PSII-15 - Investigations of feeding preferences for common palatants in equine weanlings.

Work in other species has demonstrated an impact of gestational exposure on flavor preferences. Although equine palatability preferences in mature horses have been identified, feeding behaviors in growing horses are not well documented. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of exposure to common palatants in utero on feeding preferences of weanlings. Stock-type weanlings (n = 4) weighing 225(±18.15) kg at 29(±2.55) weeks of age were used in a side-by-side comparison test with a divided feeding platform. Common palatants (apple and anise) were utilized throughout the broodmare gestational period. A novel palatant, peppermint, was withheld during gestation to identify impacts associated with neophobic tendencies. Treatments were offered once daily for three consecutive days across three periods (4 weeks apart) using a pelleted concentrate feed with an application rate of 0.375 mL/0.23 kg. Weanlings were allowed free access to the feeding platform with identical pans spaced 6” apart for 20 minutes. Treatment location within the feeding platform was changed daily to limit effects associated with side-eating. Data were measured as a Chi Square test of SAS using PROC FREQ statement with α ≤. 0.05. Despite gestational exposure to apple and anise, no preference was measured in palatability assessments including First Sniff (P = 0.29), First Consumed (P = 0.70), First Finished (P = 0.29). These data suggest that exposure in utero failed to elicit a preference for common palatants in weanling horses. Additionally, these data fail to demonstrate a neophobic effect for a novel palatant, peppermint.