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Improving Horse Welfare and Environmental Sustainability in Horse Husbandry: Linkage between Turnout and Nitrogen Surplus

Author

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  • Miriam Baumgartner

    (TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany)

  • Sandra Kuhnke

    (Chamber of Agriculture in North-Rhine Westphalia, Department 71 Animal Husbandry and Animal Breeding Legislation, 59505 Bad Sassendorf, Germany)

  • Kurt-Jürgen Hülsbergen

    (TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany)

  • Michael H. Erhard

    (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany)

  • Margit H. Zeitler-Feicht

    (TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany)

Abstract

A scientific consultation tool is currently being developed in Germany to assess, analyze, and improve animal welfare on site and simultaneously consider aspects of environmental sustainability in horse husbandry in order to contribute to a resource-conserving and responsible handling of natural resources and the welfare of living beings. To date, no study has assessed to what extent species-appropriate free-range locomotion possibilities are implemented on horse farms and to what extent turnout areas are affected by unwanted nutrient inputs from horse excretions. Using the indicators “species-appropriate turnout” (hereafter: “turnout”) and “unwanted nitrogen inputs in water bodies” (based on “nitrogen surplus”), we exemplarily examine animal- and environmentally relevant aspects of horse husbandry. We conducted 88 assessments on 46 horse farms ( n = 2220 horses) to test literature-based indicators of animal welfare and environmental sustainability. We found that the indicator “nitrogen surplus,” used to assess an aspect of environmental sustainability, was mostly a problem in the wintertime (summertime = −4.24, range: −109.27–58.97; wintertime: mean: 12.01, range: −35.19–468.00 nitrogen surplus per hectare, n = 44 farms, p < 0.001), when the horses had a reduced space allowance for free locomotion. On most farms, “turnout” was provided daily for several hours, but in many of the single housing systems, not all horses had the possibility for free locomotion (24.1 ± 20.4% of horses per farm), which is unacceptable in terms of animal welfare. Husbandry systems with a large enough space allowance for turnout (≥200 m 2 per horse) were found to be measures with a valuable synergetic effect, providing a resource which is an opportunity both for an environmentally sustainable and welfare-friendly horse husbandry. Demanuring remarkably decreased the nitrogen surplus ( p < 0.001). Hence, based on the study, we recommend to daily demanure the pasture or paddock if the space allowance is less than 200 m 2 per horse. In conclusion, regarding animal welfare, group housing is favorable, but regarding a site-specific environmentally friendly or even biodiversity-enhancing management, space allowance per horse is a crucial factor rather than the type of housing system. The two selected exemplary indictors demonstrate the need for a holistic and comprehensive decision support system that considers the linkage between horse welfare and environmental sustainability in order to assist peoples’ decision-making with horses under their care.

Suggested Citation

  • Miriam Baumgartner & Sandra Kuhnke & Kurt-Jürgen Hülsbergen & Michael H. Erhard & Margit H. Zeitler-Feicht, 2021. "Improving Horse Welfare and Environmental Sustainability in Horse Husbandry: Linkage between Turnout and Nitrogen Surplus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:8991-:d:612473
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mark C. Eisler & Michael R. F. Lee & John F. Tarlton & Graeme B. Martin & John Beddington & Jennifer A. J. Dungait & Henry Greathead & Jianxin Liu & Stephen Mathew & Helen Miller & Tom Misselbrook & P, 2014. "Agriculture: Steps to sustainable livestock," Nature, Nature, vol. 507(7490), pages 32-34, March.
    2. Anja Schmitz & Johannes Isselstein, 2020. "Effect of Grazing System on Grassland Plant Species Richness and Vegetation Characteristics: Comparing Horse and Cattle Grazing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Susan V Horseman & Henry Buller & Siobhan Mullan & Helen R Whay, 2016. "Current Welfare Problems Facing Horses in Great Britain as Identified by Equine Stakeholders," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(8), pages 1-19, August.
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