Welfare assessment of horses and mules used in recreational and muleteer work in the Colombian coffee region
The welfare of working equids in developing countries is sometimes threatened due to the limited resources and/or knowledge of their owners. The objective of this study is to evaluate the welfare of creole horses and mules using a validated protocol that assesses animal-based indicators. A total of...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1031192/full |
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| author | Marlyn H. Romero Fernando Meneses Jorge A. Sanchez |
| author_facet | Marlyn H. Romero Fernando Meneses Jorge A. Sanchez |
| author_sort | Marlyn H. Romero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The welfare of working equids in developing countries is sometimes threatened due to the limited resources and/or knowledge of their owners. The objective of this study is to evaluate the welfare of creole horses and mules using a validated protocol that assesses animal-based indicators. A total of 160 horses and 40 mules from three municipalities in the Colombian coffee-growing region were evaluated by means of direct observation of health and behavioral parameters. A descriptive analysis of the variables expressed in proportions was performed. Interactions between the different measurements were examined using the Chi-squared test. Spearman correlations were used to relate the measurements. Horses and mules demonstrated friendly behavior in front of the evaluators (78.13 and 61.54%, respectively); apathetic or severely depressed behavior was low (10.7 and 17.5%, P > 0.05). Significant differences in body condition score (BCS) were observed between mules and horses (P < 0.05); eighty percent of the mules and 54.4% of the horses exhibited a healthy body condition score (3 or more on a scale of 1 to 5). Less than 15% of the animals had eye problems, limb deformities, and gait abnormalities. Injuries to the head, withers, spine, ribs/flank, hindquarters, and hind legs were observed in a frequency between 12.5 and 30.43% of the animals, with a higher frequency in horses (P < 0.05). Weak correlations (R2 coefficient < 0.5), although statistically significant, were observed between low body conditions and the presence of skin and deeper tissue lesions, systemic health abnormalities, and limb problems (P < 0.05). The results indicate that owners care for their animals. However, the presence of skin and deep tissue lesions, especially in horses, suggests that they are subjected to high workloads. Therefore, it is essential to train owners in aspects related to the importance of providing their equids with adequate rest periods to recover from work and develop actions to strengthen human-equine interaction. |
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| format | Article |
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| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T16:02:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-91151bd7abb84bd89f167c574300093d2022-12-22T04:14:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692022-11-01910.3389/fvets.2022.10311921031192Welfare assessment of horses and mules used in recreational and muleteer work in the Colombian coffee regionMarlyn H. Romero0Fernando Meneses1Jorge A. Sanchez2Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Agrarian and Animal Sciences, University of Caldas, Manizales, ColombiaProgram of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Santa Rosa de Cabal University Corporation—UNISARC, Santa Rosa de Cabal, ColombiaDepartment of Animal Health, Faculty of Agrarian and Animal Sciences, University of Caldas, Manizales, ColombiaThe welfare of working equids in developing countries is sometimes threatened due to the limited resources and/or knowledge of their owners. The objective of this study is to evaluate the welfare of creole horses and mules using a validated protocol that assesses animal-based indicators. A total of 160 horses and 40 mules from three municipalities in the Colombian coffee-growing region were evaluated by means of direct observation of health and behavioral parameters. A descriptive analysis of the variables expressed in proportions was performed. Interactions between the different measurements were examined using the Chi-squared test. Spearman correlations were used to relate the measurements. Horses and mules demonstrated friendly behavior in front of the evaluators (78.13 and 61.54%, respectively); apathetic or severely depressed behavior was low (10.7 and 17.5%, P > 0.05). Significant differences in body condition score (BCS) were observed between mules and horses (P < 0.05); eighty percent of the mules and 54.4% of the horses exhibited a healthy body condition score (3 or more on a scale of 1 to 5). Less than 15% of the animals had eye problems, limb deformities, and gait abnormalities. Injuries to the head, withers, spine, ribs/flank, hindquarters, and hind legs were observed in a frequency between 12.5 and 30.43% of the animals, with a higher frequency in horses (P < 0.05). Weak correlations (R2 coefficient < 0.5), although statistically significant, were observed between low body conditions and the presence of skin and deeper tissue lesions, systemic health abnormalities, and limb problems (P < 0.05). The results indicate that owners care for their animals. However, the presence of skin and deep tissue lesions, especially in horses, suggests that they are subjected to high workloads. Therefore, it is essential to train owners in aspects related to the importance of providing their equids with adequate rest periods to recover from work and develop actions to strengthen human-equine interaction.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1031192/fullanimal well-beingworking equinedeveloping countriesbehaviorhealth indicators |
| spellingShingle | Marlyn H. Romero Fernando Meneses Jorge A. Sanchez Welfare assessment of horses and mules used in recreational and muleteer work in the Colombian coffee region Frontiers in Veterinary Science animal well-being working equine developing countries behavior health indicators |
| title | Welfare assessment of horses and mules used in recreational and muleteer work in the Colombian coffee region |
| title_full | Welfare assessment of horses and mules used in recreational and muleteer work in the Colombian coffee region |
| title_fullStr | Welfare assessment of horses and mules used in recreational and muleteer work in the Colombian coffee region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Welfare assessment of horses and mules used in recreational and muleteer work in the Colombian coffee region |
| title_short | Welfare assessment of horses and mules used in recreational and muleteer work in the Colombian coffee region |
| title_sort | welfare assessment of horses and mules used in recreational and muleteer work in the colombian coffee region |
| topic | animal well-being working equine developing countries behavior health indicators |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1031192/full |
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