The Multi-dimensional Donkey in Landscapes of Donkey-Human Interaction

Blakeway, Stephen

doi:10.7358/rela-2014-001-blak

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…More specifically, they contribute to income-generating activities through the transport of goods, people, water, agricultural products, and building material. They also provide draught power for agriculture, among other activities [ 5 , 8 , 9 , 37 , 38 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare Status of Working Horses and Owners′ Perceptions of Their Animals

Luna

Vásquez

Rojas

et al. 2017

Animals

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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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare Status of Working Horses and Owners′ Perceptions of Their Animals

Luna

Vásquez

Rojas

et al. 2017

Animals

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“…Donkeys are considered by most farmers to be hardier than a horse, can survive on fewer resources, and can adapt to harsher environments. Furthermore, they are highly heat and dehydration tolerant, making them suitable for semiarid climates [6,7]. Most donkeys are not individually fed; rather, they are turned loose to forage on their own.…”

Section: Donkeys As Draft Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Scientists Influence Donkey Welfare? Historical Perspective and a Contemporary View

McLean

González

2018

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

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“…In Europe, the population of donkeys is found mainly in Mediterranean countries such as Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Greece. From 1970 to 2013, the numbers of donkeys decreased about 78% [ 2 , 3 ] and autochthonous breeds suffered a risk of extinction [ 3 , 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Miranda Donkeys: Epidemiology and Selective Control of Strongyles Infection in the Northeast of Portugal

Sousa

Anastácio

Nóvoa³

et al. 2021

Animals

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In Portugal, equine parasitism in pasture animals is characterized by high parasitic burden and high helminthic biodiversity; both factors are potentially pathogenic for their hosts. The decrease in the number of donkeys over the last years in Portugal, their importance in rural lowland and mountain ecosystems and pastures and the scarce information regarding their parasitism led to this research, which aimed to evaluate the parasitological status of a Miranda donkey breed population, a native breed mainly located in the northeast of Portugal. This study provides better knowledge of their gastrointestinal parasitism, particularly strongyles, and the assessment of a targeted selective treatment (TST) as an alternative control approach of their parasitism. A longitudinal observational study was developed during a period of five years in a population of 62 Miranda donkeys. At first, strategic deworming of these animals was performed every semester, but this was progressively replaced by a TST approach according to the levels of Eggs per Gram (EPG). This new deworming strategy was conducted in association with a regular parasitological monitoring of the animals every three months, being dewormed with ivermectin when egg shedding was higher than 500 EPG. Over the study period, a decrease of the annual prevalence rate of infection by gastrointestinal strongyles was observed, from 35.5% to 19.4%, as well as a negative binomial distribution of parasitic strongyles in donkeys submitted to selective anthelminthic control. The prevalence rate of infection was higher in females (39.5%), in individuals under four years (46.7%) and in those presenting a lower body condition (40.8%). The egg output was higher in animals younger than four years (589.3 EPG) than in those older than 10 years (533.6 EPG) (p < 0.05). However, no differences were observed according to sex during the study period. Results from this study allowed to note the influence of swampy pastures and of the weather changes in the epidemiology of strongylosis in Miranda donkeys. Moreover, it was possible to establish the annual epidemiological curve of strongyle egg shedding, with June being the month with the highest EPG, December having the lowest EPG and March and September showing intermediate numbers. Overall, a lower biodiversity of gastrointestinal parasites was observed. Cyathostomum sensu lato was the most prevalent genus and Strongylus vulgaris was the most observed large strongyle of the Strongylidae family. Trichostrongylus axei and Parascaris sp. were other nematodes with a minor frequency. The higher prevalence of strongyles at the beginning of the study showed a progressive decrease throughout the research period, and also for parasite biodiversity. Therefore, a targeted selective treatment seems to be a rational anthelminthic control approach in Miranda donkey strongyle infection and in other gastrointestinal parasites, since it reduces the antiparasitic treatments, the parasite’ prevalence and the EPG level. However, a loss of parasite biodiversity was noted at the end of the study period, as Cyathostominae were the only isolated strongyles. This can be a challenging situation in the long run, taking the ability of these nematodes to adapt easily to any deworming program, meaning that fecal EPG monitoring should be kept as a rule to a rational parasite control program.

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The Multi-dimensional Donkey in Landscapes of Donkey-Human Interaction

Cited by 13 publications

References 2 publications

Welfare Status of Working Horses and Owners′ Perceptions of Their Animals

Welfare Status of Working Horses and Owners′ Perceptions of Their Animals

Can Scientists Influence Donkey Welfare? Historical Perspective and a Contemporary View

Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Miranda Donkeys: Epidemiology and Selective Control of Strongyles Infection in the Northeast of Portugal

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