Nested feeding net

Abstract

A feeding net 1 for animals, the net comprising a plurality of mesh bags 2,3,4 mounted inside one another. Each bag has an open end 2a, 3a, 4a, the open ends of each bag arranged concentrically and at

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a feeding net for animals, particularly a feeding net comprising a plurality of nested mesh bags. Background to the Invention Traditional feeding nets are commonly used to feed animals such as farm animals and horses. The apertures in the mesh that makes up the nets allow the feed placed within the net to pass as the animal pulls on the feed through the net, while also holding the feed sufficiently to provide a convenient way to move the feed around the feeding area and carry feed to remote sites. One of the issues with existing nets is that there is no standardisation or control of the mesh size making up the bags. The mesh size is known in the industry as the width of one of the strands that makes up the mesh plus the distance to the next strand. That is to say if the net was made of a twine material 5mm thick and the holes in the net were 35mm wide, then the mesh size would be 40 mm. As a result, given that the feed placed within the bags can vary in its dimensions and size and weight and texture, then the rate that the feed is extracted from the bag is not controlled to any degree. This problem gets worse when the animal chews the mesh, creating holes in the mesh, resulting in the food falling out onto the ground rapidly and the animal having uncontrolled feeding. There has now been devised a feeding net for animals which overcomes and / or substantially mitigates the above referenced and / or disadvantages associated with the prior art. Summary of the Invention In an aspect of the invention there is provided a feeding net for animals, the net comprising a plurality of mesh bags mounted inside one another in a nested arrangement of an outer bag and at least one inner bag, each bag having an open end, wherein the open ends of each bag are arranged concentrically and attached to one another by a draw string. The net according to the invention is advantageous primarily because the nested arrangement acts like a filter to control the release of feed from the net when the animal pulls at it or knocks the bag. This is because the mesh bags overlay one another unequally and the effective aperture width of the net (i.e. the width of the apertures through which the food is passed) is reduced. As a result, the animal has to mobilise the fabric layers and agitate enough movement to release the feed. The person feeding the animal can then control the feeding rate by adding or removing inner bags. For example, if the animal is fat and they want to restrict their diet the use can add more inner bags. And at the start of this process to get the animal used to the bags the user might want to use just one inner bag so that the food is relatively easy for the animal to pull at it. They have also surprisingly found that due to the environmental enrichment presented by the challenge of getting the food out of the net and then eating food off the floor, the animals are in considerably better health mentally and physically, than with conventional nets. So with the inner bags acting like a mesh filter the outer bag acts to protect the inner bags from damage. The mesh bags may be made from any flexible material. Suitable examples include but are not limited to polyethylene, cotton, hemp or polyamide. Preferably though, the mesh bags are manufactured from polypropylene. This helps the animal to release the feed because polypropylene is a slippery, soft and pliable fabric. And surprisingly, even though polypropylene has these properties, the animals damage the mesh material significantly less than any other material. Preferably, the pliability of the at least one inner bag is greater than that of the outer bag. A result of this is that it provides a challenge to the animal to agitate the bag. This slows the feeding rate and increases the environmental enrichment further. The difference in pliability may be achieved by using differing manufacturing techniques for the material of the inner bag versus the outer bag. For example braiding or winding, or knitting. And then within each of those techniques there may be different numbers of plies or construction techniques used in the outer bag compared to the inner bag. For example, the outer bag may be a braided material having 10 plies, whilst the inner bag may have braided material having 5 plies. Or how the meshwork is formed of the outer bag may be different to that of the inner bag. Preferably the mesh size of the outer bag is greater than the mesh size of any of the inner bags. Thus not only can the user control the feeding rate of the animal based on the food or the habituation of the animal to the net as described above, but the inventors have surprisingly found a net where the mesh size the outer bag is greater than the mesh size of any of the inner bags the feed rate of the animal is actually commensurate with natural grazing rate. This feature also means that with certain types of food, such as chopped strand food, there is even less likelihood of the food simply dropping out of the net. More preferably, the outer bag has a mesh size of approximately 25mm and the inner bag has a mesh size of approximately 20mm. The inventors have surprisingly found that this prevents the animal in use from pulling the inner bag through the holes in the mesh of the outer bag. The material of the mesh for each bag may be of similar thickness, but preferably, the material of the mesh of the outer bag is greater in thickness than that the material of the mesh of any of the inner bags. This has the effect of increasing the pliability of the inner bags over the outer bag. This also helps with the aim of the outer bag which is to protect the inner bags from damage. Each bag is attached to one other by the draw strong at the open end of each bag. Each bag may be connected in other places to the bag, but preferably, the inner bags are able to move independently of the outer bag. This allows the inner bags to move independently of one another and of the outer bag and thus provides the net with a baseline functionality in releasing feed without the animal losing all interest. Whilst having the bags connected to each other at other places apart from the open end where the draw string is, still allows the feed to be released, because there are still apertures present thought the net, it drastically risks the animal having to fight too much to extract the food and therefore not eating at all. Whilst the net is described as comprising a plurality of mesh bags mounted inside one another in a nested arrangement, it is possible for the bottoms (i.e. the parts opposition the open ends) of each of the inner bags not to contact one another or the outer bag. Thus the term “nested” is used to describe amongst other things that one bag fits inside the other. The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings in which like numerals represent like parts. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the feeding net; Figure 2 shows the bags making up the net of figure 1 and Figure 3 shows the net in use for feeding a horse. Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment In figure 1 there is shown an embodiment of the feeding net generally designated 1. The net 1 in this example is made up of three mesh bags 2, 3 and 4. Bag 2 is an outer bag and contains bags 3 and 4. Bags 3 and 4 are inner bags, both being held within the outer bag 2. Bag 3 is disposed between bag 2 and bag 4. Bag 4 is the very most inner bag. Each mesh bag 2, 3, and 4 is made of polypropylene and has an open end 2a, 3a, 4a, as shown more clearly in Figure 2. In this example the outer bag 2 measures 50cm wide at the open end x 60cm long. Bag 3 measures 46cm wide at the open end x 50cm long. Bag 4 measures 45 cm wide at the open end and 46 cm long. Bag 4 is placed inside bag 3 and then bag 3 is placed inside bag 2 with the open ends 2a, 3a, 4a all aligning concentrically. Therefore in this example there is a gap between the bottom of bag 2 and bag 3, and the bottom of bag 3 and bag 4. However, in other examples the net is substantially as described, but the bag sizes may vary. Thus there may be no gap between the bottom of bags 2 and 3 or bags 3 and 4. Each bag 2, 3, 4 is held in place by a draw string 5 which is woven between the mesh strands of each bag 2, 3 and 4 at the open ends 2a, 3a and 4a. The draw string is made of polypropylene or polyamide and knotted to secure it in place. Other materials for the draw sting are also considered suitable such as polyethylene or cotton for example. Pulling on the draw string causes the open ends 2a, 3a, 4a of each bag to close upon one another and therefore closing the bags 2, 3 and 4. As mentioned above each bag 2, 3 and 4 is made of polypropylene mesh. The strands of the mesh are woven into one another in a braided arrangement to provide a continuous strand mesh. The outer bag 2 has a mesh size of 25mm and the strands of the mesh for the outer bag are 5mm wide. The braid is a 16 ply braid. Both inner bags 3 and 4 have a mesh size of 20mm and the strands of the mesh for the inner bags 3 and 4 are 3mm wide. The braids of the inner bags 3 and 4 are 2 ply braid. An enlarged view of the mesh is shown in figure 1. In use the bags 2, 3 and 4 of the net 1 are assembled together as described above with the draw string 5 securing the open ends 2a, 3a, 4a together. In this example the net 1 is used to feed a horse 10 as shown in figure 3 in a stable. To do this the draw string 5 is loosened, and the innermost bag 4 is filled with chopped strand feed 6. Chopped strand feed 6 has a length of approximately 20mm and if a conventional feeding net was used then all the food would fall onto the floor of the stable immediately. The draw string 5 is pulled tight and used to string the net 1 up onto a hook or the like in order for the horse 10 to pick at the feed 6 and eat it. The arrangement of the three bags 2, 3 and 4 provides a filter to the food 6 as the mesh work of each back overlays its neighbour, thus reducing the effective aperture size of the mesh. This reduces the movement of the food 6 out of the bag when the animal pulls on it. As the horse has to mobilise the three bags 2, 3 and 4 with respect to one another in order to get access to the food, this makes it harder for the horse 10 to eat the food 6. This challenge has the effect of being able to control the eating rate and intake of the horse 10. As the horse finds it a challenge to get hold of the food 6 and eat it, some of it falls onto the floor of the stable as shown in Figure 3. The horse then eats it off the floor. However this further adds to the environmental enrichment provided by the net 1 as it promotes a more natural eating posture for the horse. If the owner requires they can start by removing the inner most bag 4 before filling it with food, and then use only the outer bag 2 and bag 3, with bag 3 being filled with food 6. In this way the filtering effect of the bags is reduced and it is easier for the horse to eat the food. This may be beneficial when teaching the horse to use the bag. If the owner needs to increase the filtering effect of the net 1 and therefore further reduce the intake then they can add further bags on the inside before filling the innermost bag. Thus the net may be made up of 4, 5, 6 or more bags. The outer bag 2 being made of a thicker braided mesh serves to protect the inner bags 3 and 4 from damage. Having said that, surprisingly the inventors have found that using polypropylene significantly reduces damage to the mesh work. Also the use of polypropylene has been found to provide a somewhat slippery surface for the feed 6 to pass by and allow the feed 6 to move through the net surprisingly well. With other materials the mobility of the bags with respect to one other is reduced and the feed is hindered in trying to move through the mesh. The different braids and mesh size of the outer bag 2 compared to the inner bags 3 and 4 also means that the pliability of the inner bags 3 and 4 is greater than that of the outer bags. This enables the inner bags 3 and 4 to be agitated sufficiently by the horse, which is required to release the food. The net 1 may also be used to feed other animals such as sheep or cows for example. In so doing the feed 6 used within the net 1 may be other types of feed such as hay, haylage, straw, other forage or manufactured food. Experimental Data Preliminary findings from an early-staqe pilot study into the impact of a novel short chop forage presentation on consumption time. Introduction Increasingly, slow feeders are being implemented within day-to-day horse husbandry to facilitate provision of a set amount of forage while also extending consumption time. Where appropriate long forage cannot be acquired or where poor dentition necessitates, short chop chaff options are often utilised. A significant limitation for the use of shorter chop forage in practice is that chew time is often significantly reduced. Reduced chew time can be associated with lower welfare and health outcomes for the horse. The novel presentation in question aims to extend chew time and encourage natural foraging behaviour without causing excessive frustration. The pilot study aims to establish a basis for this use while also establishing suitable methodologies for future research. Method This study aims to provide information as to how the novel feeding net of the invention performs for the intended use, comment on best practice and compare to provision from a standard bucket (current default practice). The sample population for initial findings presented from this trial were an individual pony and horse. Prior to commencement of the trial both horses were habituated to the novel feeder net for 21 days as directed by the manufacturer (2 days on the easier configuration (without the inner net) and then 3 days with both nets (as per manufacturer instructions)). Baseline consumption time for 250g of the chaff had also been recorded. Prior to habituation horses were accustomed to chaff in their diet and being fed from the control (bucket) presentation. Horses had regular anthelmintic treatment and dental evaluations within the three months prior to the trial commencing. Management for horses remained consistent throughout the trial. The novel feeder was presented on 10 feeding occasions for each animal during the trial. Consumption time was measured for each feeding occasion. Measurement started when the feeder was placed in the stable and deemed finished when the feeder was either empty or the horse had moved away from the feeder for more than 2 minutes (the timer was stopped during these periods of inactivity). Results The results are shown in Figure 4. Overall consumption time increased on average by a factor of 3.5. For example, horse 1 average consumption time from a bucket (control) was 5 minutes 49 seconds compared to the novel feeder with an average consumption time of 22 minutes and 23 seconds. Figure 4: Feeding results of total consumption time control vs novel feeder. Conclusions Based on these early findings, surprisingly, the novel feeder extends consumption time significantly beyond what we would typically see when feeding chaff from a bucket. As might be expected with the additional challenge posed by the novel feeder, early data indicates less consistency with consumption time when compared to feeding chaff from a bucket. This may be linked to several factors such as ongoing habituation or simply a matter of less consistent interaction and engagement due to the longer consumption time. ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF TRICKLE NET®’S SHAKE &GRAZE CHAFF NET FOR STABLED HORSES. Background The horse has a digestive and feeding strategy that is designed to exploit grasses and browse of seasonal nutritional quality. Naturally they would be found on mixed species grassland where classically they graze and move in what has been described as a patch feeding strategy. This natural feeding behaviour contrasts markedly to the typical feeding environment of the stabled or intensively managed horse where meals are provided as discreet entities through bucket feeds or hays nets and ingestion rates are typically not able to be sustained throughout a 24 hour period. There are many feeding methods to increase eating duration thus aiming to mimic natural foraging behaviours (Rochais, Henry, and Hausberger, 2018; Glunk et al. 2014). However, current methods are mainly focused on reducing the rate of eating long stem forage, such as small-holed hay nets (Glunk et al. 2014), hay bags and slow feeders (Rochais, Henry, and Hausberger, 2018). The aim of the feeding net according to the invention (otherwise known herein as the Shake &Graze Chaff net) is to extend the duration of time that chaff is consumed. The net is designed to be shook with the chaff being consumed from the floor, the natural grazing position thus mimicking natural grazing behaviour and allowing natural respiratory drainage. The main aim of the current study was to assess the effect of the feeding net according to the invention (Shake &Graze Chaff Net) on feeding and maintenance behaviour, voluntary intake, heart rate and heart rate variability. Methods Ethics The yard manager selected all subjects based on suitability to take part in the study and had the ability to remove subjects at any point of the study based on their health and wellbeing. The ethics committee at the school of Animal, Rural and Environmental Science at Nottingham Trent University approved the study at Level 1. Level 1 ethical approval was granted as the project explores a common and approved husbandry technique and was not expected to result in any alterations to the horse’s usual management or induce stress. Horses and Housing A sample of 8 mixed-breed horses (6 geldings and 2 mares) from Nottingham Trent University Equestrian Centre, were studied. Subjects were aged between 3 and 19 years (mean + SD = 13 + 5 years) and weighed between 482kg and 768kg (mean + SD = 607.5kg ± 85.67). Horse height varied but was between 14.2hh and 17hh. Normal management practices were adhered to as the subjects were stabled individually during the day and then turned out socially overnight for approximately 16 hours. Per term time routine, the subjects were exercised for approximately one hour each weekday. Nutritional requirements were met; two hay nets were provided daily, ensuring amount given was based on bodyweight (kg) and one concentrate feed in the morning aligned with the individual’s needs, consisting of Ossi Chaff (Ossi, Newark, England) and Top Spec Balancer (TopSpec®, Thirsk, England), either comprehensive or lite. Fresh water was always accessible. Pilot of the method An initial series of pilot studies indicated that not all horses used the nets. To encourage use the inner layers of the net were removed with only the outer layer remaining. Habituation Prior to the commencement of the study, habituation of the subjects to the Shake &Graze Chaff Net was required to ensure the subjects would interact with the nets and thus suitable to partake in the study. This was done via providing all 8 subjects with the net, containing 300g of the horse’s usual Chaff (Ossi Chaff), for 30 minutes on 4 separate occasions until all subjects were interacting with the nets. Treatments and study design Subjects were divided into two groups and each group received an alternate treatment, each day of the study (Table 1). The treatments were presented to the horses each day in a randomised order. Research was conducted on 2 consecutive days in a week; this was repeated across four weeks. Horses 1- 4 were used in the first and third week whereas horses 5-8 were used in the second and fourth; all subjects were studied for 4 days total. Both treatments were provided for 30 minutes. Treatment one was 600g of Ossi Chaff (Ossi, Newark, England) in the Shake &Graze Chaff Net (SGCN) (Trickle Net, 2023) with one layer (blue layer). Treatment two was 300g of Ossi Chaff (Ossi, Newark, England) provided in the horse’s usual bucket (B). The buckets were large, shallow, blue bucket. The amount of chaff in the bucket was kept at 300g which approximates the normal amount fed to the horses within a bucket feed. Feed presented in a bucket can be consumed rapidly and this may have impacted horse health if we had doubled the amount fed to 600g. Whereas presentation of 600g in the SGCN was considered less of a risk as the nets are designed to deliver chaff gradually therefore rapid consumption could not be achieved. Table 1. Treatments across the 4 weeks, Shake and Graze Chaff Net (SGCN) and Bucket (B) ..... .. ..mi...... MWO..... ............MG............. ■OW J bsy ? w • Day 1 bay 2 Day 1 § bay k 1 SGCN a - SGCN ( § 2 SGCN s SGCN | B 3 B SGCN S s SGCN - - 4 a SGCN - V. a SGCN 5 •V a SGCN V 5 B SGCN § •>. B SGCN a SGCN •-> SGCN B -> 5 v- SGCN 8 § -■ * SGCN B 5 - SGCN B Voluntary intake Amount of chaff fed (g) was weighed using digital scales and the amount uneaten including floor sweepings was subtracted from the original amount. Behaviour Horses were filmed using overhead camera’s fitted to each stable. Behaviour was analysed from the recorded footage with continuous behaviour sampling for each treatment across the full 30 minutes using an ethogram of pre-listed behaviours. Eating duration (s) was defined as the total time interacting and eating from each treatment. When interacting with the SGCN the duration of time foraging from the floor was also included in the category eating duration. Heart rate Heart rate (HR) (bpm) and heart rate variability SDNN (HRV) (ms) data was recorded using the Polar V800 Heart Rate Monitor (Polar ®, Kempele, Finland). Data was synced from the heart rate watch to Polar FlowSync (Polar ®, Kempele, Finland) via USB connection from the watch to an iMac (Apple Inc. ©, Cupertino, California, United States). Data was then exported as a .txt file, from the Polar Flow website (Polar ®, Kempele, Finland), and loaded into Kubios (Ku-bios©, Kuopio, Finland). Anomalies were removed by altering ‘Artefact Correction’ to remove any points that were more than 30% different to the point either side, within Kubios (Kubios©, Kuopio, Finland). HR and HRV Data was viewed for 10 minutes before the subject received the treatment, to act as the control, and then 30 minutes during treatment presentation. The average HR (bpm) and HRV SDNN (ms) within these time frames were recorded into a Microsoft Excel 2015 Spreadsheet (Microsoft 365, Redmond, Washington, United States). Statistical Analysis All statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software (IBM® SPSS® Statistics v29, SPSS Inc Chicago, Illinois, United States). The residuals were tested for normality using the Shapiro-Wilks test, normally distributed data was analysed with a paired t-tests and when the normal distribution was not met a Wilcoxon tests was used to determine differences between the bucket and the Shake &Graze Chaff Net. Results and Discussion One horse (horse 8) was removed from the analysis due to very little consumption and interaction with the bucket and net (ingestion between 0-13g and interaction between 6-37s). Voluntary Intake The chaff provided in the bucket was consumed in entirety in the majority of cases, although 1 horse on 1 occasion did not eat the full amount. The median amount ingested for the bucket feed was 300g minimum 218g and maximum 300g. A ceiling limit was added to the bucket to prevent over ingestion of chaff in a short period of time thus meeting the ethical requirements of the project. For the SGCN the median amount ingested was 476g. However, voluntary intake did range between a minimum of 40g and maximum of 577g suggesting differences between horses with their motivation to interact with the net. The study took place mid-morning a few hours post the horse’s normal morning forage thus for some horses the motivation to eat after a recent feeding bout may be reduced. Future work could look at the provision of the net at different times throughout the day. Horses were provided with the SGCN on two occasions one week apart for 30 minutes. Data was not collected for horse 6 for the second presentation due to an issue, thus this horse was removed from the analysis. The voluntary intake of chaff significantly increased by the second presentation suggesting that horses learnt to become more efficient and effective with the nets (Z=-2.207 n = 6, p = 0.027) (Table 2). Table 2. Voluntary intake of chaff (g) from the SGCN by 6 horses over 30 minutes and on two occasions presented 1 week apart. Presentatics 1 PressststieR 2 Median (g| 373 543.5 40 $4 5G6 577 Given that the horses in this study had already been exposed to 4 habituation sessions with the net and differences in the amount ingested by the horses future research may want to focus on the adaptation period to the nets or how ingestion rate changes over time. Eating duration Eating duration consisted of the time the horse spent interacting with the feeding device and ingesting the chaff. For the bucket this was simply time eating from the bucket and from the SGCN we combined time eating from the net with the time eating chaff from the floor. For the bucket feeds horses ingested the chaff in a median time of 426.5s (median of all occasions combined). This equates to 7 minutes. This stayed consistent between the two presentations with no significant difference between presentation 1 and 2 (Z= -0.507 n = 7, p = 0.612) (Table 3). Table 3. Eating duration of chaff (s) from the bucket by 7 horses over 30 minutes on two occasions 1 week apart. Fresentadan 1 Freaentada-rs 2 Median (si 42$ 428 Minimum (s) 340 310 Maximum (sj 526 797 (median of all occasions combined). This equates to 20 minutes. Similar to the bucket this also stayed consistent between the two presentations with no significant difference between presentation 1 and 2 (Z= -0.338 n = 7, p = 0.735). The time spent interacting with the SGCN differed between the horses with one horse foraging for almost 30 minutes across both presentations (Table 4). Table 4. Eating duration of chaff (s) from the SGCN by 7 horses over 30 minutes on two occasions 1 week apart Presentatw 1 Presentation 2 Median (sj 1173 1205 Minimum fs J W Maximum (5) 177$ 1755 Surprisingly, despite ingesting more from the SGCN in the second presentation the eating duration did not change between the two presentations. Suggesting that the net is useful for encouraging the expression of feeding behaviour. Heart rate There was no significant difference (p<0.05)for average heart rate and heart rate variability during the 10 minute control or the 30 minute treatment period when the 7 horses received the SGCN and the bucket. Suggesting that the SGCN did not cause arousal during the feeding period. However, utilising average heart rate may mask any subtle differences and this should be followed up with further study. Conclusion This study with 7 horses indicates that horses are motivated to ingest their usual chaff from the SGCN with one layer. Despite a habituation period horses were still adapting to the use of the net during the study as they increased their chaff intake on the nets second presentation. Feeding behaviour stayed consistent across the study suggesting that the nets are successful at encouraging this normal behaviour pattern. Differences in voluntary intake and feeding duration were evident between the horses suggesting that some horses may need more time to habituate to the SGCN. Average heart rate and heart rate variability did not differ when feeding from their usual bucket or the SGCN suggesting the nets did not increase arousal in these horses. Review and Report from Jennifer Little BSc (Hons) MSc RNutr PqCert of the feeding net according to the invention (otherwise known herein as the Shake &Graze Chaff net) Independent Equine Nutritionist As an independent registered equine nutritionist, I am asked to consult and provide dietary advice for a range of horses, from retired ponies to international competitors. Although, it is probably more accurate to describe my role as that of an equine dietician rather than an equine nutritionist. Designing an individual’s ration is as much about quantities and how that is fed, as it is about which brands or feeds are chosen. I also must consider any constraints and difficulties so to produce advice suitable for real world situations. For example, a horse kept on full livery an hours travel from the owner will present with different dietary management challenges than that of a retired pony kept at home. I am always on the lookout for new tools in my armoury. Especially those that can support owners and help to ensure their horses welfare. So, it’s not surprising that I leapt at the chance to test out a prototype of the new ‘Shake &Graze Chaff Net’ from Trickle Net. Shake &Graze Chaff Net - from Trickle Net This revolutionary net is unlike any other in the Trickle Net family, or indeed any net on the market. Existing types of nets are designed for hay, haylage and even straw to be pulled through the holes with varying easy and consumption rates. Whereas, the Shake &Graze Chaff Net has been designed for use specifically with chaffs. As the name implies, rather than pulling the fibre through the holes, with the Shake &Graze the horse agitates, shakes, or nuzzles it to release the chaff onto the floor. (Or into a manger or trough.) The ease and rate at which the chaff falls to the floor can be altered by adding or removing layers, ensuring that it is a versatile tool. The highest level of challenge coming from the outer net with both filter nets attached. A moderate challenge with the outer net and a single filter net. Or as an extra bonus, removing both filter nets provides an excellent Trickle Net Softee slow feeder for hay, haylage or straw. The first step in my process of testing any new devise or tool is with my own horse. An oversized maxi-cob named Kevin, who is the embodiment of a good-doer. His diet, weight and management require constant monitoring and adjustments. A battle that will be all too familiar for many horse or pony owners. The Good-Doer Challenge Over half the horses and ponies in the UK are over-weight or obese. Putting these horses at increased risk of injury and potentially fatal diseases such as Insulin Dysfunction and Laminitis [1 ;2;3]. Despite significant work by the veterinary sector, research facilities, the British Horse Society, World Horse Welfare and the Animal Health Trust, the prevalence of equine obesity remains unacceptably high. To the extent that equine obesity is recognised as one of the most serious welfare concerns in the UK [2], One explanation for the persistence of this significant welfare issue is that many owners find implementing weight management practises difficult. Driven by the fact that owners frequently perceive weight loss strategies to have an immediate negative impact on the horse. Therefore, they perceive that the act of ‘dieting’ a horse interferes with the horsehuman relationship [2]. This is a concept echoed in my day-to-day practise, particularly regarding forage provisions. There is frequently an un-proportionate fear regarding a horse running out of forage for even short, controlled periods of time. To the extent that the phrase ‘trickle feeders’ can be warped into an ‘all you can eat bottom less supply of forage’ management style. For meaningful changes in owners’ behaviour to occur, their perceptions and beliefs need to be considered equally with those of the nutritional requirements of the horse. The NRC guidelines for weight loss in horses and ponies states a fibre provision of 1.5% body weight (Dry matter) per day. Restricting the amount of forage to this level is often problematic for horses grazed 24 x 7, and as such they are likely to require some stabling. Once stabled careful consideration is required to prevent extended periods of time without any provisions throughout the day. As this would increase the risk of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) and increase the probability of owner compliance failure. One tactic for reducing the total energy (calories) provided by this allowance is to replace a proportion of the hay or haylage with lower calorie dense alternatives, such as straw. However, many yards struggle to source and store a consistent supply of straw, and a significant proportion of horse will refuse to eat straight straw. Fortunately, there are multiple straw based, calorie controlled, bagged chaff alternatives on the market. These are nutritionally suitable, with improved palatability and they provide a means of controlling exact nutritional intake. Energy and nutrients are clearly stated, and many are suitable for completely replacing other forage sources and hard feeds, allowing for precision in ration calculations. Unfortunately, when fed from a bucket, these chaffs can be consumed rapidly. Leaving the horse stood for too long without forage, and owners worrying about the negative implications. Up until now I have not had a suitable tool in my armoury to combat this challenge. However, Trickle Net have found the answer. Where and why I would recommend Trickle Nets ‘Shake &Graze Chaff Net’ The Shake &Graze Chaff Net affords the accuracy of nutrition, the control of how rapidly that allowance is consumed, and it can address possible owner concerns and anxiety. Horses I envisage recommending this product for include those; Requiring weight loss Prone to weight gain s Presenting with, or prone to laminitis History of EGUS History of eating hay / haylage / straw to quickly Those on restricted grazing and Owners of horses with concerns regarding periods of time without forage This net allows horses the ability to graze for longer periods of time, while controlling their intake. The versatility and durability were thoroughly tested during my time with the prototype, surviving my Maxi-cob, four mini Shetlands, a hungry traditional, a laminitic on box rest, and my washing machine between each. Some of the horses and ponies worked out the net instantly, while others took a few days to master the concept. For those that took slightly longer, like Kevin, initially removing an inner layer reduces the challenge and helps them along. Research - Watch this space. Carrying on from my initial prototype trial more in-depth research is progressing into the use of the Shake &Graze Chaff Net and horse behaviour and consumption rates. Results are expected by the end of the year. I would like to commend Trickle Net personally and professionally for their work with nutritionists and universities. For their work in producing and improving materials and designs, and always striving to provide innovative products for real world settings. The Shake &Graze Chaff Net is a revolutionary product, addressing both a horse’s nutritional needs and owner concerns. It is a surprising solution for a key issue in the face of one of the most significant welfare challenges facing the equine population. Note of importance: The author / Equinutrition does not receive any financial incentive for the sale of Shake &Graze Chaff Net or other associated products. References [1] Dugdale, A.H.A, Curtos, G.C., Cripps, P., Harris, P.A., Argo, C. Effect of dietary restriction on body condition, composition, and welfare of overweight and obese pony mares. 2010 Equine Vet J. 42(7) 600-610 [2] Furtado, T., Perkins, E., Pinchbeck, G., McGowan, C., Watkins, F., Christley, R. Exploring horse owners’ understanding of obese body condition and weight management in UK leisure horses. Equine Vet J. 2021 Jul; 53 (4): 752-762. [3] Knowles, E., Grieve, L. Clinical insights: Equine obesity. 2020 Equine Vet J. (10) 1111

Claims

1. A feeding net for animals, the net comprising a plurality of mesh bags mounted inside one another in a nested arrangement of an outer bag and at least one inner bag, each bag having an open end, wherein the open ends of each bag are arranged concentrically and attached to one another by a draw string.

2. A feeding net according to claim 1, wherein the mesh bags are manufactured from polypropylene.

3. A feeding net according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pliability of the at least one inner bag is greater than that of the outer bag.

4. A feeding net according to any preceding claim, wherein the mesh size of the outer bag is greater than the mesh size of any of the inner bags.

5. A feeding net according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer bag has a mesh size of approximately 25mm and the inner bag has a mesh size of approximately 20mm.

6. A feeding net according to any preceding claim, wherein the material of the mesh of the outer bag is greater in thickness than that the material of the mesh of any of the inner bags.

7. A feeding net according to any preceding claim, wherein and the innerbags are able to move independently of the outer bag.

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