Zylkéne to load? The effects of alpha-casozepine on compliance and coping in horses during loading

Abstract

1Horses are routinely travelled for access to safe off-road riding, veterinary care, 2 breeding, sale or moving to a new home environment. However, transport is a known 3 stressor in horses. For this reason, problem behaviour when loading is a commonly 4 reported issue which presents risks to handlers and horse welfare. Existing literature 5 and manufacturers recommendations suggests that alpha-casozepine may be 6 effective in improving the behaviour and welfare of horses during loading onto a 7 vehicle for transport. The current paper aims to assess the behavioural and 8 physiological effects of a commercially available alpha-casozepine feed supplement 9 (Zylkéne Equine) in horses during loading and confinement on a transport lorry. 10 Subjects (n = 10) were loaded once with the supplement and once without, in a 11 balanced random order with each subject acted as their own control. The handler 12 was blind to treatment. Time to load onto the lorry, and movement of feet, licking and 13 chewing, and vocalising within the lorry, were recorded as behavioural indicators of 14 compliance and coping. Heart rate, heart rate variability, salivary cortisol, and 15 infrared thermography of both core temperature and the discrepancy between eyes, 16were measured as indicators of arousal. There were no significant differences in 17 physiology between Treatment and Control (P > 0.05). Treatment resulted in a 18 significantly shorter Loading Time than control (P = 0.04), however, the actual 19 difference in median time was only 0.45 seconds. No other behavioural indicator 20 differed between Treatment and Control (P > 0.05). Power analysis revealed the 21 sample was sufficient to detect a significant effect. Where modest effects were 22 observed for a small number of variables, Treatment effect contradicted predictions. 23Taken together, this indicates that alpha-casozepine does not affect a horse's ability 24 to cope with loading and confinement in a horse lorry. Further work is required to ascertain whether the maximum dosagetwice that used heremight affect coping 26 and behaviour in horses. 27 28

α-Casozepine supplementation shows no effect on foals’ growth and cortisol levels before and after weaning

“…Ijichi et al 14 yielded similar results to this study. The effects of α-casozepine on compliance and coping in horses during loading was observed.…”

“…Horses weighing up to 500 kg were fed 1,000 mg, while horses over 500 kg were given 2,000 mg of Zylkene Equine. 14 It was observed that, at the dosage used, Zylkene had no effect on a horse's ability to cope with loading and confinement. 14 Further studies could examine the effectiveness of different dosages of Zylkene.…”

“…14 It was observed that, at the dosage used, Zylkene had no effect on a horse's ability to cope with loading and confinement. 14 Further studies could examine the effectiveness of different dosages of Zylkene.…”

Welfare of equidae during transport

“…There are several supplements (e.g. tryptophan, alpha‐casozepine) that have been suggested to reduce anxiety and preloading stress, but the findings are conflicting (Burk and Williams, 2008; Ijichi et al., 2019). Horses showing TRPBs should not be loaded and should undergo a retraining programme (York et al., 2017).…”

Dually investigated: The effect of a pressure headcollar on the behaviour, discomfort and stress of trained horses

“…Saliva samples were taken with an Equisal swab gently moved over the tongue and lips of the subject (Ijichi et al, 2019 Vantaa, Finland). The results were calculated using four-parameter-logistic as recommended by the manufacturer.…”