Configuration of Feed, Shelter, and Water Affects Equine Grazing Distribution and Behaviors

Abstract

Background: Required maintenance elements such as feed, shelter, and water are not evenly distributed within pasture environments, leading horses to focus their activities around concentrated resources and creating the potential risk of overgrazing. Aims: To determine if 1) varying positions of required elements feed (F), shelter (S), and water (W) affected horse presence within 23 m (P23) of required elements and 2) placement of required elements had an effect on the grazing distribution and behavior of horses. Materials and Methods: In a completely randomized block design, six mature mares were assigned to graze three-element configurations (CONF). Individual pairs grazed one of six pasture plots for 4-7-d periods. Horse location was monitored by global positioning systems and behaviors were visually assessed and recorded daily. Linear mixed models were developed that related occurrence of behaviors or horse presence within 23m of CONF and element. An ANOVA was used to determine if the fixed effects were significant, followed by Fisher’s protected LSD to compare means. Results: There was an effect of element on P23 (P < 0.01), with F being the most influential (P < 0.05) in that horses spent the most time within P23 for F in comparison to S and W. Horses spent more time grazing (P < 0.05) than other observed behaviors, regardless of CONF, followed by standing/resting, free movement, and eating grain. Conclusion: Moving feeding location frequently may alter grazing location, thus distributing animal concentration accordingly and decreasing the risk of overgrazing. Future studies investigating moving feed only may illuminate new methods of pasture management.

Keywords

• forage
• pasture management
• maintenance elements
• gps
• scan-sampling