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Forages and grazing in horse nutrition pp 147–161Cite as

How do horses graze pastures and affect the diversity of grassland ecosystems?

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Part of the book series: Forages and grazing in horse nutrition ((EAAP,volume 132))

Abstract

In an agricultural context promoting the development of sustainable grazing systems, horses – whose numbers are increasing in Europe – have a significant role to play. However, compared to ruminants, the lack of data on how horses exploit pastures makes it difficult to propose management recommendations, despite evidence that grass can cover their nutritional requirements and that pasture management can be used to manipulate vegetation dynamics. In this review, we report recent insights into factors that affect the voluntary intake and feeding choices of grazing horses, and we specify the consequences of their diet selection on biodiversity in grassland ecosystems. Horses have a greater intake capacity on roughages than ruminants, which enables them to effectively control competitive grasses and maintain open areas in pastures. When facing variations in resource availability and quality, horses are able to adjust their foraging behaviour (daily grazing time, instantaneous intake rate, feeding site selection) in order to meet their nutritional requirements. How horse characteristics can affect their voluntary intake and feeding choices needs to be specified. The specific mode of grazing employed by horses maintains short lawns within a matrix of tall grass areas, which is known to promote plant and animal diversity, at least in the short term. Horses make less use of forbs and legumes than ruminants, and further studies are needed to determine whether this behaviour could benefit flowering plants and pollinating insects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Direction des Connaissances et de l’Innovation, Terrefort, Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation, BP 207, 49411, Saumur, France

    G. Fleurance & C. Collas

  2. INRA, UMR1213 Herbivores, 63122, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France

    G. Fleurance, N. Edouard, C. Collas, A. Farruggia, R. Baumont & B. Dumont

  3. Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS UPR1934, 79360, Beauvoir-sur-Niort, France

    P. Duncan

  4. Parc Naturel Régional des Boucles de la Seine Normande, 76940, Notre-Dame-de-Bliquetuit, France

    T. Lecomte

  5. INRA, AgroCampus Ouest, 35000, Rennes, France

    N. Edouard

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  1. G. Fleurance
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  2. N. Edouard
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  3. C. Collas
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  4. P. Duncan
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  5. A. Farruggia
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  6. R. Baumont
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  7. T. Lecomte
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  8. B. Dumont
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Finland

    Markku Saastamoinen (Chief Editor) (Chief Editor)

  2. CIISA - Interdisciplinary Centre of Research in Animal Health - FMV-UTL, Portugal

    Maria João Fradinho

  3. DGAV – Ministry of Agriculture, Sea, Environment and Spatial Planning, Portugal

    Maria João Fradinho

  4. Universitary School Vasco da Gama, Coimbra, Portugal

    Ana Sofia Santos

  5. University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

    Ana Sofia Santos

  6. Molise University, Italy

    Nicoletta Miraglia

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Fleurance, G. et al. (2012). How do horses graze pastures and affect the diversity of grassland ecosystems?. In: Saastamoinen, M., Fradinho, M.J., Santos, A.S., Miraglia, N. (eds) Forages and grazing in horse nutrition. Forages and grazing in horse nutrition, vol 132. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-755-4_16

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