摘要
In the interest of decreasing feed costs while maximizing the growth of weanling horses, this study examined the potential difference in the average daily gain （ADG）, gain to feed ratio （G/F）, and apparent dry matter and crude protein digestibility in horses fed with the same diet provided in different feeder types. Sixteen weanling standardbred horses were used for the duration of the 9-week study. The horses were given 2.5% of their body weight in hay and grain daily, 2% hay and 0.5% grain, as fed in two equal feedings at 7：00 am and 7：00 pm. The first treatment used a combined hay and grain feeder with the hay rack positioned over a manger compartment. The second treatment provided hay in an open hay rack and grain in a separate, open-topped feed tub, not positioned under the hay rack. The two groups, with eight horses--four female and four male in each group, were fed in one manner or the other for the length of the study. The weanlings fed in the combined hay and grain feeder had a greater ADG （0.52 kg/d vs. 0.41 kg/d） and G/F （0.06 vs. 0.05） than the horses with the separate hay and grain feeders. Both ADG and G/F means between treatments were statistically different （P 〈 0.05）. There was not a significant difference （P 〉 0.05） in the apparent digestibility of dry matter or crude protein between the two groups. Therefore, it was concluded that the combined feeding system resulted in greater growth and apparent G/F most likely due to decreased feed wastage; however, apparent digestibility was not different between feeding systems.
