Dietary experience modifies horses' feeding behavior and selection patterns of three macronutrient rich diets

Choice feeding is often used to investigate an animal’s nutritional requirements and dietary preferences. A problem with this approach is that animals with long gut transit times, such as the horse, may find it difficult to associate a chosen food with its nutritional consequence when alternative foods are presented simultaneously. One solution is to present foods singly for a period of time before a simultaneous choice session to allow the development of learned associations. This method was used to determine if horse’s voluntary intake and feeding behavior was influenced by the macronutrient composition of the diet. Seven stabled horses, maintained on a low intensity exercise regimen, were allowed, on an ad libitum basis, haylage and 3 isocaloric forage based diets that were rich in 1 of 3 macronutrients (protein, lipid, and hydrolyzable carbohydrate). Initially, diets were presented as a 3-way choice for 5 d (self-selection a [SSa]), then singly (monadic phase) with exposure to each diet for 2 separate periods of 3 d each, and finally again as a choice for 5 d (self-selection b [SSb]). The total amount of trial diet offered differed with trial phase, with 2 to 2.5% of BW during SSa and the monadic phase, increasing to ad libitum access during SSb. To control differences in the total amount of trial diet offered, 2 measurements of voluntary intake were taken at 4 and 22 h postpresentation. Daily macronutrient and energy intakes were estimated from proximate analysis of the trial diets and batches of haylage fed. Feeding behavior was observed over a single 4-h period during both self-selection phases. Horses showed no initial preference after 4 h for any 1 diet during SSa. Following the monadic phase, horses demonstrated a preference for the protein and hydrolyzable carbohydrate rich diets over the lipid rich diet (P < 0.001). Dietary experience modified foraging behavior as the total number of visits to the diets decreased during SSb (P < 0.005). Analysis of 24 -h macronutrient consumption showed that protein and hydrolyzable carbohydrate intake increased during SSb, whereas lipid intake remained constant over both self-selection phases (P < 0.001). These data indicate for perhaps the first time that horses can respond to dietary macronutrient content and that single presentations during choice studies facilitates expression of dietary preferences

Formal vs. informal coach education

The training of coaches is considered central to sustaining and improving the quality of sports coaching and the ongoing process of professionalisation. Sports coaches participate in a range of learning opportunities (informal to formal) that contribute to their development to varying degrees. In this article, we present our collective understanding on the varying types of learning opportunities and their contribution to coach accreditation and development. The authors presented these views (from a sports pedagogy perspective) as part of a workshop entitled "Formal vs. Informal Coach Education" at the 2007 International Council of Coach Education Master Class in Beijing. These reflections seek to stimulate the on-going, and often sterile, debate about formal versus informal coach education/learning in order to progress scholarship in coaching

Origin of the extreme polymetallic enrichment (Cd, Cr, Mo, Ni, U, V, Zn) of the Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary Belqa Group, central Jordan

International audienceThe sedimentary formations of the Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary Belqa Group correspond to pure to slightly clayey limestones and minor black shales characterized by a remarkable enrichment in phosphorous and various redox sensitive elements (Cd, Cr, Mo, Ni, U, V, Zn). Phosphorous enrichment is related to the great phosphorite deposition event that has occurred at the southern margin of the Tethys Ocean during this period. The very low organic matter contents in the limestones, despite their strong enrichment in redox sensitive elements, is attributed to a deposition in anoxic water but under shallow water conditions permitting the bacterial degradation of a large part of the organic matter. Most of the elements constituting the Belqa Group sediments have been deposited from the sea water either directly by chemical precipitation (most Ca and redox sensitive elements) or indirectly through biogenic activity (P, part of Ca and U), except for the minor detritial contribution presents in some limestones and more significantly in the shales. Such an origin is also supported by the REE patterns of the limestones which are similar to that of the present sea water. The anomalously high concentrations of some redox sensitive trace metals (Cr, Ni and probably Cd) compared to worldwide black shales is explained by an exogenic metal flux, corresponding to the leaching of the huge amounts of ophiolites obducted during the collision between the African-Arabian and Eurasian plates at the same time as the deposition of the Belqa Group sediments. Uranium is substituted for calcium in biogenic apatite in the limestones, but was also directly precipitated from sea water in the black shales in relation with the suboxic environment with the periodic anoxia developed during their deposition in restricted deeper basins. The pyrometamorphism resulting from the burning of organic-rich levels in clayey limestones has created a further enrichment of redox sensitive elements in the resulting marbles by a volume loss resulting from decarbonatation reactions and the combustion of the organic matter

Diversités des agricultures dans la (les) filière(s) équine(s)

International audienceThis article presents the equine industry and its segments. It highlights the diversity that characterizes the horse industry on many levels. This diversity is firmly linked to the presence of equine in diverse areas, to varied human resources and to a constant ability to adapt horse uses to the changes in society. This occurs in spite of the elitist and non-agricultural image of horses that remains in place even though it is obsolete today. The equine sector is a source of significant positive externalities on agricultural and territorial levels, in terms of economic, social, cultural and environmental effects. Because of the recent but nonetheless important development of the equine sector, many research topics remain to be explored. Even if the diversity that characterizes the horse industry can affect its transparency, there is no doubt that it is an asset that can be used on many levels, giving the horse industry its adaptability and its plurality of externalities.Cet article présente un état des lieux de la filière équine, parcourant les segments qui la composent et soulignant la diversité qui la caractérise à de nombreux niveaux. Cette diversité est liée à la présence des équidés au sein de territoires variés, à des ressources humaines diverses et à une constante adaptation des usages du cheval aux évolutions de la société. L'image élitiste et non-agricole du cheval est obsolète et la diversité de la filière équine est source d'externalités largement positives aux niveaux agricole et territorial, en termes économiques, sociaux, culturels et environnementaux. Du fait d'un développement assez récent mais néanmoins important de la filière équine, nombre de sujets de recherche restent à explorer. Il est toutefois certain que la diversité qui caractérise cette filière, bien que pouvant pénaliser sa visibilité, est un atout à exploiter à de nombreux niveaux, lui conférant capacité d'adaptation et pluralité de retombées

Voluntary intake and digestibility in horses: effect of forage quality with emphasis on individual variability

Food intake is a key biological process in animals, as it determines the energy and nutrients available for the physiological and behavioural processes. In herbivores, the abundance, structure and quality of plant resources are known to influence intake strongly. In ruminants, as the forage quality declines, digestibility and total intake decline. Equids are believed to be adapted to consume high-fibre low-quality forages. As hindgut fermenters, it has been suggested that their response to a reduction in food quality is to increase intake to maintain rates of energy and nutrient absorption. All reviews of horse nutrition show that digestibility declines with forage quality; for intake, however most studies have found no significant relationship with forage quality, and it has even been suggested that horses may eat less with declining forage quality similarly to ruminants. A weakness of these reviews is to combine data from different studies in meta-analyses without allowing the differences between animals and diets to be controlled for In this study, we analysed a set of 45 trials where intake and digestibility were measured in 21 saddle horses. The dataset was analysed both at the group (to allow comparisons with the literature) and at the individual levels (to control for individual variability). As expected, dry matter digestibility declined with forage quality in both analyses. Intake declined slightly with increasing fibre contents at the group level, and there were no effects of crude protein or dry matter digestibility on intake. Overall, the analysis for individual horses showed a different pattern: intake increased as digestibility and crude protein declined, and increased with increasing fibre. Our analysis at the group level confirms previous reviews and shows that forage quality explains little of the variance in food intake in horses. For the first time, using mixed models, we show that the variable 'individual' clarifies the picture, as the horses showed different responses to a decrease in forage quality: some compensated for the low nutritional value of the forages by increasing intake, few others responded by decreasing intake with declining forage quality but not enough to cause any deficit in their energy and protein supplies. On the whole, all the animals managed to meet their maintenance requirements. The individual variability may be a by-product of artificial selection for performance in competition in saddle horses

Brèves 4 pages An 2 Projet PSDR New-DEAL. Diversité de l'élevage en Auvergne : un levier de durabilité pour la transition agroécologique

Fiche techniqueLes réalisations du projet new-DEAL en 2017 concernent l'analyse des relations entre la diversité de l'élevage et : i) le comportement des consommateurs locaux, ii) les coopérations inter-exploitations, iii) les trajectoires des exploitations maintenant la mixité d'espèces, iv) les articulations surfaces-troupeaux-travail dans les systèmes mixtes bovins-ovins et bovins-équins, v) le pâturage de prairies permanentes par des chevaux associés ou non à des bovins, vi) la stabilité inter-annuelle de la production laitière selon la variabilité inter-troupeau, vii) la qualité de carcasses de jeunes bovins selon les itinéraires de production, et viii) la valeur alimentaire des prairies permanentes diversifiées et de différentes inter-cultures. Ce document donne les premiers résultats issus des travaux de la deuxième année du projet PSDR New-DEAL dans ce domaine

Note d’avancement annuel An1 PSDR new-DEAL. Diversité de l’élevage en Auvergne : un levier de durabilité pour la transition agroécologique

Les réalisations de cette première année du projet new-DEAL concernent : 1-une caractérisation spatialisée de la diversité de l’élevage en région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes à partir de la typologie régionale des exploitations élaborée par la Chambre Régionale d’Agriculture (Inosys) et de données du Recensement Agricole ; 2-le partage d’expertises et de réflexions entre chercheurs et acteurs du projet sur les formes, atouts et contraintes liées à la diversité de l’élevage dans deux territoires d’approfondissement, Pays de Saint-Flour et Bocage Bourbonnais, à l’occasion de réunions de « groupes-terrain » ; 3-la caractérisation du fonctionnement de systèmes mixtes bovin-ovin et bovin-équin du terrain « de plaine » (Bocage Bourbonnais) à partir d’enquêtes en exploitation ou par modélisation ; 4-la mise en place d’expérimentations, sur les effets du pâturage mixte bovin-équin sur les performances animales (croissance, parasitisme) et la structure des communauté végétales, et sur la valeur alimentaire des cultures dérobées. Ces quatre types de réalisation constituent des premiers jalons et supports d’observation pour analyser les atouts que confère la diversité aux territoires et les systèmes d’élevage régionaux

Situating Learning: (Re)examining the Notion of apprenticeship in Coach Education

The last two decades has seen a proliferation in the provision of and importance attached to coach education in many Western countries. Pivotal to many coach education programmes is the notion of apprenticeship. Increasingly, mentoring is being positioned as a possible tool for enhancing coach education and professional expertise. However, there is a paucity of empirical data on interventions in and evaluations of coach education programmes. In their recent evaluation of a coach education programme, Cassidy, Potrac & McKenzie conclude that the situated learning literature could provide coach educators with a generative platform for the (re)examination of apprenticeships and mentoring in a coach education context. This paper discusses the merits of using Situated Learning theory and the associated concept of Communities of Practice (CoP) to stimulate discussion on developing new understandings of the practices of apprenticeship and mentoring in coach education