Investigation of the impact of seasonal climate conditions on feed intake and body weight in horses

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the impact of climatic conditions on feed intake, body weight, and rectal temperature in horses residing in the hot Summer Mediterranean climate zone. Eight gelding Italian Saddle horses, with an average body weight of 427.78 ± 54.55 kg and aged between 10 and 13 years, participated in the research. All horses were individually housed in a paddock (800 m²/horse), and fed ad libitum. Food intake, body weight, and rectal temperature were recorded every 10 days at four 30-day collection periods in the year: January, April, July, and October. The formula adapted from Thom (Weatherwise, 12,57–61, 1959) was used to calculate the temperature-humidity index (THI). The total and daily average feeding intake was computed based on the recorded temperature and humidity for each season. No statistical difference among seasons and data points in the total and daily average feeding ingestion, body weight and rectal temperature were recorded. This study demonstrates that horses kept in paddocks and provided ad libitum access to uniformly high-quality hay exhibit consistent feed intake, body weight, and rectal temperature across different seasons, with minimal inter- and intra-subject variability in the hot Mediterranean summer climate.