The effect of an automated horse feeder on horse behaviour and welfare

Free-ranging horses forage for 16-20 h/d, travel up to 20 miles and interact with conspecifics as they choose. Conversely, domesticated horses are often kept in individual stalls, meal-fed, turned out for short durations and not given a choice with whom they interact. These living conditions challenge efforts to mimic horses’ natural feeding rhythms and balance nutritional intake. One solution is to provide ad libitum hay to horses, but this may lead to obesity, prevalent in westernized societies, and increased risk of metabolic diseases. Weight management strategies involve keeping horses in confined environments with reduced access to forage. To address this challenge, automated feeding devices allow frequent feeding mirroring natural patterns while reducing caloric intake and the labour required to care for horses.
The Nordic AutoFeeder© (NAF), is designed to reduce labour on farm while providing frequent feedings throughout the day. This study will investigate how social behaviours among horses may be affected by the NAF and if the distance walked each day differs compared to ad libitum feeding. These evidence-based outcomes will enable them to provide recommendations to their customers on feeding time budgets and promote their product with confidence.

Faculty Supervisor:

Katrina Merkies

Student:

Partner:

Nordic AutoFeed

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Wholesale trade

University:

University of Guelph

Program: