Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4hhp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-21T01:27:24.809Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Photoperiodic entrainment of seasonal changes in appetite and growth in pony colts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2021

Z. Fuller ,
J.E. Cox  and
C. McG. Argo
Z. Fuller
Affiliation:
School of Biological and Earth Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, ByromSt., Liverpool, L3 3AF
J.E. Cox
Affiliation:
Veterinary Clinical Sciences and Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool, Neston, S. Wirral, L64 7TE
C. McG. Argo
Affiliation:
School of Biological and Earth Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, ByromSt., Liverpool, L3 3AF
Get access

Extract

During winter, voluntary food intake (VFI) and growth decreased in light horse weanlings given ad libitum access to a forage/concentrate diet (Cymbaluk et al, 1989). These changes were attributed to decreased ambient temperatures. However, photoperiodically entrained seasonal changes in VFI and growth are documented in other Northern ungulates (Moen, 1978) and may comprise an adaptation to changes in forage availability. Throughout their evolution, horses experienced similar environmental pressures and may demonstrate similar photoperiodic adaptations. This study characterised changes in VFI and growth in pony colts maintained under an artificial photoperiodic regime.

Seven, 2 year-old pony colts of Welsh Mountain type (182.4 ± 5.4 kg), were obtained from pasture (53°N). Animals were individually housed in loose-boxes, within a light-proof building. Measured quantities of a complete pelleted diet (gross energy = 16.7 MJ.kgDM-1), calculated to exceed appetite by at least 1 kg, were offered daily.

Type
Programme
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 1998 , 1998 , pp. 133
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Cymbaluk, N. F., Christison, G. I. & Leach, D. H. 1989. Nutrient utilisation by limit- and ad libitum -fed growing horses. J. Anim. Sci. 67: 414–425.10.2527/jas1989.672414xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moen, A. N. 1978. Seasonal changes in heart rate, activity, metabolism and forage intake of White-tailed deer. J. Wildl. Manage. 42: 715–738.10.2307/3800763CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kay, R.N.B. 1979. Seasonal changes of appetite in deer and sheep. A.R.C. Res. Rev, 5: 13–15.Google Scholar