Browsing by study line "Husdjursvetenskap"

With growing consumer interest in the nutritional benefits of high-quality beef, livestock producers face the challenge of enhancing carcass traits, which are typically measurable post-slaughter. As a result, breeding for carcass traits often entails lengthy waiting periods for progeny testing and the need to sacrifice the bull’s progeny for carcass trait assessment. This study aims to estimate the genetic parameters of conformation traits (stature [S], withers width [WW], inner hindquarter [IHQ], hindquarter width [HQW]) and their genetic correlations with carcass traits (carcass weight [CW], carcass conformation [CC], fat class [FC]) using the records of two beef cattle breeds (Charolais: 1,620 and Limousine: 1,326) obtained from the Finnish Animal Breeding Association. A univariate model was used for heritability estimation and a bi-variate model for genetic correlations. The variance and co-variance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method in the DMU software. Heritability estimates (±standard error) varied from 0.17±0.04 (FC) to 0.33±0.04 (CC) for Charolais, and from 0.15±0.05 (CW, FC, and WW) to 0.33±0.05 (S) for Limousine. The study found CC to have the highest heritability in both Charolais (0.33±0.04) and Limousine (0.31±0.05) among the carcass traits, indicating a faster response to selection and a higher potential for improvement. Statistically significant correlations were found between conformation and carcass traits, with HQW, IHQ and WW displaying moderate to strong correlations (ranging from 0.32 to 0.79) with CC across both breeds. Additionally, S, HQW and WW exhibited genetic correlations with CW. These results suggest the potential of utilizing these conformation traits as early indicators for the respective carcass traits. These findings offer insights into the potential of using conformation traits as early indicators for selecting animals with desirable carcass traits, thereby guiding breeding decisions towards improved beef quality, as well as promoting resource efficiency.

Karkearehuvaltaisessa ruokinnassa yli puolet lehmien syömästä kuiva-aineesta on peräisin karkearehuista. Suomessa nurmisäilörehuun ja viljaan pohjautuvaa ruokintaa on perinteisesti täydennetty rypsi- ja rapsirehuilla, jotta korkeatuottoisten lypsylehmien ravintoaineiden tarve on saatu tyydytettyä. Herneen (Pisum sativum) siemen on yksi kotimainen täydennysvalkuaisrehuvaihtoehto rypsirouheelle ja -puristeelle. Herneen siemenen valkuaisarvo on huonompi kuin rypsipuristeen tai -rouheen, koska herneen siemenen raakavalkuaispitoisuus on pienempi ja valkuaisen pötsihajoavuus suurempi kuin rypsirouheella tai -puristeella. Tämän tutkielman tarkoituksena oli selvittää, miten rypsipuristeen korvaaminen herneen siemenellä lypsylehmien karkearehuvaltaisessa ruokinnassa vaikuttaa lehmien kuiva-aineen syöntiin, maitotuotokseen ja maidon koostumukseen. Koe tehtiin Helsingin yliopiston Viikin tutkimustilalla 31.3.-25.6.2020 syklisenä jaksokokeena, jossa oli kaksi kuuden ayrshirelehmän blokkia ja kuusi koeruokintaa. Lehmät olivat useamman kerran poikineita ja viimeisimmästä poikimisesta oli kulunut kokeen alkaessa keskimäärin 133 päivää. Koejaksoja oli kolme ja jokainen koejakso kesti 17 päivää, joista päivät 14–17 muodostivat näytteiden keruujakson. Koeruokinnat olivat rypsipuriste tai jauhettu herneen siemen ilman merilevää tai merilevillä A. nodosum tai L. digitata täydennettynä. Koeruokinnasta riippuen rypsipuriste (72 g/kg seosrehun ka) tai herneen siemen (109 g/kg seosrehun ka) annettiin isonitrogeenisenä valkuaistäydennyksenä osana seosrehua. Seosrehussa oli lisäksi 2. sadon nurmi-säilörehua (D-arvo 661 g/kg ka) ja ohraa. Merilevät annettiin erikseen yhdessä kivennäisten ja melassileikkeen kanssa. Koeruokintojen karkearehu-väkirehu-suhde oli 65:35 kuiva-aineessa. Koejaksojen välissä oli 18-päiväinen washout-jakso, jolloin lehmät eivät saaneet merilevää. Koeruokintojen välillä ei havaittu eroa kuiva-aineen syönnissä (22,8 kg ka/pv), mutta rypsipuristeen korvaaminen herneen siemenellä paransi tärkkelyksen saantia sekä vähensi raakavalkuaisen, ohutsuolesta imeytyvän valkuaisen ja kokonaisrasvan saantia tilastollisesti merkittävästi. Lisäksi rypsivalkuaisen korvaaminen hernevalkuaisella vähensi suuntaa-antavasti muuntokelpoisen energian saantia. Laskennallinen pötsin valkuaistase oli kaikilla koeruokinnoilla positiivinen (yli 650 g/pv), mutta herneen siementä saaneiden lehmien pötsin valkuaistase oli tilastollisesti merkittävästi pienempi kuin rypsipuristetta saaneiden lehmien. Herneen siemen paransi suuntaa-antavasti raakavalkuaisen näennäistä kokonaissulavuutta rypsipuristeeseen verrattuna. Myös kuiva-aineen kokonaissulavuus parani, kun rypsipuriste korvattiin herneen siemenellä. Sen sijaan tärkkelyksen ja kokonaisrasvan näennäiset kokonaissulavuudet huononivat herneen siemenen korvatessa rypsipuristetta. Herneen siemen vähensi maitotuotosta tilastollisesti merkittävästi (1,5 kg/pv) sekä rasvatuotosta suuntaa-antavasti rypsipuristeeseen verrattuna. Sen sijaan valkuaistuotokseen koeruokinnalla ei ollut vaikutusta, vaikka maidon valkuaispitoisuus oli herneruokinnoilla tilastollisesti merkittävästi suurempi kuin rypsiruokinnoilla. Maidon rasva- ja laktoosipitoisuuksissa ei koeruokintojen välillä havaittu eroa. Energiakorjattua maitotuotosta tarkasteltaessa erot rypsi- ja herneryhmien välillä tasoittuivat hieman, mutta erot olivat edelleen tilastollisesti merkittäviä (31,2 vs. 30,3 kg/pv, vastaavasti). Vaikka tässä tutkimuksessa herneen siementä saaneiden lehmien maitotuotos oli selvästi pienempi kuin rypsipuristetta saaneiden lehmien, eivät tuotoserot ole selitettävissä ainoastaan täydennysvalkuaisen lähteen vaihdolla. Tutkimuksessa käytetty säilörehu oli sulavuudeltaan heikohkoa, mikä on todennäköisesti vaikuttanut negatiivisesti pötsimikrobien energian saantiin ja sitä kautta mikrobivalkuaisen synteesin tehokkuuteen.

The aim of the study was to find out how the thickening of fish oil affects the total digestibility of fat in dog food. The study used solid fat paste compared to liquid salmon oil. Both fat preparations were studied as a supplement to complete dog food. The research hypothesis is that the thickening treatment of oil for dogs does not affect its digestibility. The study was carried out in collaboration with the University of Helsinki and Olini Oy, and the test fats were produced in Olini Oy's own experimental kitchen. The experimental group of the study was 12 volunteer dogs, which were fed with pre-calculated and weighed experimental feed. The dogs lived with their owners at home and were fed experimental feed twice daily. The total duration of the experiment was three weeks. The acclimatization period of the experimental feed lasted for 7 days, after which the dogs were given a paste-like fat supplement. During the first 5-day collection period, faecal samples were collected in plastic bags from the experimental dogs. There was a two-day break between treatments when no faecal samples were collected. In the second collection period, the dogs were fed an oil supplement, and the feces were collected for 5 days. Every dog was performed with both treatments. Dry matter, ash, organic matter, crude protein, crude fat, gross energy and AIA tracer were analyzed from the feed and faecal samples used in the experiment. The apparent digestibility of the fat paste diet was numerically lower for all the nutrients than that of the oil diet. There was a statistically significant difference in the apparent digestibility of crude protein and crude fat. Although the difference was statistically significant, it was not very biologically significant in practice. In practice, the total digestibility of fat paste is almost as good in dog digestion as that of liquid oil. Artificial thickening alters the molecular structure of the oil, which can have effects on the absorption of fatty acids into the bloodstream. A product completely similar to that used in this study, has not previously been prepared for animal feed, so further research would be needed.

The background of the research was a societal need to find a compensatory for peat, which is widely used as a horses’ bedding material in Finland. It is estimated that exploitation possibilities and availability of peat is decreasing in the future. Because of the horses' welfare, it is needed to be researched what kind of bedding material would be as agreeable material for horses as peat is. In this research, the effects of two different bedding materials, reed canary grass pellets and peat, on horses' resting and sleeping behavior were investigated. The research was a part of the UNIHEPO-project, and it was executed in Ylä-Savo Vocational College, in Hingunniemi unit, at Kiuruvesi in November-December in 2022. The study consisted of two 21-day experimental periods. In the first period individual pens were littered by reed canary grass pellets of 15 centimeters. In the second period individual pens were littered by 15 centimeters of peat. Altogether 16 clinically healthy riding horses were involved, and they were kept in the same individual stalls. Horses’ behavior was recorded by videocameras, and their rest and sleep behavior were observed from both periods’ two (2) first and last days between 4 pm and 6 am. The average total duration of horses’ rest and sleep behavior were determined by dividing horses’ total duration of behavior by the number of behavioral periods. The differences between bedding materials were tested by linear repeated measurement to mixed models. The results of the research gave more information about horses’ rest and sleep behavior and how reed canary grass pellets affect horses' rest and sleep behavior compared to peat litter. The results showed that horses' rest behavior was longer on peat. Reed canary grass pellets increased horses’ activity of the neck and decreased the length of laying down periods during the first days of the period. On peat horses’ total duration of sleep was found to be longer and the rest that appeared to be paradoxical sleep was also longer. The horses laid on lateral and sternal recumbency more often and longer on peat periods. Results show that in the future more research is needed to be done into other bedding materials and their effects on horses’ rest and sleep behavior to promote horses’ wellbeing.

Linear scoring of livestock and farm animals has been in use since the 1980’s. In Europe, the first linear evaluations in horse breeding were conducted in 1989. In Finland, the linear evaluation was introduced into breeding evaluation of warmblood horses in 2015. So far, there is only a limited amount of research available about the heritabilities calculated from linear evaluation. Some of the studies have shown that the judge has a statistically significant effect on the linear conformation evaluation of the horse. The heritabilites from these studies have varied within different researches. The highest siginificant heritabilities have been found for conformation traits. For now, only warmblood horses are being evaluated linearly in Finland. The aim of this study was to estimate the heritabilities of the leg and movement traits from show data between 2015 – 2019 and to estimate the genetic correlations between different traits. All in all 26 traits were analyzed in the study. There were 915 horses in the data. Observations were gathered from 29 different shows in Finland. Both geldings, mares and stallions were represented in the data, mares being the largest group of gender. From one singular age group, the two – year- old mares had the greatest amount of observations. Based on the year of birth, horses born in 2015 had the most observations. The year of birth did not, however, have any significance on the results. Both the age and the gender of the horse did have a statistic significance on the results. Also the location of the show and the year of observation had some significance. Heritibilities of leg traits based on this data were extremely low, ranging between 0,00 – 0,11. The heritabilities of type and movement traits ranged between 0,00 and 0,28. Standard errors of heritabilities ranged between 0,09 – 0,14. Genetic correlations between the traits ranged between weak to strong. Standard errors of genetic correlations ranged between 0,04 – 0,13. To get reliable heritability parameters, more data and research is needed about the linear scoring of horses.

Linear classification is used in cattle breeding to estimate animal’s production traits. Classification can be done early for a young animal. Muscularity scores in classification are used to estimate the animal’s slaughter traits. During slaughter, carcasses are scored based on muscularity, fatness and weight. The price of the carcass is based on these scores, so it is important for the farm’s profitability to improve slaughter traits. If conformation scores are used to make breeding decisions to improve slaughter traits, those classification scores need to correlate with the slaughter scores both phenotypically and genetically. Phenotypic scores are important especially when choosing animals for breeding because breeding values are not calculated for conformation traits in Finland. The aim of this study was to estimate phenotypic and genetic correlations between Finnish linear classification scores and slaughter scores in beef cattle. Phenotypic correlations were estimated for Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Limousin and Simmental. Genetic correlations were estimated for Hereford and Charolais. Phenotypically the strongest correlation in every breed was between inner thigh width and slaughter traits (-0.20-0.71). Weakest phenotypic correlation in every breed was between thigh length and slaughter traits (0.01-0.21). Genotypic correlations were similar compared to phenotypic correlations in Hereford and Charolais breeds. In both breeds the correlation between hip height and carcass conformation was negative (-0.11 and -0.20), but the genetic correlations between inner thigh width and muscularity score and carcass information were strong positive (0.48-0.81). Phenotypic correlations estimated simultaneously with genetic correlations were also similar but significantly weaker compared to straight phenotypic estimations. That’s possibly because the data used in straight phenotypic estimations was more narrowed compared to the data used in genetic estimations. Heritabilities were estimated for the traits used in genetic correlation estimations. Those estimated heritabilities were moderate (0.18-0.39) in both Hereford and Charolais breeds which is similar result to earlier studies. Based on this research, linear classification muscularity scores can be used as a reliable indicator trait when choosing animals for breeding to improve slaughter traits, especially carcass conformation.

Lypsylehmillä siirtymä- eli transitiokausi on ajanjakso, joka alkaa kolme viikkoa ennen poikimista ja jatkuu poikimista seuraavat kolme viikkoa. Tuona aikana lehmässä tapahtuu suuria aineenvaihdunnallisia muutoksia, ja jopa 75 % kaikista terveydellisistä ongelmista ilmenee tällä ajanjaksolla. Lihavat lehmät mobilisoivat poikimisen jälkeen kudosvarojaan runsaasti, jolloin ne vähentävät syöntiään ja kärsivät helpommin negatiivisesta energiataseesta normaalikuntoisiin lehmiin verrattuna. Syönnin vähentyessä myös märehtiminen vähenee. Lihavuus lisää riskiä aineenvaihdunnallisille ja tulehduksellisille sairauksille, sillä lihavuus lisää rasvakudoksen tulehdusta välittävien sytokiinien tuotantoa ja heikentää maksan toimintaa. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää edellisen ja meneillään olevan lypsykauden eri aikaväleillä tapahtuneita lehmien elopainon muutoksia ja niiden yhteyttä lehmien aineenvaihdunta- ja hedelmällisyysongelmiin, utareterveyteen ja jalkaterveyteen. Lisäksi tutkittiin lihavuuden yhteyttä märehtimisaikaan. Tutkimuksessa hyödynnettiin Helsingin yliopiston Viikin tutkimustilalla 1.1.2017 – 6.10.2021 kerättyä tietoa. Lehmien poikimapäivät, poistot ja muut tarvittavat eläintiedot saatiin Minun Maatilani -ohjelmistosta, märehtimistiedot (min/pv) lypsyrobotin järjestelmästä, maitonäyteanalyysit Valion Valma-palvelusta ja terveystiedot Nautaeläinten terveydenhuoltojärjestelmä Nasevasta sekä navettapäiväkirjoista. Tutkimusaineistoon sisällytettiin kyseisenä ajanjaksona vähintään kaksi kautta lypsäneet lehmät, jotta oli mahdollista analysoida loppulypsykaudella tapahtuvan lihomisen yhteyttä seuraavan lypsykauden alun terveyteen. Yhteensä tutkimuksessa oli mukana 166 ayrshire-lehmää. Pihatossa olleet lehmät punnittiin jokaisen lypsykerran alussa lypsyrobotin vaa’alla. Elopainon muutokset laskettiin seuraavilta aikaväleiltä: 7–49, 7–91, 49–287, 49–217, 91–287, 91–217, 7–287 ja 7–217 päivää poikimisesta. Lehmien paino pieneni alkulaktaation aikana ja suureni keskilaktaatiosta loppulaktaatioon. Edellisellä lypsykaudella keskimääräistä enemmän lihoneet lehmät märehtivät seuraavalla lypsykaudella vähemmän. Edellisellä lypsykaudella tapahtunut lihominen ei lisännyt seuraavan lypsykauden terveysongelmia, vaan keskimääräistä suurempi lihominen oli yhteydessä jopa vähäisempiin terveysongelmiin. Lehmät, jotka laihtuivat alkulypsykaudesta, kärsivät saman lypsykauden aikana aineenvaihdunnallisista häiriöistä ja heikommasta utareterveydestä. Lypsykauden loppupuolella enemmän lihoneilla lehmillä oli puolestaan saman lypsykauden aikana vähemmän terveysongelmia. Näin ollen edellisellä loppulypsykaudella tapahtuvaa kohtuutonta lihomista ja siitä aiheutuvaa alkulypsykauden laihtumista tulisi välttää, mutta kohtuullinen lihominen ei lisää terveysongelmia, vaan saattaa jopa olla seurausta paremmasta terveydentilasta.

It is necessary actively seek effective ways to reduce agricultural emissions so that the proportion of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in total national emissions does not increase. The aim of this study was to evaluate with carbon footprint calculators different options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions of dairy production and the carbon footprint of energy-corrected milk. The scenarios included the changes in the dietary concentrate proportion, the proportion of grass in cultivation, the digestibility of roughage and the level of milk production. In addition, the effect of temperature on methane emissions from manure was examined. Data of a dairy farm located in Central Ostrobothnia from year 2020 were utilized in the study. The assessment was carried out by using the carbon footprint calculator developed by the European Commission and the Valio Carbo® environmental calculator. According to the results of both calculators, the effect of the changes in the concentrate proportion in the diet on the carbon footprint of milk was very small. Reducing the proportion of concentrate in the diet reduced total emissions. Reducing the proportion of rapeseed meal in feeding reduced total emissions more than reducing the proportion of barley. Increasing the proportion of grass in cultivation reduced the carbon footprint of milk and the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions with both calculators. According to the European Commission carbon calculator, increasing grass yield and also increasing the proportion of grain in cultivation reduced the carbon footprint of milk and the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions. With Valio Carbo® environmental calculator, increasing the proportion of grain in cultivation increased the carbon footprint of milk and the total emissions. According to European Commission calculator, the total emissions and the carbon footprint of milk decreased when the digestibility of roughage decreased. The increase of milk production level also clearly reduced the carbon footprint of milk with both calculators. However, the change in the milk production level had only a small effect on the amount of emissions produced. Reducing the conversion factor describing the effect of temperature on methane formation from slurry reduced the carbon footprint of milk. The decrease in the conversion factor reduced the emissions from the manure system by 51.3 percentage and reduced the milk carbon footprint from 1.21 to 1.15 kg CO2e/kg ECM. In conclusion, there are many feasible opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint. The most effective ways to reduce total emissions at farm level are to increase the proportion of grass in cultivation and to increase the yield of grass. Raising the milk production level effectively reduces the carbon footprint, but in the future the calculations must take into account that the dry matter intake is higher as the milk yield increases. The main differences between the calculators are currently in the coefficients they use. When comparing the results given by the calculators, it is important to note that the calculation principles cannot fully take into account the possible opposite effects of different factors. The results should be looked critically with a caution that the results given by different calculators are not directly comparable.

Maissi on yksivuotinen heinäkasvi, jonka viljely Suomessa on lisääntynyt merkittävästi ja viljelyala on ollut viime vuosina yli tuhat hehtaaria. Suomessa viljeltävä maissi korjataan tuleentumattomana nautakarjan karkearehuksi. Maissisäilörehu sisältää paljon tärkkelystä ja on siksi erittäin energiapitoinen karkearehu. Maissin viljelyvarmuuden lisääntyessä se saattaisi olla hyvä karkearehuvaihtoehto nurmen rinnalle riskien hajauttamista ajatellen. Maissin etuna viljelykasvina on sen tehokas vedenkäyttökyky sekä yhdellä korjuukerralla saatava suuri sato. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää maissisäilörehun vaikutuksia lypsylehmien maidontuotantoon, dieetin sulavuuteen ja typen hyväksikäyttöön, kun nurmisäilörehua korvataan osittain maissisäilörehulla. Tutkimus toteutettiin kolmena 3 x 3 latinalaisena neliönä, joissa oli mukana 9 ayrshire-rotuista lehmää. Lehmät olivat parsissa ja ne lypsettiin kaksi kertaa päivässä. Kokeen lehmät olivat poikineet 2 – 4 kertaa ja kokeen alkaessa niiden poikimisesta oli keskimäärin 69 ± 17,4 (SD) päivää. Tutkimuksessa oli kolme erilaista koeruokintaa, joiden karkearehuvaihtoehdot olivat puhdas nurmisäilörehu (kuiva-aine 316 g/kg, D-arvo 652 g/kg ka) sekä seokset, joissa 25 % tai 50 % nurmisäilörehun kuiva-aineesta korvattiin maissisäilörehulla (kuiva-aine 359 g/kg, D-arvo 679 g/kg ka). Karkearehuseoksia täydennettiin väkirehun tilaseoksella (ohra, kaura, härkäpapu, herne, melassileike, kivennäinen, propyleeniglykoli). Seosrehujen karkearehu-väkirehu -suhde oli 65:35 kuiva-aineessa. Lehmille oli tarjolla vapaasti seosrehua ja vettä. Lisäksi lehmät saivat täysrehua 7 kg/pv. Nurmisäilörehun korvaaminen maissisäilörehulla nosti lineaarisesti lehmien kuiva-ainesyöntiä (24,3 vs. 25,3 vs. 26,0 kg ka/pv) ja maitotuotosta (32,8 vs. 33,3 vs. 34,0 kg/pv). Maidon rasvapitoisuus nousi 5,6 %, kun nurmisäilörehun kuiva-aineesta korvattiin 50 % maissisäilörehulla. Valkuaispitoisuuteen maissisäilörehulla ei ollut vaikutusta. Paras energiakorjattu maitotuotos (33,2 kg vs. 33,6 kg vs. 35,3 kg) saavutettiin, kun karkearehun kuiva-aineesta 50 % oli maissisäilörehua. Maissisäilörehun osuuden lisääntyessä ruokinnassa ravintoaineiden sulavuus heikkeni ja typen hyväksikäyttö (N tuotos/ N saanti) parani (0,286 vs. 0,291 vs. 0,306). Tutkimuksen perusteella nurmisäilörehun osittainen korvaaminen maissisäilörehulla nostaa lehmien maitotuotosta ja maidon rasvapitoisuutta. Myös typen hyväksikäyttö paranee maissisäilörehun osuuden noustessa. Tämän tutkimuksen perusteella jopa puolet nurmisäilörehusta kannattaa korvata maissisäilörehulla.

The importance of equine welfare has become more important in the last years. There is a need for welfare parameters, which help to define and measure the welfare of domestic horses. The importance of sleep on health and wellbeing is well-known in humans but has not yet been extensively studied in horses. It is known that horses sleep either non-REM-sleep or REM-sleep. Also, horses are able to partially sleep in a standing position. For REM-sleep they need to have muscle atony and lie down. Horses are easily disturbed while sleeping and many factors affect how much and how long horses spend sleeping. Horses are also able to postpone their REM-sleep for extensive periods of time, which directly effects their health and welfare. The aim of our study was to measure and analyze how the softness of the bedding in the lying areas affect the sleeping and resting behavior of horses. This thesis was part of the UNIHEPO initiative, which consisted of multiple studies around equine sleep. For our study we conducted a cross over study with sixteen (16) clinically healthy horses in the equine school Ylä-Savon ammattiopisto during fall 2022. The study included three treatments: the normal amount of bedding as the baseline, then thin (5 cm) bedding and thick (15 cm) of bedding. We recorded three periods: the baseline, and then two consecutive periods with half of the stalls having thick bedding and the other half thin. The duration of each treatment period was 21 days, respectively. We switched the treatments after the first period so that that each horse had both treatments. We recorded and analyzed the first two (2) and last two (2) nights of each period. The results were reported as seconds calculated from the median of the daily mean values. Only the data from the two treatments was analyzed for this thesis. The horses exhibited more resting behaviors and supported their necks longer in a sleeping position, when the bedding was thicker (p=0,002). There was no statistically significant difference between the treatments when lateral recumbency bout amounts or lying durations were analyzed, but the lying duration was longer. With thicker bedding the horses had a higher number of sternal recumbency bouts (p=0,013) and the bout duration was longer (p=0,001). Also, the total duration spent in sternal recumbency was higher on thicker bedding (p=0,002). Surprisingly we noticed rolling behavior after lying bouts almost solely on thicker bedding (p=0,004). There were also some tendencies for correlation between the height of the horses, lying bouts and bedding thickness. Our research provided us with valuable information on the factors affecting the sleeping and resting behavior of horses. At the same time the need for further research was highlighted. Still, our results reinforce the scientific knowledge, which is crucial in developing and promoting equine welfare.