A survey on the feeding of competition horses and perceptions of forage in the UK and Sweden
Classical feeding practices of the performance horse have included the necessity for energydense concentrates that are rich in starch in order to meet its’ high energy requirements. Such diets have been associated to numerous health problems. Moreover, access to forage is traditionally limited due...
| Autor principal: | |
|---|---|
| Formato: | Second cycle, A2E |
| Lenguaje: | sueco Inglés |
| Publicado: |
2015
|
| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/8217/ |
| _version_ | 1855571316148535296 |
|---|---|
| author | Hurtes, Auriane |
| author_browse | Hurtes, Auriane |
| author_facet | Hurtes, Auriane |
| author_sort | Hurtes, Auriane |
| collection | Epsilon Archive for Student Projects |
| description | Classical feeding practices of the performance horse have included the necessity for energydense concentrates that are rich in starch in order to meet its’ high energy requirements. Such diets have been associated to numerous health problems. Moreover, access to forage is
traditionally limited due to time constraints and perceptions of it hindering athletic performance.
The aim of the present study was to assess the current feeding practices and perception of forage within the competition industry. This was done through an online survey for harness racing trainers and elite level 3-day event riders in the UK and Sweden. Results indicated that feeding practices varied between the disciplines and countries. Hay (45%) and haylage (42%) were the main forages fed. Respondents fed on average 3.6 kg of concentrates daily and most reported turning out their horses on pasture. Less concentrate and more forage was fed in Sweden compared to the UK (p<0.001). Health was selected as the most important factor determining their horses’ feed, more so than performance. Most respondents reported a nutritionist was their main source of nutritional advice. Perceptions of forage in the UK reflected the traditional view that forage cannot meet the high energy requirements of the athletic horse. On the other hand, perceptions of forage in Sweden reflected the findings of research. Overall, respondents were open-minded to a forage-only diet for their athletic horses. |
| format | Second cycle, A2E |
| id | RepoSLU8217 |
| institution | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences |
| language | Swedish Inglés |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publishDateSort | 2015 |
| record_format | eprints |
| spelling | RepoSLU82172015-07-09T11:44:49Z https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/8217/ A survey on the feeding of competition horses and perceptions of forage in the UK and Sweden Hurtes, Auriane Animal husbandry Animal feeding Classical feeding practices of the performance horse have included the necessity for energydense concentrates that are rich in starch in order to meet its’ high energy requirements. Such diets have been associated to numerous health problems. Moreover, access to forage is traditionally limited due to time constraints and perceptions of it hindering athletic performance. The aim of the present study was to assess the current feeding practices and perception of forage within the competition industry. This was done through an online survey for harness racing trainers and elite level 3-day event riders in the UK and Sweden. Results indicated that feeding practices varied between the disciplines and countries. Hay (45%) and haylage (42%) were the main forages fed. Respondents fed on average 3.6 kg of concentrates daily and most reported turning out their horses on pasture. Less concentrate and more forage was fed in Sweden compared to the UK (p<0.001). Health was selected as the most important factor determining their horses’ feed, more so than performance. Most respondents reported a nutritionist was their main source of nutritional advice. Perceptions of forage in the UK reflected the traditional view that forage cannot meet the high energy requirements of the athletic horse. On the other hand, perceptions of forage in Sweden reflected the findings of research. Overall, respondents were open-minded to a forage-only diet for their athletic horses. 2015-07-02 Second cycle, A2E NonPeerReviewed application/pdf sv https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/8217/7/hurtes_a_150702.pdf Hurtes, Auriane, 2015. A survey on the feeding of competition horses and perceptions of forage in the UK and Sweden. Second cycle, A2E. Uppsala: (VH) > Dept. of Animal Nutrition and Management (until 231231) <https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/view/divisions/OID-650.html> urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-4627 eng |
| spellingShingle | Animal husbandry Animal feeding Hurtes, Auriane A survey on the feeding of competition horses and perceptions of forage in the UK and Sweden |
| title | A survey on the feeding of competition horses and perceptions of forage in the UK and Sweden |
| title_full | A survey on the feeding of competition horses and perceptions of forage in the UK and Sweden |
| title_fullStr | A survey on the feeding of competition horses and perceptions of forage in the UK and Sweden |
| title_full_unstemmed | A survey on the feeding of competition horses and perceptions of forage in the UK and Sweden |
| title_short | A survey on the feeding of competition horses and perceptions of forage in the UK and Sweden |
| title_sort | survey on the feeding of competition horses and perceptions of forage in the uk and sweden |
| topic | Animal husbandry Animal feeding |
| url | https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/8217/ https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/8217/ |