Barbara Padalino

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

Evidence for behavioural and brain lateralisation is now widespread among the animal kingdom; lateralisation of limb use (pawedness) occurs in several mammals including both feral and domestic horses. We investigated limb preferences in 14 Quarter Horse during different motor tasks (walking, stepping on and off a step, truck loading and unloading). Population lateralisation was observed in two tasks: horses preferentially used their left forelimb during truck loading and stepping off a step. The results also revealed that horses showed higher scores for anxious behaviours during truck loading suggesting that the use of the left forelimb in this task may reflect the main role of the right hemisphere in control of behaviour during stressful situation.

Health Problems and Risk Factors Associated with Long Haul Transport of Horses in Australia

Simple Summary Records from road transport of horses from Perth to Sydney over a two year period were analysed to explore the incidence of transport related issues and identify risk factors. Transportation resulted in health problems in 2.8% of the transported horses, and in fatalities in 0.24%. Journey duration and season were risk factors for the development of transport related health problems, while breed, sex and age did not predict disease or injury risk. Overall, this study provides statistics to inform policy development for the equine transport industry and enhance management of the transported horse. Abstract Equine transportation is associated with a variety of serious health disorders causing economic losses. However; statistics on horse transport are limited and epidemiological data on transport related diseases are available only for horses transported to abattoirs for slaughter. This study analysed reports of transport related health problems identified by drivers and horse owners for 180 journeys of an Australian horse transport company transporting horses between Perth and Sydney (~4000 km) in 2013–2015. Records showed that 97.2% (1604/1650) of the horses arrived at their destination with no clinical signs of disease or injury. Based on the veterinary reports of the affected horses; the most common issues were respiratory problems (27%); gastrointestinal problems (27%); pyrexia (19%); traumatic injuries (15%); and death (12%). Journey duration and season had a significant effect on the distribution of transport related issues (p < 0.05); with a marked increase of the proportion of the most severe problems (i.e., gastrointestinal; respiratory problems and death) in spring and after 20 h in transit. Although not statistically significant; elevated disease rate predictions were seen for stallions/colts; horses aged over 10 years; and Thoroughbreds. Overall; the data demonstrate that long haul transportation is a risk for horse health and welfare and requires appropriate management to minimize transport stress.

The role of associative and non-associative learning in the training of horses and implications for the welfare (a review)

Horses were domesticated 6000 years ago and since then different types of approaches have been developed to enhance the horses wellbeing and the human-horse relationship. Even though horse training is an increasingly important research area and many articles have been published on the subject, equitation is still the sport with the highest rate of human injuries, and a significant percentage of horses are sold or slaughtered due to behavioral problems. One explanation for this data is that the human-horse relationship is complex and the communication between humans and horses has not yet been accurately developed. Thus, this review addresses correct horse training based on scientific knowledge in animal learning and psychology. Specifically, it starts from the basic communication between humans and horses and then focuses on associative and non-associative learning, with many practical outcomes in horse management from the ground and under saddle. Finally, it highlights the common mistakes in the use of negative reinforcement, as well as all the implications that improper training could have on horse welfare. Increased levels of competence in horse training could be useful for equine technicians, owners, breeders, veterinarians, and scientists, in order to safeguard horse welfare, and also to reduce the number of human injuries and economic loss for civil society and the public health system.

Survey of horse transportation in Australia: issues and practices

OBJECTIVE To survey amateur and professional participants on equine transportation management, practices and outcomes in Australia. METHODS An online survey targeting people who organised horse movements at least monthly was made available to a broad cross-section of amateur and professional equine associations. Respondents were invited to provide demographic details and information relating to their routine transportation management practices and their experiences of issues relating to the transportation of horses. RESULTS Of 797 usable responses involving approximately 17,000 horses and 313,000 individual horse transport events, transport-related behavioural problems were reported by 38% of respondents, particularly at loading. Transport-related health problems had been experienced during or after transportation by horses in the care of 67% of respondents. The most common problems reported were traumatic injuries (45.0%), diarrhoea (20.0%), muscular problems (13.0%), respiratory problems (12.3%), overheating (10.5%) and colic (10.3%). In the 2 years reviewed in the survey, 9.4% of participants reported at least one case of transport-associated pneumonia and 35 horses had died, most commonly from fractures, colic or pneumonia. Although respondents identifying as amateurs transported horses less frequently and over shorter distances, the incidence of transport-related problems was similar between amateurs and professionals. Respondents reported specific precautions before, during and after transportation, although management was often not compliant with the Australian Code of horse transportation. CONCLUSIONS Responses indicated that there remains a substantial risk of adverse welfare and health outcomes for horses transported in Australia and management practices reported may not be compliant with current recommendations for transportation.

Could dromedary camels develop stereotypy? The first description of stereotypical behaviour in housed male dromedary camels and how it is affected by different management systems.

Dromedary camel husbandry has recently been evolving towards a semi-intensive system, due to the changes in use of the animal and the settlement of nomadic populations. Captivity could restrict its social activities, limiting the expression of various behavioural needs and causing the manifestation of stereotypy. The aims of this trial were, firstly, to identify and describe some stereotypical behaviours in captive male dromedary camels used for artificial insemination and, secondly, to study the effects on them of the following husbandry management systems: i) housing in single boxes for 24 hours (H24), ii) housing in single boxes for 23 hours with one hour free in the paddock (H23), and iii) housing in single boxes for 22 hours 30 min with 1 h of paddock time and 30 min exposure to a female camel herd (ExF). Every day, the camels were filmed in their single box in the morning for 30 minutes to record their behavioural activities and a focal animal sampling ethogram was filled in. In this study, male camels showed both oral and locomotor stereotypy most frequently when the bulls were reared in H24. Overall, this preliminary study is a starting point in the identification of stereotypies in male camels, reporting the positive effects of spending one hour outdoor and of social interaction with females.

Quality of carcasses in I.H.D.H. foals reared in the province of Bari (Italy)

Riassunto Qualità delle carcasse di puledri T.P.R allevati in provincia di Bari (Italia). Allo scopo di contribuire allo studio della produzione di carne equina nella Provincia di Bari sono stati macellati 12 puledri di razza TPR all’età tipica di 11 mesi. Le carcasse, che sono state valutate in considerazione del sesso, sono risultate meglio conformate ma anche più grasse nei maschi. Per questo motivo, il magro totale sulla mezzena delle femmine risulta più elevato dell’1,08% (72,75 vs. 71,67%) e il grasso meno incidente dell’1,5 2% (10,98 vs. 12,50%) (P<0,05). I maschi hanno una resa netta a caldo maggiore dell’1,5 2% (69,77 vs. 68,25%). Nella dissezione della mezzena le regioni più carnose sono risultate lombi, coscia e gamba. I tagli di I qualità rappresentano il 60% del magro totale, essendo il restante 40% costituito dai tagli di II e III qualità.

Influence of temperature-humidity index on the preference of primiparous Holstein Friesians for different kinds of cubicle flooring

Riassunto Influenza dell’indice termo-igrometrico (THI) sulla preferenza di primipare Frisone per quattro diversi materiali utilizzati come fondo per cuccette. Sono state considerate 8 frisone primipare poste in un box di 32 cuccette, suddivise in 4 gruppi in base al materiale di cui era composto il fondo: materassini in polietilene e polipropilene, truciolo e letame. Le bovine sono state monitorate per un periodo totale di 96h, nel quale si sono registrati i valori di temperatura e di umidità relativa. I risultati hanno indicato una significativa influenza delle condizioni microclimatiche sulla preferenza per i diversi materiali. Per THI inferiori a 70, le bovine hanno mostrato una maggiore preferenza per i materiali sintetici mentre, per valori superiori di indice termo-igrometrico, sono state maggiormente occupate le cuccette con fondo in truciolo o letame solido (P<0,01). Inoltre, il THI ha condizionato le modalità di utilizzo della cuccetta da parte degli animali: all’aumentare dell’indice termo-igrometrico, le bovine hanno ridotto la durata dei decubiti (P<0,01) ed hanno incrementato il tempo passato in stazione nelle cuccette (P<0,01).

Immunological, clinical, haematological and oxidative responses to long distance transportation in horses

Horses are transported frequently and often over long distances. Transportation may represent a physiological stressor with consequential health and welfare implications. This study reports the effects of a long distance journey on immunological, clinical, haematological, inflammatory and oxidative parameters in an Experimental Group (EG) of ten horses, comparing them with six horses of similar age and breed used as a non-transported Control Group (CG). Clinical examination and blood sampling were performed twice on all horses: immediately after unloading for the EG, and at rest on the same day for the CG (day 1); at rest on the same day one week later for both groups (day 7). On day 1 EG horses showed increased heart and respiratory rates (P<0.01), rectal temperature (P<0.05), capillary refilling time (P<0.01), neutrophil numbers (P<0.01), serum albumin (P<0.01), plasma total antioxidant status (P<0.01), and a lower rate of mitogen induced proliferation of lymphocytes (P<0.05), in comparison with CG. On day 7 only an increase in total serum protein (P<0.05) and serum globulins (P<0.001) was seen in the EG. No difference in serum cortisol concentration was found. Long distance transportation induced an acute phase response impairing the cell-mediated immune response. Clinical examinations, including assessing CRT and body weight loss, and the monitoring of redox balance may be useful in evaluating the impact of extensive transport events on horses. A better understanding of the link between transportation stress, the immune system and the acute phase response is likely to inform strategies for enhancing the welfare of transported horses.

Artificially suckled I.H.D.H. (Italian Heavy Draught Horse) foals: in vivo performances and ethograms

Abstract The research was carried out on 6 “Italian Heavy Draught Horse” orphan foals artificially suckled by an automatic milk feeder. The purpose of the research was to show that artificial weaning does not have a negative effect on a foal’s growth and welfare. The foals were reared in an indoor box, weighed every 3 weeks from day 4 after birth and observed for 24 consecutive hours at the age of 4, 10, 47, 114, 142 and 176 days, to compile an ethogram which includes biorhythms, and social, alimentary and eliminative behavioural patterns. During the study, “daily weight gains” were greater than 1610 g/d; but between 26 and 46 days and after weaning, values were lower than 1230 g/d, and between 172 and 193 days, prior to slaughtering, they were of 1090 g/d. Age had a significant influence (P<0.001) on almost all the ethological parameters considered, above all for the time spent lying down and the licking structures (P<0.01), and for the drinking bouts (P<0.05). The period of adaptation to artificial feeding certainly lasted at least two weeks. These results suggest that the technique of artificial suckling can be applied to horses without negative effects on growth and welfare, any subjects showed abnormal behaviour.

Effect of α-Amylase, Papain, and Spermfluid® treatments on viscosity and semen parameters of dromedary camel ejaculates

Ejaculates from five clinically healthy dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) were used to evaluate the effects of different enzymatic treatments (Amylase, Papain, Spermfluid) on liquefaction and seminal parameters. After collection, ejaculates were divided into 5 aliquots: (1) kept undiluted (control); or diluted 1:1 with: (2) Tris-Citrate-Fructose (TCF), (3) TCF containing Amylase, (4) TCF containing Papain or (5) Spermfluid containing Bromelain. At 120 min after dilution, each aliquot was evaluated, at 20-min intervals, for viscosity, motility, viability and agglutination. Only the aliquots diluted with TCF containing Papain underwent complete liquefaction. Sperm motility decreased significantly during the observation times, except for the samples diluted with Spermfluid (P=0.005). Diluted samples showed different levels of agglutination, with the lowest being observed in the control and the highest in the Papain-treated samples. The viscosity of dromedary camel ejaculates could be effectively reduced by using the proteolytic enzyme Papain.