Behavioural observations of reintroduced Takhi or Przewalski horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Mongolia

Dierendonck, Machteld C. Van; Bandi, Namkhai; Batdorj, D.; Dugerlham, S.; Munkhtsog, Bariushaa

doi:10.1016/0168-1591(96)01089-1

Cited by 59 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The nutrient-independent DMI, which showed an annual difference of approximately 5·kg, was approximately twothirds higher at the autumn peak compared with the late-winter nadir (Fig.·2). This finding clarifies hitherto inconsistent results about seasonal changes in the feeding behaviour of freeranging horses (Duncan, 1985;Duncan, 1992;Fleurance and Duncan, 2001;Van Dierendonck et al, 1996). Przewalski horses responded to changing plant phenology like ruminants and substantially decreased DMI during winter.…”

Section: Variation Of Dmi and Underlying Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 50%

“…Highest values of the time spent feeding were recorded during autumn (herd 1) or winter (herd 2) in free-living Przewalski horses in Mongolia (Van Dierendonck et al, 1996), at the end of winter in Camargue horses (Duncan, 1985) or during spring in ponies in Southern England, and in Przewalski horses kept in a semi-natural reserve in Germany (Pratt et al, 1986;Berger et al, 1999). By total collection of faeces and using the crude protein content of faeces as an indicator of food digestibility, Duncan found in Camargue horses higher food intake during winter (January, February; N=1) compared with spring (March-June, lowest values in May; N=2) (Duncan, 1992), whereas Fleurance and Duncan reported particularly high levels of food intake in horses during autumn (Fleurance and Duncan, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonal adjustment of energy budget in a large wild mammal, the Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) I. Energy intake

Kuntz

Kubalek

Ruf

et al. 2006

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Large ruminants respond to changing plant phenology during winter by decreasing voluntary food intake, increasing gut passage time and utilizing body fat reserves. It is uncertain, however, how other large mammals with a non-ruminant digestive physiology cope with winter forage conditions. Therefore, we investigated seasonality of energy intake in a large herbivorous wild mammal, the Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii). Throughout all seasons we used the n-alkane method to measure daily dry matter intake (DMI), diet composition and digestion, and determined an index of gut passage time in horses living under close to natural conditions. DMI correlated positively with its content of crude protein and nitrogen-free extract. Independent of these effects, DMI further varied seasonally with a peak in autumn and a nadir in late winter. Fluctuations of DMI corresponded to the annual change in body condition, which decreased during winter while energy reserves were depleted, and increased during the fattening period. Gut passage time varied in the course of the year and was longer during winter when the diet was high in crude fibre. Nevertheless, changes in gut passage time occurred rather independently of changes in forage composition and DMI, suggesting endogenous control for timely adaption of the digestive strategy to meet predictable changes in forage quality.

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Section: Variation Of Dmi and Underlying Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 50%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal adjustment of energy budget in a large wild mammal, the Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) I. Energy intake

Kuntz

Kubalek

Ruf

et al. 2006

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Wild-living horses, such as Camargue horses, spend 51% to 64% of the day grazing and 4% to 10% of the day walking (Duncan, 1980). Takhi horses released into the wild spend between 30% and 68% of daylight time grazing (Van Dierendonck et al, 1996). In a study of domesticated horses, Edouard et al (2010) observed an average daily grazing time of 59.0% 6 1.6% over 24 h on a pasture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of an active stable system on the behavior and body condition of Icelandic horses

Hoffmann

Bentke

Rose-Meierhöfer

et al. 2012

animal

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Horses are often stabled in individual boxes, a method that does not meet their natural needs and may cause psychical and musculoskeletal diseases. This problem is particularly evident in Iceland, where horses often spend the long winter periods in cramped boxes. The aim of this study was to analyze the suitability of a group housing system in Iceland, but the results are also applicable to horses of other regions. Eight Icelandic horses were observed in an active stable system, and their behavior and time budget were recorded. Movement and lying behavior were studied with ALT (Activity, Lying, Temperature detection) pedometers. The effect of an automatic concentrate feeding station (CFS) on the horses' behavior was examined. In the first period of investigation, the horses were fed concentrates manually, and in the second period, they were fed with the CFS. Additional behavioral observations and a determination of social hierarchy occurred directly or by video surveillance. The physical condition of the horses was recorded by body weight (BW) measurement and body condition scoring (BCS). The results showed a significant increase between the first and second trial periods in both the activity (P , 0.001) and the lying time (P 5 0.003) of the horses with use of the CFS. However, there was no significant change in BW during the first period without the CFS (P 5 0.884) or during the second period with the CFS (P 5 0.540). The BCS of the horses was constant at a very good level during both trial periods, and the horses showed a low level of aggression, a firm social hierarchy and behavioral synchronization. This study concludes that group housing according to the active stable principle is a welfare-friendly option for keeping horses and is a suitable alternative to conventional individual boxes.

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“…Activity data were collected at dusk, a period recognised for peak activity in wild and feral equids (van Dierendonck et al 1996). It was also apparent from our pilot observations that the zebra were more active at dusk.…”

Section: Focal Group Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Social structure, vigilance and behaviour of plains zebra (Equus burchellii): a 5-year case study of individuals living on a managed wildlife reserve

2011

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This is a copy of the authors' accepted version of this manuscript, and the definitive published version in Acta Theriologica may have changed slightly in response to editing. This version is made available on the University of Bristol's repository, complying with Springer's policy on selfarchiving (7th April 2008).The original article is available at springerlink.com. Please see http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13364-011-0061-x for the definitive version, and details of how to cite this work ABSTRACT Most studies of plains zebra (Equus burchellii) have focused on population ecology and have not included long-term observations of identified individuals. Over a five year period we studied the crepuscular activities of 13 individual zebras within a focal group held within a managed game reserve. We also examined individual residency within the group by recording births, mortalities and longevity of group membership by adults. Residency of individuals living in other groups on the reserve was similarly monitored to examine variability in social structure within this closed population over an extended period of time. Stable, female groups were the mainstay of group sociality with male mean residency at 31.6 months being variable in length or even absent. Social interactions across all categories of zebra were free from aggression. Despite an absence of nonhuman predators, the proportion of dusk time-budget allocated to vigilance was high, at 41% for males during periods when they accompanied stable female groups and 12% for females during these same periods. Female vigilance increased significantly to 19% when males were not resident. Females spent 70% of the time grazing and males just 36%. Due to its long-term nature, we concluded this study established a base line for plains zebra activity that could assist in understanding the factors that influence the successful management and conservation of healthy populations.

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Behavioural observations of reintroduced Takhi or Przewalski horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in Mongolia

Cited by 59 publications

References 13 publications

Seasonal adjustment of energy budget in a large wild mammal, the Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) I. Energy intake

Seasonal adjustment of energy budget in a large wild mammal, the Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) I. Energy intake

Influence of an active stable system on the behavior and body condition of Icelandic horses

Social structure, vigilance and behaviour of plains zebra (Equus burchellii): a 5-year case study of individuals living on a managed wildlife reserve

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