The effect of grain type and processing on chewing activity in horses

TY - ABST

T1 - The effect of grain type and processing on chewing activity in horses

AU - Brøkner, Christine

AU - Nørgaard, Peder

AU - Eriksen, Lis

AU - Søland, Tine Louise Mangart.

N1 - Conference code: 56

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - The aims of the present experiment were to study the effect of grain type and processing on chewing activity in horses. Three adult trotters (Exp.I) and 3 adult Icelandic horses (Exp.II) were fed 3 daily meals during 3 consecutive days in two 3 x 3 completely randomized block design experiments. Meals of (Exp.I: 1.0 kg) and (Exp.II: 0.5 kg) oats, barley and wheat were fed whole, rolled and ground at 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm. Jaw movements (JM) were identified from pressure oscillations in a tube around the mouth. The efficient chewing time (EPTIME, min/kg DM), corrected for pauses, the basic chewing rate (PBCR, JM/s) and the standard deviation of time interval between JM (SPDDT), which indicate chewing regularity, were estimated. The mean EPTIME was 24 and 15 min for the Icelandic and trotter horses, respectively. The EPTIME for whole grain was 20 min and shorter than for ground grain (P = 0.02). EPTIME for oats was 25 min and longer than for wheat (P=0.05). The SPDDT value for whole grain was low (0.06) and therefore more regularly chewed than ground grain (P<0.01). PBCR value was unaffected (P>0.50). In conclusion, grain processing increased chewing time and affected chewing regularity in horses perhaps due to decreased palatability.

AB - The aims of the present experiment were to study the effect of grain type and processing on chewing activity in horses. Three adult trotters (Exp.I) and 3 adult Icelandic horses (Exp.II) were fed 3 daily meals during 3 consecutive days in two 3 x 3 completely randomized block design experiments. Meals of (Exp.I: 1.0 kg) and (Exp.II: 0.5 kg) oats, barley and wheat were fed whole, rolled and ground at 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm. Jaw movements (JM) were identified from pressure oscillations in a tube around the mouth. The efficient chewing time (EPTIME, min/kg DM), corrected for pauses, the basic chewing rate (PBCR, JM/s) and the standard deviation of time interval between JM (SPDDT), which indicate chewing regularity, were estimated. The mean EPTIME was 24 and 15 min for the Icelandic and trotter horses, respectively. The EPTIME for whole grain was 20 min and shorter than for ground grain (P = 0.02). EPTIME for oats was 25 min and longer than for wheat (P=0.05). The SPDDT value for whole grain was low (0.06) and therefore more regularly chewed than ground grain (P<0.01). PBCR value was unaffected (P>0.50). In conclusion, grain processing increased chewing time and affected chewing regularity in horses perhaps due to decreased palatability.

M3 - Conference abstract in proceedings

SP - 59

BT - Book of abstracts of the 56th annual meeting of the European Association for Animal Production

A2 - van der Honing, Ynze

A2 - Strandberg, E.

A2 - Cenkvári, E.

A2 - von Borell, E.

A2 - Kemp, B.

A2 - Lazzaroni, C.

A2 - Gauly, M.

A2 - Wenk, C.

A2 - Martin-Rosset, W.

A2 - Bernués Jal, A..

A2 - Thomas, C.

PB - Wageningen Academic Publishers

T2 - EAAP Meeting

Y2 - 5 June 2005 through 8 June 2005

ER -