Feeding and Management of Horses with and without Free Faecal Liquid: A Case–Control Study

Abstract

Free faecal liquid (FFL) in horses is characterised by the excretion of faeces in two phases (one solid and one liquid), which may cause dermatitis on the hindlegs. The causes of FFL are not known. Results from previous studies have indicated that feed ration composition and management factors may play important roles in the occurrence of FFL. A case–control study was therefore performed in which data on feed rations, feeding practices and management factors were compared between horses with (case) and without (control) FFL on 50 private farms in Sweden and Norway. The comparisons show that case and control horses were reported to be fed similar average amounts of wrapped forage (p = 0.97) and to be subject to similar management practices, but case horses were fed higher proportions of concentrates in their diet (p p p p < 0.05). These differences were small but are of interest for further studies of factors causing FFL.

Keywords

• equine
• free faecal water
• nutrition
• watery faeces
• wrapped forage