A Fibre- vs. cereal grain-based diet: Which is better for horse welfare? Effects on intestinal permeability, muscle characteristics and oxidative status in horses reared for meat production

Horses reared for meat production are fed high amounts of cereal grains in comparison with horses raised for other purposes. Such feeding practice may lead to risk of poor welfare consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two feeding practices on selected metabolic parameters and production aspects. Nineteen Bardigiano horses, 14.3 ± 0.7 months of age, were randomly assigned to two groups—one fed with high amounts of cereal grains (HCG; n = 9; 43% hay plus 57% cereal grain-based pelleted feed) vs. one fed with high amounts of fibre (HFG; n = 10; 70% hay plus 30% pelleted fibrous feed)—for 129 days. At slaught on abattoir, biological and tissue samples were collected to evaluate the microbiological contamination of mesenteric lymph nodes and liver; selected meat quality traits (chemical composition and fatty acid profile of the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle); and the oxidative status of the horse. A linear mixed model was used: dietary treatment and sex were fixed effects and their interaction analysed on production and metabolic parameters as dependent variables. Results showed an increased intestinal permeability in the horses fed HCG compared to HFG, according to the significant increased total mesophilic aerobic bacteria counts in mesenteric lymph nodes (p = 0.04) and liver samples (p = 0.05). Horses in HCG showed increased muscle pH (p = 0.02), lighter muscle colour (L) (p = 0.01), increased intramuscular fat concentrations (p = 0.03), increased muscle glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). Moreover, horses in HCG had lower muscle water holding capacity at interaction with sex (p = 0.03, lower in female), lower muscle protein content (p = 0.01), lower concentration of muscle PUFAs (p = 0.05) and lower plasma catalase activities (p = 0.05). Our results showed that feeding a high cereal grains diet can have global effects on horse physiology, and thus represents a threat for their welfare

Modélisation d’un Moyen d’Injection en Courant pour l’Etude de la Susceptibilité d’Equipements Electroniques en Mode Conduit

International audienc

Common Mode Modelling of a Current Injection Source for Susceptibility Study

International audienc

Analyse de destructions d’alimentations soumises à des impulsions forts niveaux

National audienc

Destruction analyses of power supplies due to electric pulse

International audienceThis paper presents the effects of high amplitude conducted electromagnetic pulses on the electrical behaviour of a flyback switch-mode power supply. The electromagnetic pulse is injected using a Current Injection Platform (PIC, standing for “Plateforme d'Injection en Courant” in French) able to generate conducted electric pulses of several hundreds of amperes. Injections are performed in common mode and in differential mode until the power supply destruction. These destruction tests permit to show that common mode injection is more destructive than differential mode injection. Moreover, in most cases, it is shown that the same components are destroyed. Components analyses were performed and permit to make some hypotheses about their failure

Palatability assessment in horses in relation to lateralization and temperament

Compared with other domestic animals, little is known about dietary preferences and feed palatability in equids. Furthermore, it is known that equids exhibit marked lateralization, that is, a preference for one side over the other, and that each individual differs in temperament. However, a gap in our knowledge exists regarding the influence of lateralization and temperament might have in palatability tests. The aim of the study was to assess ponies\u2019 preferences for odour and taste of different flavours added to hay using palatability tests, taking into consideration both temperamental characteristics and their lateralization response. Twelve ponies were randomly enrolled. Three behavioural tests were carried out (arena test, novel object test, person test) to assess their individual temperament and lateralization. Their behavioural responses and movements were recorded. Two-choice tests were carried out to assess palatability using first-cut chopped hay with vs. without the addition of the following flavours: carrot (C), vanilla (V), milk protein (MP), and milk protein with sugar (MS). Each flavour was tested simultaneously against the negative control in which water was added to the hay to achieve the same moisture level (water, W). The evaluated variables were: first feed approached (flavoured vs. W); first bucket approached (left or right); and quantity of voluntary intake. Three groups were defined based on lateralization (left: N = 4; right: N = 6; none: N = 2) and four components were extracted by PCA from behavioural and activity variables. Six ponies were identified as excitable (E) (positive component 4) and six as non-excitable (NE) (negative component 4). All the ponies tolerated the addition of flavours to the hay, with the exception of MP. As regards first choice preferences, ponies showed a tendency to choose V (P = 0.06) and MS (P = 0.06) over unflavoured hay (W), and significantly choose MP as first choice (P < 0.05). No significant differences were seen concerning the intake of C, V or MS flavoured hay compared with W; whereas intake of MP was significantly lower. In general, flavoured hay was preferred as the first choice feed to consume before unflavoured hay (P < 0.01), above all for NE group (P < 0.01). With regards lateralization, the right-hand bucket was most frequently selected as first choice. In conclusion, new odours seem to enhance palatability in ponies, although preference for a new odour did not necessarily correlate with greater intake. This work shows that lateralization and temperaments in equines need to be taken into consideration when setting up palatability studies