Horses reared for meat production are fed high amounts of cereal grains in comparison with horses raised for other purposes. Such feeding practice may lead to risk of poor welfare consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two feeding practices on selected metabolic parameters and production aspects. Nineteen Bardigiano horses, 14.3 ± 0.7 months of age, were randomly assigned to two groups—one fed with high amounts of cereal grains (HCG; n = 9; 43% hay plus 57% cereal grain‐based pelleted feed) vs. one fed with high amounts of fibre (HFG; n = 10; 70% hay plus 30% pelleted fibrous feed)—for 129 days. At slaught on abattoir, biological and tissue samples were collected to evaluate the microbiological contamination of mesenteric lymph nodes and liver; selected meat quality traits (chemical composition and fatty acid profile of the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle); and the oxidative status of the horse. A linear mixed model was used: dietary treatment and sex were fixed effects and their interaction analysed on production and metabolic parameters as dependent variables. Results showed an increased intestinal permeability in the horses fed HCG compared to HFG, according to the significant increased total mesophilic aerobic bacteria counts in mesenteric lymph nodes (p = 0.04) and liver samples (p = 0.05). Horses in HCG showed increased muscle pH (p = 0.02), lighter muscle colour (L) (p = 0.01), increased intramuscular fat concentrations (p = 0.03), increased muscle glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). Moreover, horses in HCG had lower muscle water holding capacity at interaction with sex (p = 0.03, lower in female), lower muscle protein content (p = 0.01), lower concentration of muscle PUFAs (p = 0.05) and lower plasma catalase activities (p = 0.05). Our results showed that feeding a high cereal grains diet can have global effects on horse physiology, and thus represents a threat for their welfare.

Background: Over recent years, pet owners have started to demonstrate increased sensitivity toward their companion animals, which includes an increase in the attention paid towards their nutrition, seen as a way of safeguarding their pets' welfare. The aim of this study was to identify how pet food quality traits are perceived as being the most important by dog and cat owners. To this end, a survey of dog and cat owners was conducted by means of a questionnaire distributed in pet stores and trade fairs throughout Italy. Results: A total of 935 surveys were collected; 61.8% of which were compiled by female pet owners. The respondents were relatively homogeneously distributed between cat (30.8%), dog (39.4%), and cat and dog (29.8%) owners. A quarter of the owners (25.5%) reported to have asked their veterinarian for advice on which pet food to buy, and almost a third (30.4%) trusted the advice posted on the web sites of well-known brands. "Contains natural ingredients" was the characteristic that obtained the highest mean score (4.3 out of 5). Elderly owners (> 65 years) placed most importance on whether a product had a high price, and least on feed appearance, animal satisfaction, and stool quality. Young owners (< 35y) paid most attention to the stool quality, the percentage of protein in the feed, and the presence of recyclable packaging, and least attention to feed appearance, smell, and animal satisfaction. Feed appearance, smell, a higher cost, and certain label indications (protein content, presence of fresh meat, grain free) were mostly important among the buyers of wet pet food. Some specific differences also emerged between dog, cat, and dog and cat owners. Conclusions: In this survey of Italian pet food buyers, the presence of "natural" ingredients was considered to be the most important indicator of pet food quality, whereas characterized by a high price was considered least important. The data obtained from this survey could be used to help pet food companies identify which pet food quality traits are perceived as important by dog and cat owners.

No abstract

Background. There has recently been a growth in sensitivity toward pet animals, and this has also involved an increase in attention toward their nutrition, which is seen as a way of guaranteeing the welfare of their pets. However, it is difficult for pet owners to understand the quality of products, due to a lack of clear information on the label. The aim of the study has been to identify the pet food characteristics that can be considered as quality indicators for dog and cat owners through a survey which was distributed by the promoters in pet stores and sector fairs throughout the Italian territory. Results. A total of 935 surveys were collected. Descriptive statistic showed a higher percentage of female owners (61.8%) among the interviewees. The participants were divided almost equally between owners of dogs (39.4%), cats (30.8%) and both dogs and cats (29.8%). A quarter of the owners (25.5%) asked veterinary for advice on which pet food to buy, and about a third (30.4%) trusted the advice posted on web sites’ of the major brands’, giving both of them a greater responsibility to provide information. “Contains natural ingredients” was the characteristic with the highest score (4.3 out of 5). Older owners (>65y) paid more attention to cost, and less to the appearance of pet food, animal satisfaction and fecal quality. Younger owners (<35y) paid more attention to the quality of the faeces, the percentage of protein, the presence of recyclable packaging and less attention to the appearance of the food, the smell and animal satisfaction. Appearance, smell, a higher cost and some label indications (protein content, presence of fresh meat, grain-free) were important for the wet pet food buyers. Furthermore, some differences emerged between the owners of different animal species. Conclusions. Italian pet food buyers considered the presence of particular ingredients as the most important indicator of quality of pet food, while the least important was the price. The information from this survey could be used to help pet food companies to identify the factors that influence the quality of the products as perceived by dog and cat owners.

Background. In these last years there is a growing sensibility of public opinion towards pet animal, that involves also an in increasing attention on their nutrition, seen as a way to guarantee welfare. However, it is difficult for the consumer to understand the quality of a product because label information is not always clear to the consumer. The aim of the study is to identify through a survey the pet food characteristics that are seen as quality indicators for pet owners. Results. In total 935 surveys were collected. Descriptive statistic showed a higher percentage of female owners (61.8%) among pet food buyers. Participants were divided almost equally between dogs owners (39.4%), cats owners (30.8%) or both dogs and cats owners (29.8%). A quarter of owners (25.5%) asked for advice to veterinary on which pet food to buy and about a third (30.4%) trusts in web sites of major brands, giving both of them an higher responsibility in providing information to the buyer. “Contain natural ingredients” was the characteristic with the highest score (4.3 on 5), confirming nowadays market trends. Correspondence analysis for age showed that older owners (>65 y) put more attention on costs, with low emphasis on food appearance, animal satisfaction and fecal quality. Younger owners (<35 y) put more attention on positive influence on animal feces, high percentage of protein, presence of recyclable packaging and less attention at food appearance, smell and animal satisfaction. Appearance, smell, higher cost and some label indication (protein content, presence of fresh meat, low grains content) are relevant for consumers buying wet pet food. Some differences are showed between owners of different animal species. Cat owners give more importance to appearance, smell and production site, dog owners focus on protein content, presence of meat as a first ingredient and higher cost. Conclusions. Italian pet food buyers, considered as the most important quality indicators the presence of natural ingredients, while the least important was the high price. Information from this survey can help the pet food companies to identify the factors that influence the perceived quality of the products by dog and cat owners.