Study highlights additional benefits of strip grazing
"We believe this finding could be useful when deciding if and how those prone to laminitis should have access to grass” - Clare Barfoot.
Eating less by strip grazing doesn't automatically mean moving less, according to new research.
An essential part of many weight management programmes, previous research has show that strip-grazed ponies gain significantly less weight than ponies with free access to restricted grazing over a 28-day period.
In this new study, a team from SPILLERS and their research collaborators set out to see if eating less as result of strip grazing also means moving less in the field.
Researchers first analysed the behavioural data from the previous study to evaluate the effects of 'activity levels' of ponies strip grazing individually. They also evaluated a second study, conducted in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College, to assess the effects of strip grazing of ponies turned out in groups.
During this second study, the team randomly assigned ponies to one of two adjacent paddocks. The paddocks were similar in size, had been managed in a similar way, and had equal amounts of very limited grazing available.
Using electric fencing, the researchers split 'Paddock B' into seven strips, giving the ponies access to one additional fresh strip of grazing per day. In 'Paddock A', the pones were given access to the entire paddock for the whole of the study.
For both studies, the team assessed activity levels and behaviour using a combination of direct observation and activity monitors attached to ponies' headcollars.
Clare Barfoot, marketing and research and development director at Mars Horsecare, commented: “Similar amounts of time were spent grazing, standing and locomoting (which included walking, trotting and cantering) within the different groups and encouragingly, performance of behaviours related to stress and frustration were low in both studies too.
“While we were unsurprised to see that the strip grazed ponies preferred to graze the newly accessible grass and spent most time grazing in the four hours after the fence had been moved, we believe this finding could be useful when deciding if and how those prone to laminitis should have access to grass.”
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
