The Effects of Transportation on the Welfare of Horses

Waran, Natalie; Leadon, D. P.; Friend, T.H.

doi:10.1007/978-0-306-48215-1_6

Cited by 25 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The higher likelihood of injuries associated with the use of tranquilizers may be related with the fact that tranquilizers can affect the horse’s proprioception and balance, increasing the risk of falling over at loading and during travelling [40]. The results of this study therefore support studies and recommendation that advocate no use of tranquilizers prior to and during journeys [33, 41].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

A Survey on Transport Management Practices Associated with Injuries and Health Problems in Horses

et al. 2016

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An online survey was conducted to determine associations between transport management and transport-related injuries and diseases in horses in Australia. The survey was composed of three sections: respondents’ demographic information, transport management strategies or procedures (before, during and after transportation) and transport diseases experienced in the previous two year period. Univariate and multivariate modelling was performed exploring associations between variables (respondents’ details and transport management strategies) and the following transport-related diseases as outcomes: traumatic injuries, diarrhoea, heat stroke, muscular problems, laminitis, transport pneumonia and colic. The survey generated 797 responses. Traumatic injuries were the most common transport-related problem, with a reported incidence of 45.0%. Younger respondents (<40 years old) caring for large numbers of horses (>30 in a week) were more likely to report transport-related injuries. Injury risk was also linked to the use of protections and tranquilizers prior to transport, and checking horses after the journey. Diarrhoea (20.0%) and heat stroke (10.5%) were reported more by amateur than professional horse carers. Increased risk of heat stroke was linked to the restriction of hay and water prior to transportation. Muscular problems (13.0%) appeared to be exacerbated when horse health was not assessed before journey; whilst the risk of laminitis (2.9%) was around three fold greater when post transport recovery strategies were not applied. Associations were made between transport pneumonia (9.2%) and duration of journey, and with activity (horses involved in racing at greater risk). No associations were seen between the incidence of colic (10.3%) and the variables examined. Study findings should be interpreted with caution as they represent participant perceptions and recall. Nevertheless, results support many current recommendations for safe transportation of horses. They also highlight the need to further investigate many of identified management factors to refine existing policies and practices in equine transportation.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

A Survey on Transport Management Practices Associated with Injuries and Health Problems in Horses

et al. 2016

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“…Heart rate during loading is usually higher than average heart rate during transport recorded in experienced and inexperienced horse (Padalino, 2014). In fact, climbing a ramp is probably a frightening experience for a naive horse; this increase in heart rate can be referred partly to the energy expended in climbing the ramp and partly to the emotional fear (Waran et al, 2007). HR recorded after unloading was also higher than rest value, this could be because "unloading" is another physical stress, in fact for some horses this task could also be difficult, particularly, if the ramp is very slippery or if the animals present some lameness problems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the left forelimb preference indicative of a stressful situation in horses?

Siniscalchi

Padalino

Lusito

et al. 2014

Behavioural Processes

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“…Our results therefore appear to agree with findings whereby cortisol levels are low in the evening and high in the morning (or around midday) as in other ungulates and that they are influenced by the light-dark cycle. Cortisol level is usually used in studies dealing with animal welfare as stress hormone (e.g., dogs: Bergeron et al, 2002; Haubenhofer & Kirchengast, 2007; horses: Schmidt et al, 2010; Waran, Leadon & Friend, 2007; camels: El Khasmi et al, 2015; El Khasmi et al, 2013). Our findings suggest that it seems necessary to take the samples at the same time of day within an experiment aiming to compare two cortisol levels in male dromedary camels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daily rhythms of behavioral and hormonal patterns in male dromedary camels housed in boxes

Aubé

Fatnassi

Monaco

et al. 2017

PeerJ

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BackgroundDaily rhythmicity has been observed for a number of hormonal and behavioral variables in mammals. It can be entrained by several external factors, such as light-dark cycle and scheduled feeding. In dromedary camels, daily rhythmicity has been documented only for melatonin secretion and body temperature. In this study, the daily rhythmicity of behavioral repertoire, cortisol and testosterone levels was investigated in captive male camels.MethodsSix clinically healthy male dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) were used. The animals were housed in single boxes for 24 h daily and fed twice a day. Over a period of 48 h, behavioral observations were made and blood samples taken every two hours. The data were analyzed using diurnality index, conisor analysis and PROC mixed procedure.ResultsThe diurnality index for rumination and lying down was close to 0 (respectively, 0.09 and 0.19), while the indices for stereotypy, standing, feeding and walking were close to 1 (respectively, 0.74, 0.84, 0.92 and 0.85). Cosinor analysis revealed daily rhythmicity for all behaviors and for cortisol levels (acrophase at 12:57) but not for testosterone. Rumination and lying down (inactive behaviors) reached a peak during the scotophase, whereas feeding, walking and stereotypy (active behaviors) reached a peak during the photophase around midday. Cortisol level and expression of stereotypies peaked before and after food distribution and were negatively correlated (r = − 0.287, P = 0.005). Testosterone levels and expression of sexual behaviors were stimulated by the visual and olfactory contacts with the females and were positively correlated (r = 0.164, P = 0.040). Testosterone was also negatively correlated with cortisol (r = − 0.297; P = 0.003).DiscussionThese preliminary results provided new knowledge about the daily rhythm of behaviors in camels housed in boxes, suggesting that camels exhibit diurnal behavior pattern in the maintenance conditions outlined in the study. Daily rhythmicity seemed to be entrained not only by the light-dark cycle but also by scheduled feeding. The rise in stereotypy after food distribution could be due to the persistence of feeding motivation and frustration after the ingestion of food. Therefore, feeding practices should be improved to satisfy the foraging and feeding motivation of these camels. Behavioral and hormonal daily patterns in camels should be taken in consideration to adapt the management system, giving the animals more freedom during the light period and a diet richer in fiber, so as to improve reproductive performance, health and welfare.

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The Effects of Transportation on the Welfare of Horses

Cited by 25 publications

References 36 publications

A Survey on Transport Management Practices Associated with Injuries and Health Problems in Horses

A Survey on Transport Management Practices Associated with Injuries and Health Problems in Horses

Is the left forelimb preference indicative of a stressful situation in horses?

Daily rhythms of behavioral and hormonal patterns in male dromedary camels housed in boxes

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