Horse Welfare and Natural Values on Semi-Natural and Extensive Pastures in Finland: Synergies and Trade-Offs

Abstract

Abstract:In several regions in Europe, the horse is becoming a common grazer on semi-natural and cultivated grasslands, though the pasturing benefits for animals and biodiversity alike are not universally appreciated. The composition of ground vegetation on pastures determines the value of both the forage for grazing animals as well as the biodiversity values for species associated with the pastoral ecosystems. We studied three pastures, each representing one of the management types in southern Finland (latitudes 60-61): semi-natural, permanent and cultivated grassland. All have been grazed exclusively by horses for several decades. We aimed to evaluate feeding values and horses' welfare, on the one hand, and impacts of horses on biodiversity in boreal conditions, on the other. Though there were differences among the pastures, the nutritional value of the vegetation in all three pastures met the energy and protein needs of most horse categories through the whole grazing season. Some mineral concentrations were low compared to the requirements, and supplementation of Cu, Zn and Na is needed to balance the mineral intake. Only minor injuries or health problems were observed. All metrics of biological values, as well as number of species eaten by horses, were particularly high in a semi-natural pasture compared to other pasture types. The highest ratio of species cover preferred by horses to the total cover was found in the permanent pasture, while at the regularly re-seeded pasture, there was a particularly high cover of species, indicating low biodiversity values on grassland. There was, therefore, a trade-off between the quantity of forage and biological values in pastures, but not in quality. The results provide clear indication both for the suitability of the studied pasture types to horses and for grazing of horses for biodiversity management. In each pasture type, specific management is needed to simultaneously achieve objectives of adequate pasturing and biodiversity. The short duration (only one grazing season) must be considered when applying the results.

Green Assets of Equines in the European Context of the Ecological Transition of Agriculture

“…Moreover, the presence of legumes allows for the fixation of nitrogen from the air to the ground. There are different types of meadows: permanent grasslands (retained over 5 years, with possible reseeding after 5 years); semi-natural grasslands (a particular kind of permanent grassland because they exist for more than five years and are known to be among the most species-rich habitats in Europe [15]); cultivated grasslands (seeded each year (or more often than 5 years), and they are the most commonly used in current breeding systems [15]); and other less productive grasslands present in arid or rugged areas, which are called rangelands (shrub lands, steppes, alpine communities, marshes, tundras, etc.) [16].…”

“…In Europe, grasslands cover 21% of the agricultural land in the European Union, while croplands cover 22% and woodlands cover 38% (Eurostat, 2015). However, there is a decrease in permanent grasslands in Europe [15], while pastures are known to have different positive impacts: they are seen as pleasant and aesthetic [16] and provide multifunctional goods [15] that produce agricultural commodities and maintain biodiversity, soil, and water quality, even in suburban areas [17], in addition to meeting the needs of herbivorous productions. Animal grazing presents three general consequences: (1) it maintains a certain level of vegetal biomass [18] with the control of invasive species (through the intake of plants [19] and trampling [19]); (2) it has effects on plant metabolism (defence, resistance, and avoidance) [19]; and (3) it enables the creation of ecological niches [20].…”

“…This leads to a panel of feed preferences. Equines are graminoids feeders [16] and make less use of forbs and legumes than cattle [15]. Equines' preferences change when there is feed shortage.…”

“…Most equines (except high-performance horses like racehorses) do not need high-quality feed; instead, they are able to live on low-nutrition feed [27]. Moreover, their physiology explains their adaptation to a low starch diet because of the low activity of amylase [15]. They also seem not to be able to digest the secondary metabolites of some plants (such as shrubs) [26].…”

“…Equines impact pasture differently than other herbivores because their grazing behavior induces a particular heterogeneity of plant cover [28]. Some areas with high plants are not grazed by equines and could be used as latrines [15], but they could be grazed if there were a lack of resources [27]. Nevertheless, there is also the risk of overgrazing and soil erosion in equine pastures [15].…”