Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 8, 2025
Behavioral Disturbances: An Innovative Approach to Monitor the Modulatory Effects of a Nutraceutical Diet
Published on: January 3, 2017
Time-activity budget in horses and ponies: A systematic review and meta-analysis on feeding dynamics and management
M Lamanna1, G Buonaiuto1, R Colleluori1
1Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia BO, Italy.
Background:
The time-activity budget is a key indicator of animal welfare. This meta-analysis integrated 14 studies (1979-2020) with 364 horses under wild, natural-living, and stabled conditions to evaluate feeding, resting, standing, and locomotion.
Aim:
The study aimed to categorize daily behavioural patterns in equines, with emphasis on feeding behaviour.
Methods:
Fixed and random effects models, forest plots, and ANOVA assessed the influence of management, sociality, sex, age, body size, and feeding type.
Results:
Feeding was greater in free-ranging (56 %) than stabled horses (38 %; p < 0.0001), in grouped (54 %) vs. isolated (39 %; p = 0.0052), in females (64 %) vs. males (48 %; p = 0.0253), and in grazing (56 %) vs. hay-fed horses (39 %; p = 0.0003). Resting was higher in young, small, grouped, and grazing horses. Standing was commoner in stabled, isolated, adult, larger, and hay-fed animals. Locomotion increased in free-ranging, grouped, and grazing horses.
Conclusion:
Management promoting foraging, social interaction, and locomotion enhances equine welfare.
Related Concept Videos
00:51Energy Budgets
01:17Factors Affecting Activity Coefficient
The activity coefficient value for an ion is close to one when the solution has almost zero ionic strength, i.e., when the solution shows close to ideal behavior. As the ionic strength of the solution increases from 0 to 0.1 mol/L, a...
00:46Trophic Efficiency