Abstract:
GRAZING BEHAVIOUR OF HORSES ON S.E. QUEENSLAND PASTURES J.R. GALLAGHER * AND N.P. McMENIMAN ** It has been reported by Kiley-Worthington (1987) that when compared with horses at pasture some stabled horses are unable to fulfill their evolutionary time for eating because they are fed a limited amount of hay. Time spent eating may be as little as 3.6 hours daily and extended periods of inactivity may lead to stable vices including crib biting, wind sucking and weaving. It was the object of this study to determine under Queensland grazing conditions the time that horses spend eating as an aid to the nutritional management of stabled horses. The daily grazing behaviour of six mature Thoroughbred type horses was recorded in a ten hectare paddock at the University of Queen .sland veterinary farm at Pinjarra Hills. The pasture association in this paddock consisted of blue couc h grass (Digitaria didactyla), lotononis (Lotononis bainessi), white clover (Trifolium repens) and setaria (Setaria anceps). Pasture av pailable was 1.9t DM/hA and its organic matter and nitrogen contents were 913 and 13 .6 g/kgDM respectively It is shown in fig. 1 that the horses spent 17.3 hours eating and the remainder of the day resting, standing, drinking and defaecating. This period of eating was sufficient to supply the horses' nutrient requirements since Gallagher and McMeniman (1988) reported that the digestible energy and digestible nitrogen intakes of these animals satisfied recommendations of the National Research Council for pregnant and non pregnant mares. The present study also confirmed overseas results of Kiley-Worthington (1987) and Carson and Wood-Gush (1983) that grazing horses spend at least 16 hours eating each day. In contrast, Duncan (1980 and straw ad libitum they only associated with long periods o period of grazing for stabled horse also differs from the pa concentrates are included in t concentrates are fed can be ac Hintz 1988) or by feeding extr (Hintz et al. 1985). ) observed that even when stabled horses were fed ate for 11.2 hours daily. Behavioural problems f inactivity suggest the need to provide a daily horses. The nutritional management of the stable sture fed horse in that usually rapidly consumed .he ration. Extension of eating time when hieved by mixing them with chopped hay (Gallagher uded feeds rather than pelleted or unprocessed gr hay d and ain Carson, K. & Wood-Gush, D.G.M. (1983) Appl*Anim.Eth. 10, 179-190. Duncan, PO (1980) Behav. 72, 26-47. Gallagher, J.R. & McMeniman, N.P. (1988) Equine Vet.& 20 (6), 414-416. Gallagher, J.R. 6t Hintz, H.F. (1988) Proc.Aust.Soc.Anim.Prod. 17, 399. Hintz, H.F., Scott, J.K. Hernandez, T. & Shewokis, L. (1985) Cornell Nut.Conf.81-85 Kiley-Worthington, M. (1987)' The behaviour of horses: in relation to their training and management. Allen and Co. London. * ** Roseworthy Agricultural College, 5371, South Australia. Department of Farm Animal Medicine & Production, University of Queensland, St. Lucia. 11A