Husbandry and welfare aspects of urban draught horses in the south of ChileAspectos de manejo y bienestar en equinos de tiro urbano en el sur de Chile RESUMENEn el sur de Chile los equinos de tiro continúan siendo la fuente principal de ingreso para numerosas familias. En muchas ocasiones estos equinos de trabajo no son mantenidos en óptimas condiciones. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar las prácticas de manejo y parámetros relacionados con bienestar animal en un grupo de sesenta y un equinos carretoneros, pertenecientes a cincuenta propietarios, de tres ciudades del sur de Chile (Valdivia, Osorno y Puerto Montt). Se utilizaron métodos directos (basados en el animal) y métodos indirectos. Estos incluyeron aspectos de salud, comportamiento y prácticas de manejo. La mayoría de los equinos presentaron una conformación masisa, pero más pequeña que la de las razas de tiro clásicas encontradas en otras áreas templadas en el mundo. En general presentaron buena condición corporal (59%) y alertas (92%), con sólo unos pocos animales que presentaron una respuesta agresiva al momento de evaluar su comportamiento. Los principales problemas encontrados están relacionados con el manejo de cascos y las prácticas de alimentación. No se encontró asociación entre buena conformación de cascos y el uso de herreros o experiencia de los dueños. Esto se debe principalmente a una carencia de conocimiento y comprensión de prácticas de manejo y trabajo adecuados que permitan obtener un mejor rendimiento de sus equinos sin poner en riesgo el bienestar de éstos. La comunidad de dueños de equinos de trabajo se vería beneficiada con la instauración de programas educacionales en el futuro.

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Although, antibiotics are effective in the treatment of bovine mastitis, they do not address the regeneration of mammary glandular tissue and have been associated to the increment in antimicrobial resistance worldwide. Considering the necessity of alternative therapies for this disease of high economic impact and the reported regenerative and antibacterial effects of mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs), we evaluated the safety and efficacy of an allogenic MSC-based intramammary therapy in dairy cows with experimentally induced Staphylococcus aureus clinical mastitis. In a safety trial, heifers were inoculated intramammarily with a 2.5 × 10 7 -suspension of bovine fetal AT-MSCs on experimental days 1 and 10. Animals were evaluated clinically on a daily basis during a 20-day experimental period and blood samples were collected for hemogram determination and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) isolation. In an efficacy trial, Holstein Friesian cows were inoculated with S. aureus and treated intramammarily with vehicle (NEG; days 4 and 10), antibiotics (ATB; days 4 and 5) or a suspension of 2.5 × 10 7 AT-MSCs (MSC; days 4 and 5). Cows were clinically evaluated daily and milk samples were collected for somatic cell count (SCC) and colony forming units (CFU). Blood samples were collected for serum haptoglobin and amyloid A determination. Intramammary administration of two doses of bovine fetal AT-MSCs in healthy cows did not induce changes in clinical or hematological variables, and gene expression profiles in PBLs associated to activation (CD4, CD8, CD25, CD62L and CD69) and proinflammatory cytokines (CCL2, CCL5, IL2, CXCL3, IFNγ, and TNFα). Quarters of MSC group of cows had similar SCC log/mL in milk compared to infected quarters of ATB or NEG cows. However, quarters of MSC cows had lower CFU log/mL in milk compared to quarters of NEG cows. Intramammarily inoculation of repeated doses of 2.5 × 10 7 allogenic AT-MSCs did not induce clinical or immunological response in healthy cows. Moreover, MSC-intramammary treatment reduced bacterial count in milk of cows with S. aureus clinical mastitis compared to untreated cows. This work provides initial evidence for the safety and efficacy of an allogenic MSC-based intramammary therapy for the treatment of bovine mastitis.the remaining two mammary quarters, a 3 mL solution of ringer lactate was administered as control (vehicle). Animals were evaluated clinically on a daily basis during a 20-Day experimental period. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and rectal temperature (RT) were determined. The clinical evaluation of the mammary gland was based on a previously published method that includes the observation of volume increase, firmness, signs of pain and milk secretion 13 . In addition, the mammary surface temperature (MST) of each quarter was quantified using a portable thermograph (Fluke VT02 Washington, USA). Mammary temperature difference (MTD) was calculated by subtracting MST from quarters inoculated with AT-MSCs from quarters inoculated with vehicle. Blood samples were ...

Simple SummaryAppropriate strategies aimed at improving the welfare of working horses should contemplate the assessment of welfare status, as well as the evaluation of the human–animal relationship within each geo-cultural context. We assessed and compared the welfare status of working horses in two administrative regions of Chile and explored the nature of the owner–horse relationship from the perspective of the owner. The overall prevalence of health problems and negative behavior responses was low. However, significant differences between regions exist in the presence of lesions and the person responsible for managing horseshoeing. Two differing views were found regarding the owners’ perception of their horse: predominantly affective or instrumental. Despite the instrumental perception predominantly residing in one region, the affective perception was widely shared by owners in each region. The findings suggest that Chilean working horses have a, generally, good welfare and that the development of an affective owner–horse relationship is possible. Additionally, the results suggest that affective and instrumental perceptions of these animals can coexist.AbstractAppropriate interventions to improve working equine welfare should be proposed according to scientific evidence that arises from different geo-cultural contexts. This study aims to assess and compare the welfare status of working horses in two administrative regions of Chile and to determine how owners perceive their horses. Horses’ welfare status was assessed through direct indicators (direct observation and clinical examination) and indirect indicators (an interview with the owner). Owners′ perceptions of their horses were determined through a discourse analysis of their statements. In total, 100 horses and 100 owners were assessed. Results showed a low prevalence of health problems and negative behavior responses among horses in the two regions evaluated. Significant associations were found between inadequate body condition and the absence of deworming, and between hoof abnormalities and a low frequency of shoeing. Between regions, significant differences were found in the presence of lesions and the person responsible for horseshoeing. In regards to the owners′ appreciations, two differing perceptions of working horses were found: a predominantly affective perception and a perception of the animal as a working instrument. Although the instrumental perception was more frequent in the Araucania region, the affective perception was widely shared by both owner populations. The results reveal a good welfare status in working horses and suggest that both affective and instrumental perceptions of these animals can coexist.