Abstract
This study investigated the feeding and management practices of Australian horse owners. Horse owners were contacted via e-newsletters, Facebook, and email to complete the online survey. Information was collected on
demographics, current feeding practices, management practices and pasture condition. Quantitative analytical methods included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square test and a multivariable analysis performed in
IBM SPSS. There were 4265 eligible surveys on 5464 horses used in the statistical analysis. Most horses (87%) had daily access to grazing areas, but participants reported that 59% of horses were kept in paddocks that were
overgrazed, with a heavy reliance on supplementary feeding. Almost all horses (97%) were fed one or more roughages daily and 80% of horses were fed one or more commercial pellet, premix or grain concentrate daily.
While only 20% of participants recorded their horses to be obese, this proportion is likely to be an underestimate, because when pasture intake estimates and reported rations were combined, the results of
nutritional analysis showed that 97% of horses were receiving digestible energy above the National Research Council (NRC) (2007) recommendation and it is likely that many animals were overweight. Australian horse
owners are underestimating the nutritional content of pastures and overestimating the nutritional requirements of their horses, placing horses at risk of obesity related health problems. Australian horse owners need to
recognise that well-managed pastures can provide horses with their daily nutritional requirements and this pathway is a long-term, cost-effective way of feeding horses that also reduces health and behavioural problems.
demographics, current feeding practices, management practices and pasture condition. Quantitative analytical methods included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square test and a multivariable analysis performed in
IBM SPSS. There were 4265 eligible surveys on 5464 horses used in the statistical analysis. Most horses (87%) had daily access to grazing areas, but participants reported that 59% of horses were kept in paddocks that were
overgrazed, with a heavy reliance on supplementary feeding. Almost all horses (97%) were fed one or more roughages daily and 80% of horses were fed one or more commercial pellet, premix or grain concentrate daily.
While only 20% of participants recorded their horses to be obese, this proportion is likely to be an underestimate, because when pasture intake estimates and reported rations were combined, the results of
nutritional analysis showed that 97% of horses were receiving digestible energy above the National Research Council (NRC) (2007) recommendation and it is likely that many animals were overweight. Australian horse
owners are underestimating the nutritional content of pastures and overestimating the nutritional requirements of their horses, placing horses at risk of obesity related health problems. Australian horse owners need to
recognise that well-managed pastures can provide horses with their daily nutritional requirements and this pathway is a long-term, cost-effective way of feeding horses that also reduces health and behavioural problems.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of the 19th Australian Agronomy Conference, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales 25-29 August 2019 |
| Publisher | Australian Society of Agronomy |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 2019 |
| Event | 19th Australian Agronomy Conference 2019 - Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Wagga Wagga, Australia Duration: 25 Aug 2019 → 29 Aug 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190122040437/http://agronomyconference.com/ (Conference website) https://web.archive.org/web/20190625230032/http://www.agronomyconference.com/program (Conference program) |
Conference
| Conference | 19th Australian Agronomy Conference 2019 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | Cells to Satellites |
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Wagga Wagga |
| Period | 25/08/19 → 29/08/19 |
| Other | The 19th Australian Agronomy Conference will be held in Wagga Wagga, NSW from 25 – 29 August 2019. In the heart of the Riverina, Wagga Wagga has a range of rural industries across the region. Wagga has everything to offer the agronomy conference being surrounded by a mixed farming zone with irrigation to the west and permanent pasture enterprises to the east. The conference theme Cells to satellites highlights the integrative nature of agronomy. Each of us work across a range of disciplines to optimise crop or pasture production for productivity and profitability. We have an increasing number of tools available to increase the precision and accuracy of our work; whether it is at the “cellular” level where DNA is mapped and biochemistry is unravelled or using “satellites” for remote sensing or guidance. The opportunities for enhancing our agronomy research is boundless. |
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