked polyhedral > round > square. Mean pawing rate in Trial 2 was calculated for horses (frequency of pawing per individual/summed duration manipulation and foraging) and was highest with square (0.11, npawers = 6). In Trial 3 six stabled mares were presented with the same foraging devices in mangers. Mean foraging duration with devices again ranked polyhedral > round > square. Mean pawing rate was highest with round device (0.08, npawers = 4). Trial 4 investigated behaviour of six horses when devices initially containing five high fibre pellets became empty. Mean foraging duration with devices ranked round > polyhedral > square. Mean pawing rate was highest with square device (0.11, npawers = 4).All horses foraged successfully from at least one foraging device in buckets and mangers. Devices met initial objectives but the unpredictability of reward suggests a source of frustration and warrants further investigation
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