The changes of grazing behavior and locomotion activity per day for stocked Thoroughbred foals with growth

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  • TANABE Tomoki
    Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University Present Address: Daily research Center, Hokkaido Research Organization
  • MITANI Tomohiro
    Experimental Farm, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University
  • UEDA Koichiro
    Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University
  • MATSUI Akira
    Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association
  • KAWAI Masahito
    Shizunai Livestock Farm, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University

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  • 昼夜放牧飼養下におけるサラブレッド種当歳馬の成長に伴う食草行動および自発的運動の変化

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Abstract

<p>In horses, pasture is important for foraging and also to provide opportunity for physical exercise. This study was conducted to investigate changes in the amount of time allocated to grazing and suckling and changes in moving distance per day in thoroughbred foals and mares with age. Nine suckling foals aged one to five months and their dams were used in this study, and they were allowed to graze on pasture for 21 h per day from May to September. Suckling frequencies and time allocated to suckling were significantly lower in four-months-old foals than in those of one month of age (P < 0.05). Time spent grazing increased significantly with age from one month (335 min/d) to three months (576 min/d) (P < 0.05). Grazing time in foals was the highest after weaning at an age of five months (796 min/d) (P < 0.05), which was similar to that in dams. The range of total moving distance on pasture was 9.7-15.2km/day in foals and 10.1-16.4km/day in dams. Total running distance was the greatest in foals of one month of age and their dams, compared to all other age classes (P < 0.05). These results suggest that whole-day grazing results in the same amount of exercise for adult horses and foals, and the period when foals were one month of age was the most active time in terms of locomotion. Pasture is important for nutrient intake during the suckling period, particularly around the time of weaning.</p>

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