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Thoroughbred bedding preferences, associated behaviour differences and their implications for equine welfare

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

D. S. Mills ,
S. Eckley  and
J. J. Cooper
D. S. Mills
Affiliation:
De Montfort University Lincoln, Faculty of Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Caythorpe Campus, Caythorpe, Lincolnshire NG32 3EP
S. Eckley
Affiliation:
De Montfort University Lincoln, Faculty of Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Caythorpe Campus, Caythorpe, Lincolnshire NG32 3EP
J. J. Cooper
Affiliation:
De Montfort University Lincoln, Faculty of Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Caythorpe Campus, Caythorpe, Lincolnshire NG32 3EP
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Abstract

Choice tests are an effective means of assessing the short-term environmental preferences of captive animals. The preferences shown by eight thoroughbred horses (Equus caballus) for three commonly used bedding materials (paper, straw and shavings) were investigated. For each preference test two choices were presented in separate boxes joined by an unbedded corridor. Time spent in each compartment and associated behaviours were recorded. Despite a positional bias, horses clearly showed a preference for straw bedding (42·9 (s.e. 3·6) %) over shavings (35·2 (s.e. 3·4) %, P < 0·05), straw (42·0 (s.e. 37) %) over paper (29·3 (s.e. 3·4) %, P < 0·05) and shavings (41·6 (s.e. 4·3) %) over paper (27·7 (s.e. 3·7) %, P < 0·001) based on percentage of observed time spent on the substrate. Straw bedding increased the occurrence of bedding related activities, with more of these activities in choices where straw was available (P < 0·001) and in these choices the activities being preferentially expressed in the straw alternative (P < 0·001). Straw may therefore be preferred as it allows the expression of a wider number of motivationally significant activities.

Keywords

animal housingbeddingbehaviourhorses
Type
Non-ruminant nutrition, behaviour and production
Information
Animal Science , Volume 70 , Issue 1 , February 2000 , pp. 95 - 106
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2000

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