Special Issue "Nutrition and Management of the Horse"

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Equids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 November 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Markku Saastamoinen
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Production Systems, Tietotie 2, 31600 Jokioinen, Finland
Interests: animal production; animal physiology; animal breeding; feed formulation; feeding; animal husbandry; animal genetics; forage; feed evaluation; pasture management; equine; canine
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Dr. Jo-Anne Murray
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
Interests: equine nutrition aimed at improving gut health, including investigating the effect of diet on the large intestinal environment of the horse
Dr. Rasmus Bovbjerg Jensen
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1430 Ås, Norway
Interests: equine nutrition and feeds, as well as management; nutrition physiology and digesting in the sections of the horse's GI tract

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The links between health and good dietary treatment and management practices have to be considered to ensure the wellbeing of the horse. Because today’s horses perform a variety of roles and there are many categories of horses based on their breed, size, and use, feeding horses is challenging for many horse owners, trainers, and breeders. Lack of proper knowledge on horse nutrition and management may lead to health problems and impaired performance. Many horses also suffer from overweight and resultant diseases. Feeding and management issues, including stable and environmental conditions and feeding systems, also have environmental impacts. It is important to ensure that evidence- and science-based knowledge is available to all stakeholders and people working in the horse industry. Consequently, the objective of this Special Issue is to publish research papers dealing with horse nutrition and sustainable management and the interrelations between management, nutrition, health, wellbeing, and environment to strengthen the knowledge about nutrition and management of all horse categories.

Original manuscripts, in the form of research or review papers, that relate to the following areas are welcome: nutrient availability and digestibility, including issues concerning gut microbiota; nutrient requirements of various horse categories; effects of feeding and management on performance, growth, well-being and health of the horse; feeds and feed ingredients; environmental impacts of horse keeping; horses and society.

It is a great pleasure to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue on Nutrition and Management of the Horse.

Dr. Markku Saastamoinen
Dr. Jo-Anne Murray
Dr. Rasmus Bovbjerg Jensen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • equine
  • horse
  • nutrition
  • feeding
  • feeding practices
  • management
  • health
  • gut health
  • gut microbiota
  • digestibility
  • feeds
  • welfare
  • wellbeing
  • environment

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

Article
Straw as an Alternative to Grass Forage in Horses—Effects on Post-Prandial Metabolic Profile, Energy Intake, Behaviour and Gastric Ulceration
Animals 2021, 11(8), 2197; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082197 - 24 Jul 2021
Viewed by 2221
Abstract
Straw’s low energy content means it is a roughage option for horses with low energy requirements. Previously, in a field study, straw was associated with an increased risk for gastric ulcers. This study evaluated the effect on gastric ulcers, metabolic profile and behaviour [...] Read more.
Straw’s low energy content means it is a roughage option for horses with low energy requirements. Previously, in a field study, straw was associated with an increased risk for gastric ulcers. This study evaluated the effect on gastric ulcers, metabolic profile and behaviour of replacing, in a forage-only ration, 50% of the daily allowance with wheat straw. Six equines were studied in a 2 × 21-day cross-over design. The control diet (CON: 100% grass forage) and the straw diet (S: 50% grass forage and 50% straw [DM basis]) were iso-energetic. Gastroscopy was performed prior to the study and on day 21 and blood samples were collected and behavioural observations were performed. Diet did not affect squamous or glandular gastric ulcer scores (p > 0.05). Feed intake time was longer (p < 0.05) plus energy intake and plasma insulin concentrations were lower on diet S compared to CON (p < 0.0001). Plasma serotonin concentrations tended to be higher on diet S compared to CON (p = 0.05). The results suggest that good hygienic quality wheat straw can be included for up to 50% of the diet without causing gastric ulcers and that it can extend feeding time and promote a metabolic profile more suitable for overweight horses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Management of the Horse)
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