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Water intake, faecal output and intestinal motility in horses moved from pasture to a stabled management regime with controlled exercise

Williams, Sarah; Horner, J.; Orton, E.; Green, Martin J.; McMullen, Sarah; Mobasheri, Ali; Freeman, S.L.

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Authors

Sarah Williams

J. Horner

E. Orton

Martin J. Green

Sarah McMullen

Ali Mobasheri

SARAH FREEMAN sarah.freeman@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Veterinary Surgery



Abstract

Reasons for performing study: A change in management from pasture to stabling is a risk factor for equine colic.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of a management change from pasture with no controlled exercise to stabling with light exercise on aspects of gastrointestinal function related to large colon impaction. The hypothesis was that drinking water intake, faecal output, faecal water content and large intestinal motility would be altered by a transition from a pastured to a stabled regime.

Study design: Within-subject management intervention trial involving changes in feeding and exercise using noninvasive techniques.

Methods: Seven normal horses were evaluated in a within-subjects study design. Horses were monitored while at pasture 24 h/day, and for 14 days following a transition to a stabling regime with light controlled exercise. Drinking water intake, faecal output and faecal dry matter were measured. Motility of the caecum, sternal flexure and left colon (contractions/min) were measured twice daily by transcutaneous ultrasound. Mean values were pooled for the pastured regime and used as a reference for comparison with stabled data (Days 1–14 post stabling) for multilevel statistical analysis.

Results: Drinking water intake was significantly increased (mean ± s.d. pasture 2.4 ± 1.8 vs. stabled 6.4 ± 0.6 l/100 kg bwt/day), total faecal output was significantly decreased (pasture 4.62 ± 1.69 vs. stabled 1.81 ± 0.5 kg/100 kg bwt/day) and faecal dry matter content was significantly increased (pasture 18.7 ± 2.28 vs. stabled 27.2 ± 1.93% DM/day) on all days post stabling compared with measurements taken at pasture (P

Citation

Williams, S., Horner, J., Orton, E., Green, M. J., McMullen, S., Mobasheri, A., & Freeman, S. (2014). Water intake, faecal output and intestinal motility in horses moved from pasture to a stabled management regime with controlled exercise. Equine Veterinary Journal, 47(1), https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12238

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 28, 2014
Online Publication Date Mar 20, 2014
Publication Date Dec 22, 2014
Deposit Date Feb 10, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Equine Veterinary Journal
Print ISSN 0425-1644
Electronic ISSN 2042-3306
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 47
Issue 1
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12238
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/740614
Publisher URL http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.12238/abstract

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