Experiments with Limited Feeding of Horses Under Field Conditions

Abstract

Zbl. Vet. Med., Reihe A, Bd. 22, Heft 6 31 446 S. G. BENGTSSON MaterialDesign of the Experiment Seven Swedish half-bred horses between 8 and 10 years old of both sexes were picked at random for the experiment. The average weight of the animals was 529 k 48 (I S. E. M.) kg. Immediately before the experiment, while the horses were still in the stable, their rectal temperatures were measured, blood samples were taken from the jugular vein, and faecal samples were taken. The horses were harnessed and walked out to the bivouac in a forested terrain about 3 km. from the camp. A 5 km. long circuit was laid out from the bivouac and during a week the horses had to cover 180 km. round the circuit.In the case of 6 of the horses this was carried out by leading them or riding them. The mean weight of the riders was 73.3 k 2.0 (1 S. E. M.) kg. and ranged from 67.6 to 80.2 kg. In addition, 5 of the horses carried a load of 70 kg. The seventh horse was a pack horse and carried a load of 150 kg., but was otherwise considered to be comparable with the other horses. Marches always took place at walking pace. A maximum of 5 circuits was completed at one time. The longest distance covered in one day was 50 km. The time taken to complete one circuit during the first few days was about 50 minutes by day and about 1 hour by night. Circuit times increased somewhat as the experiment continued. FeedingThe horses were given no conventional roughage but were allowed to graze between marches or were fed sprigs of lingonberry, buds, pine and fir branches, heather and dried grass, and dried birch leaves. The daily concentrate ration to each of the horses consisted of 3 kg. whole oats of standard quality. It was generally fed in two equal portions at 07.00 and 17.00 hr. The horse without a load was fed 6 kg. oats per day. All horses had access to water several times daily from a stream close to the camp.