Temporal feeding pattern may influence reproduction efficiency, the example of breeding mares

International audienceDiscomfort in farm animals may be induced by inappropriate types or timing of food supplies. Thus, time restriction of meals and lack of roughage have been shown to be one source of emergence of oral stereotypies and abnormal behaviour in horses which have evolved to eat high-fibre diets in small amounts over long periods of time. This feeding pattern is often altered in domestic environment where horses are often fed low fibre meals that can be rapidly consumed. This study aimed at determining the effect of the temporal pattern of feeding on reproductive efficiency of breeding mares, One hundred Arab breeding mares were divided into two groups that differed only in the temporal pattern of roughage availability: only at night for the standard feeding pattern group (SFP mares), night and day for the "continuous feeding" group (CF mares). The total amount of roughage provided was the same as the CF mares received half of the hay during the day while in paddock (haynets). Mares were tested for oestrus detection by teasing with one stallion and were then examined clinically by rectal palpations and ultrasound before being mated naturally or inseminated by fresh or frozen semen. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse data. The treatment affected significantly the reproductive efficiency of the mares with fewer oestrus abnormalities (p = 0.0002) and more fertility (p = 0.024) in CF mares (conception rate = 81% versus 55% in SFP mares). Ensuring semi-continous feeding by providing roughage may be a way of fulfilling the basic physiological needs of the horses' digestive system, reducing stress and associated inhibitors of reproduction. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence of an impact of temporal feeding patterns on reproductive success in a Mammal. Temporal patterns of feeding may be a major and underestimated factor in breeding

Genetic analysis and phylogenetic relationships of the Barb horse through the use of microsatellites

The aim of this study was to compare genetically Moroccan (MA) and Tunisian (TN) Barb horses and toe stablish the phylogenic relation between Barb horse and other horse breeds in Morocco by using microsatellites. First, 100 Moroccan barb and 100 Tunisian Barb horses were used. Genetic variability index between and inside the populations were estimated. 133 alleles were detected in the Moroccan population and 125 in the Tunisian. The mean number of alleles was 7.29 and 7.82 respectively for the Tunisian and Moroccan barb horse. The heterozygosity was almost similar in the two groups of Barb horses (TN = 0.716 and MA = 0.714). Fst was estimated at 0.0454 and 0.0780 respectively for TN and MA Barb horses. The Gst was also estimated at 0.012 and the Nei genetic distance at 0.05. The two populations are almost genetically similar and heterogeneous. Finally, 86,5 % of horses were correctly affected to their likelihood population. Secondly, 50 Arabian horses, 50 Arabian-Barb and 50 thoroughbreds and the 200 Barb horses previously studied were used to establish the phylogenic relationships. The use of 17 microsatellites showed that the Barb horses had specific alleles and the highest heterozygosity and the highest genetic distances were obtained with thoroughbred. The two Barb horse populations were highly combined in one side of the phylogenic tree

Analyse génétique et relations phylogénétiques du cheval Barbe par l’utilisation des microsatellites

The aim of this study was to compare genetically Moroccan (MA) and Tunisian (TN) Barb horses and toe stablish the phylogenic relation between Barb horse and other horse breeds in Morocco by using microsatellites. First, 100 Moroccan barb and 100 Tunisian Barb horses were used. Genetic variability index between and inside the populations were estimated. 133 alleles were detected in the Moroccan population and 125 in the Tunisian. The mean number of alleles was 7.29 and 7.82 respectively for the Tunisian and Moroccan barb horse. The heterozygosity was almost similar in the two groups of Barb horses (TN = 0.716 and MA = 0.714). Fst was estimated at 0.0454 and 0.0780 respectively for TN and MA Barb horses. The Gst was also estimated at 0.012 and the Nei genetic distance at 0.05. The two populations are almost genetically similar and heterogeneous. Finally, 86,5 % of horses were correctly affected to their likelihood population. Secondly, 50 Arabian horses, 50 Arabian-Barb and 50 thoroughbreds and the 200 Barb horses previously studied were used to establish the phylogenic relationships. The use of 17 microsatellites showed that the Barb horses had specific alleles and the highest heterozygosity and the highest genetic distances were obtained with thoroughbred. The two Barb horse populations were highly combined in one side of the phylogenic tree. Key words: horse, barb, genetic analysis, microsatellites, genetic index, phylogenic treeCe travail s’est intéressé à la comparaison génétique entre les chevaux Barbes du Maroc et de Tunisie et à l’établissement des relations phylogénétiques entre le cheval Barbe et les autres races de chevaux existantes au Maroc par l’utilisation des microsatellites. Premièrement, 100 chevaux barbes marocains et 100 tunisiens ont été utilisés et les indices de la variabilité intra et inter-population ont été évalués. 133 allèles ont été détectés pour le Barbe marocain contre 125 pour le tunisien. Le NMA était de 7,29 et 7,82 respectivement chez le Barbe tunisien et marocain. Les taux d’hétérozygotie moyens étaient presque similaires chez les deux populations. Le Fst était de 0,0454 et 0,0780 respectivement chez le Barbe de Tunisie et du Maroc. Le Gst était très faible et la distance génétique de Nei était de 0,05. Les deux populations sont donc hétérogènes et pratiquement identiques. 86,5% des individus étudiés ont été affecté convenablement à leur population d’origine. Deuxièmement, 50 chevaux Arabe, 50 Arabe-Barbe et 50 Pur-Sang, en plus des 200 chevaux Barbes préalablement étudiés ont été utilisés. Le cheval barbe a présenté des allèles spécifiques et une forte hétérozygotie avec une distance génétique maximale avec le Pur-Sang. L’arbre phylogénétique a montré, un regroupement très significatif entre les deux populations Barbes d’un côté et les trois autres races de l’autre. Mots clés : cheval, Barbe, analyse génétique, microsatellites, indices de variabilité génétique, arbre phylogénétiqu

Stereotypic behaviours and mating success in domestic mares

International audienceStereotypies are often associated with suboptimal environments. However, their adaptive significance remains under debate. The aim of this study was to relate the occurrence of stereotypies in breeding mares to their mating success. The overall, first and second cycle conception rates, inter-cycle interval and the number of cycles per conception were compared between stereotypic mares (n=31) and non-stereotypic mares (n=83). Mares were mated by 9 stallions which were equally balanced between the two groups. Rectal palpation and ultrasound were used to monitor the follicular state of the mares and to confirm pregnancy. The relationship between the occurrence of stereotypies and mating success was analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression. x(2) tests were used to compare independent variables' distribution between the two groups of mares. Stereotypic mares had a significantly lower overall conception rate (55% vs. 84%, p = 0.0018), first-cycle conception rate (26% vs. 54%, p = 0.0214) and second cycle. This was still the case when only one type of stereotypic behaviour was considered. Thus, weaving mares (n = 26) had a lower overall (58% vs. 81%, p = 0.034) and first cycle (33% vs. 64%, p = 0.005) conception rate well as a significantly higher number of cycles per conception (2, 0 +/- 0.9 in stereotypic vs. 1.5 +/- 0.8 in control mares, p =0.037) as compared to non stereotypic mares (n=31). There was no difference between weaving and control mares in inter-cycle intervals (26.1 +/- 7.7 in weaving maresvs.23.9 +/- 6.6 in control mares, p = 0.74). These findings suggest a lowered fitness in stereotypic mares. To our knowledge, this is the first study relating the occurrence of stereotypies to fertility in horses. The findings that fertility may be impaired in stereotypic animals have important implications and deserve further consideration to elucidate the processes involved. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Promouvoir le comportement alimentaire influence le comportement social et le bien-être chez le cheval

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Factors influencing conception rates of Arab mares in Tunisia

International audienceIn order to investigate the factors affecting the reproduction efficiency of Arab breeding mares in Tunisia, breeding data corresponding to 2340 mated cycles, over 5 years (from 2000 to 2004), from 555 mares offspring of 50 sires and bred with 17 stallions were analysed using a multivariate logistic regression. We chose logit link function and binomial distribution and we used log-likelihood-ratio (LL) and Wald tests (X(2)Wald) to test the mean values. The factors of variation included in the model were the year, the stallion, the age of the mare at mating, the sire and the category of the mare. Logistic regression results showed that age and sire affected both the overall conception rate and the first-cycle conception rate of the mares whilst category and stallion influenced only the overall conception rate. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that the sire of the mare can affect both the first-cycle conception rate and the overall conception rate of the mares

Increasing foraging opportunities welfare and reproduction efficiency in Arab breeding mares

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Foraging opportunity: a crucial criterion for horse welfare?

WOS:000269168400012International audienceThis study aimed at determining the effect of the increase of foraging opportunities on the behaviour and welfare of breeding mares housed in individual boxes but allowed outside 6 h a day in a bare paddock. One hundred Arab breeding mares were divided into two groups of 50 according to the treatment and allowed outside in two bare paddocks at the same density (115 mare/ha) where water and shelter were provided. The treatment consisted in providing the opportunity to forage on hay. Twenty-minute animal focal samplings and scan samplings were used to determine the time budget of the mares during the period from 0900 to 1500 h and study their social behaviour. A total of 300 focal sampling (6000 min), 3300 individual scan sampling (6000 min) and 62 group observations (1240 min) corresponding to the 100 mares were recorded. Non-parametric tests were used to analyse data. Results showed that experimental mares spent more time feeding (65.12% ± 2.40% v. 29.75% ± 2.45%, P < 0.01) and less time in locomotion (11.70% ± 1.31% v. 23.56% ± 1.34%, P < 0.01), stand resting (11.76% ± 2.57% v. 27.52% ± 2.62%, P < 0.01) and alert standing (5.23% ± 1.2% v. 14.71% ± 1.23%, P < 0.01). There was more bonding among experimental mares than control ones (26 v. 14, P < 0.05). Experimental mares showed more positive social interactions (P < 0.01) and less aggression (P < 0.01). These results suggest that giving densely housed mares foraging opportunities improves their welfare

Behavioural repertoire and time budget as useful tools to assess welfare ? A study of captive conditions’ effects on Arab breeding mares’ behaviour

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Lower reproductive success associated with locomotor stereotypies in mares

International audienceStereotypies are often associated with suboptimal environments. However, their adaptive significance remains under debate. The aim of this study was to relate the occurrence of stereotypies in breeding mares to their reproductive fitness. The overall, first and second cycle conception rates, latency to first estrus, inter-cycle interval and the number of cycles per conception were compared between mares showing weaving (n=26) and control mares (n=31). Mares were mated by 9 stallions which were equally balanced between the two groups. Rectal palpation and ultrasound were used to monitor the follicular state of the mares and to confirm pregnancy. The relationship between the occurrence of stereotypies and reproductive efficiency was analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression. We used Mann-Whitney test to compare latency to first-cycle and inter-cycle intervals between stereotypic and control horses. χ2 tests were used to compare independent variables’ distribution between the two groups of mares. Stereotypic mares had a significantly lower overall conception rate (58% vs. 81%, P=0.034) and first-cycle conception rate (33% vs. 64%, P=0.005). Stereotypic mares showed a significantly higher number of cycles per conception (2.0±0.9 in stereotypic vs. 1.5±0.8 in control mares, P=0.037). There was no difference between stereotypic and control mares in latency to first estrus (45.7±25.9 in stereotypic vs. 45.7±23.2 in control mares, P=0.97), nor in inter-cycle intervals (26.1±7.7 in stereotypic mares vs. 23.9±6.6 in control mares, P=0.74). These findings suggest a lowered fitness in stereotypic mares