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| Author | Stull, C.L.; Spier, S.J.; Aldridge, B.M.; Blanchard, M.; Stott, J.L. | ||||
| Title | Immunological response to long-term transport stress in mature horses and effects of adaptogenic dietary supplementation as an immunomodulator | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2004 | Publication | Equine Veterinary Journal | Abbreviated Journal | |
| Volume | 36 | Issue | 7 | Pages | 583-589 |
| Keywords | horse; transportation; Cd+; lymphocytes; stress; cortisol; adaptogens | ||||
| Abstract | Reasons for performing study: Little information exists on the immunological effects of transport or the use of supplements to minimise transport stress. Objectives: To establish baseline ranges and evaluate immunophenotypic and functional changes associated with transport and a nutritional ‘adaptogen’ supplement. Methods: Horses received either supplement (n = 10) or placebos (n = 9) during the 30 day study. After 28 days in stalls, 12 horses (6 supplement; 6 placebo) were transported for 24 h, then unloaded and recovered. Venous blood samples were collected on Days 1, 14 and 28 to establish baselines, and on Days 28, 29 and 30 to examine changes during transport and recovery. Results: Transport prompted elevations (P<0.05) in cortisol concentration, neutrophil count and white blood cell counts, while lymphocyte subpopulation counts (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD21+) decreased (P<0.05). Normal phenotypic lymphocyte profiles returned within 24 h of recovery. Supplement effects on immunophenotype (CD21+ and CD8+) were observed in stabled horses (P<0.05), but not in transported horses. Conclusions: These results provide insights into the immunological mechanisms associated with long-term transport. Potential relevance: The existence of a small window of immunological uncertainty follows long-term transportation, enhancing the potential risk of infectious disease in susceptible individuals. | ||||
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| Publisher | Blackwell Publishing Ltd | Place of Publication | Editor | ||
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| ISSN | 2042-3306 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5845 | ||
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| Author | Aurich, J.; Wulf, M.; Ille, N.; Erber, R.; von Lewinski, M.; Palme, R.; Aurich, C. | ||||
| Title | Effects of season, age, sex and housing on salivary cortisol concentrations in horses | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2015 | Publication | Domestic Animal Endocrinology | Abbreviated Journal | Domest. Anim. Endocrinol. |
| Volume | Issue | Pages | |||
| Keywords | horse; cortisol; diurnal rhythm; reproduction; housing | ||||
| Abstract | Abstract Analysis of salivary cortisol is increasingly used to assess stress responses in horses. Since spontaneous or experimentally induced increases in cortisol concentrations are often relatively small for stress studies proper controls are needed. This requires an understanding of factors affecting salivary cortisol over longer times. In this study, we have analysed salivary cortisol concentration over 6 mo in horses (n = 94) differing in age, sex, reproductive state and housing. Salivary cortisol followed a diurnal rhythm with highest concentrations in the morning and a decrease throughout the day (P < 0.001). This rhythm was disrupted in individual groups on individual days; however, alterations remained within the range of diurnal changes. Comparison between months showed highest cortisol concentrations in December (P < 0.001). Cortisol concentrations increased in breeding stallions during the breeding season (P < 0.001). No differences in salivary cortisol concentrations between non-pregnant mares with and without a corpus luteum existed. In stallions, mean daily salivary cortisol and plasma testosterone concentration were weakly correlated (r = 0.251, P < 0.01). No differences in salivary cortisol between female and male young horses and no consistent differences between horses of different age existed. Group housing and individual stabling did not affect salivary cortisol. In conclusion, salivary cortisol concentrations in horses follow a diurnal rhythm and are increased in active breeding sires. Time of the day and reproductive state of the horses are thus important for experiments that include analysis of cortisol in saliva. | ||||
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| ISSN | 0739-7240 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5847 | ||
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| Author | Graf, P.; König von Borstel, U.; Gauly, M. | ||||
| Title | Importance of personality traits in horses to breeders and riders | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2013 | Publication | Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research | Abbreviated Journal | |
| Volume | 8 | Issue | 5 | Pages | 316-325 |
| Keywords | survey; personality; temperament; horse; rider; breeder | ||||
| Abstract | Abstract Especially in horses, personality traits play an important role because horses' behavior influences their quality as a riding partner. In contrast to that, no objective assessment of horses' personality traits is available at present. Although initial efforts are made in this field, a successful implementation of behavior tests into horse performance tests depends on the acceptance of the riders and breeders. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the importance of personality traits to breeders and riders as well as the degree of riders' acceptance of a temperament test as a more objective means of assessing equine personality traits. Using a web-based survey consisting of a 41-item questionnaire, a total of 1087 competition riders (49.3%), breeders (39.0%), leisure riders (37.9%), and professional riders (8.6%) of 13 countries were recruited to participate in the survey. When asked to split 1000 Euro among the different traits listed in the breeding goal, respondents clearly assigned more weight to the personality-related character and temperament traits (least squares mean ± standard error; P < 0.005: €228.7 ± 17.6) and willingness to work (€123.0 ± 9.6) compared with performance traits, such as the quality of trot (€77.7 ± 6.9) or show jumping (€68.0 ± 12.3). Nevertheless, expected differences in relative weighting of traits between the different groups of riders were confirmed (e.g., character and temperament: €209.3 ± 6.1 [leisure riders] vs. €149.7 ± 5.4 [competition riders], P < 0.0001). When asking why personality traits are so important, the simplification of daily work with the horses (47.9%) and relationship between horse and human (44.9%) as well as a more comfortable and safer handling (31.5%) were most commonly listed. As much as 45.6% of all participants see quality problems with the current assessment and suggested the evaluation of all breeding animals (30.1%), followed by a better standardization of assessment procedures (25.5%) and a move to more objective criteria such as the introduction of a temperament test (20.3%) for solving the problems. The present survey revealed that behavior traits are very important to all groups of riders and breeders, although there are diverse opinions about it. According to the participants, there is a need for and a high potential in the move toward more objective assessment methods of horses' personality traits, and participants would support a restructuring of the current assessment. | ||||
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| ISSN | 1558-7878 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5865 | ||
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| Author | Graf, P.; Schneider, T.; KönigvonBorstel, U.; Gauly M. | ||||
| Title | Kosten-Nutzen-Analyse einer objektivierten Temperamentbeurteilung bei Pferden [Economic evaluation of an objective temperament assessment in horses] | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2013 | Publication | Züchtungskunde | Abbreviated Journal | |
| Volume | 85 | Issue | 2 | Pages | 129-142 |
| Keywords | Kosten, Nutzen, Interieurbeurteilung, Pferd, Temperament [Economy, personality assessment, horse, temperament] | ||||
| Abstract | Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war die Ermittlung der Kosten eines Verhaltenstests zur objektiven Temperamentbeurteilung. Sie wurde an 1028 Pferden auf 55 Zuchtveranstaltungen und Privatbetrieben ermittelt. Weiterhin wurde eine Befragung zur allgemeinen Akzeptanz einer solchen Beurteilung bei Reitpferden durchgeführt. Zusätzlich wurde mit Hilfe einer Online-Umfrage die Meinung zu den Kosten und dem Aufwand einer solchen Beurteilung ermittelt. Die Kosten der Einführung einer objektiven Temperamentbeurteilung entsprechen nach Einbeziehung aller Faktoren ca. 18 Euro je Pferd. Den Kosten steht die Zahlungsbereitschaft für eine verbesserte, da objektivierte Temperamentbeurteilung gegenüber. Insgesamt 56,7% der Befragten wären bereit, mehr als 11 Euro für eine objektive Interieurbeurteilung auf Leistungsprüfungen im Feld zu investieren. Im Rahmen von Stationsprüfungen wären sie sogar bereit mehr als 30 Euro aufzuwenden. Die Wertsteigerung eines im Rahmen des Verfahrens positiv bewerteten Pferdes um 5%, die von den Teilnehmern der Umfrage durchschnittlich angenommen wird, würde zusätzlich den Gewinn beim Pferdeverkauf steigern. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Kosten einer objektiven Temperamentbeurteilung durch eine erhöhte Zahlungsbereitschaft der Käufer scheinbar kompensiert werden können, so dass die Einführung eines Temperamenttests zur objektiven Interieurbeurteilung in Form der vorgestellten Untersuchungen grundsätzlich finanzierbar ist. [The aim of the present study was to assess costs as well as riders’ acceptance of an objective temperament evaluation in riding horses. Costs were determined based on a novel object test conducted in 1028 horses tested on 65 occasions during performance tests or in private stables. In addition, an online survey was used to identify riders’ opinion about the costs and benefits of such an assessment. Based on the conditions assumed in the present study the costs for temperament testing have amount 18 Euro per horse. More than 50% of the respondents were willing to pay more than 11 Euro for an objective temperament assessment in their horses during performance tests in field. Within performance tests on station they would spend more than 30 Euro for an objective temperament assessment. Participants further assumed a rise in value of favourably assessed horses by 5%, leading to increased profits when selling the horse. In conclusion, riders appear to be willing to cover the additional costs accrued from the temperament test. Therefore, the introduction of an objective temperament assessment is likely to pay off.] |
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| ISSN | 0044-5401 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5866 | ||
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| Author | Graf, P.; König von Borstel, U.; Gauly, M. | ||||
| Title | Practical considerations regarding the implementation of a temperament test into horse performance tests: Results of a large-scale test run | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2014 | Publication | Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research | Abbreviated Journal | |
| Volume | 9 | Issue | 6 | Pages | 329-340 |
| Keywords | novel object test; temperament; personality; horse; performance traits; performance tests | ||||
| Abstract | Abstract Considering the ever-growing demand of various breeding organizations for an objective, inexpensive, reliable, and easily conducted assessment of the behavior of horses, the aim of our study was to implement a novel-object test and a startling test into any kind of breeding performance testing to assess horses' temperament. Additionally, the influence of testing areas (familiar or unfamiliar), riders, and horse factors such as levels of training, breed, and age were of interest. Furthermore, recommendations for the practical implementation concerning the parameters should be given. Therefore, 1,028 horses over a period of 3 years participated in a temperament test consisting of 5 different stimuli. The horses were either ridden (61.8 %) or led by hand (38.2 %) by an unfamiliar professional rider (N = 43) or a familiar rider (N = 20). Live behavioral observations were taken by a trained observer. Overall, horses' scores for reactivity in the present temperament test were distributed over the whole scale, with lower means and higher standard deviations (6.7 ± 2.2-7.6 ± 2.1) than corresponding scores from the conventional personality evaluation in performance tests (7.7 ± 0.8-8.2 ± 0.5; P < 0.01). High correlations (r = 0.3-0.9; P < 0.001) between the scores for reactivity and the other behavioral parameters (emotional expression, activity, time to calm down, rider's aids) show a large influence of these parameters in assessing the horses' temperament. Factors like breed type, sex, and age had significant influences (P < 0.001) on different scores of the temperament test. In most cases, the rider or handler had no influence on the different scores assessed during the temperament test. The training level and the testing modus never had a significant influence on different scores. Only the testing station or location had a small influence on the scores for the stimulus “bridge” in some horses. Based on the results, it could be concluded that an implementation of a temperament tests into performance testing is possible during various types of testing procedure. Especially the assessment of reactivity, emotional expression, interest in the stimulus and rider's aids during and after passing the stimulus, as well as the time to calm down are important parameters for analyzing the horses' personality. | ||||
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| ISSN | 1558-7878 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5867 | ||
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| Author | König von Borstel, U.; Kienapfel, K.; McLean, A.; Wilkins, C.; Evans, D.; McGreevy, P. | ||||
| Title | Hyperflexing the horse‘s neck: a cost-benefit and meta-analysis | Type | Conference Article | ||
| Year | 2015 | Publication | Proceedings of the 3. International Equine Science Meeting | Abbreviated Journal | Proc. 3. Int. Equine. Sci. Mtg |
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| Keywords | horse, head-and-neck posture, hyperflexion, welfare, gymnastics | ||||
| Abstract | In ethical discussions, a cost-benefit analysis requires that welfare costs associated with an activity can be reliably estimated and balanced against the potential benefits of the activity to both humans and animals. The current study applies a meta-analysis to the peer-reviewed evidence for costs and benefits of hyperflexion of the neck in horses; a practice that has attracted enormous public and scientific scrutiny over the past 15 years. A literature review identified 55 studies dealing with horses’ head and neck postures. Fourty-two of these studies examined the impact of various postures on equine welfare, for example, by assessing behavior, physiological stress parameters, health or rider-horse interaction. Thirty-five studies examined the impact of various postures on gymnastics (e.g. kinematics, shifts in weight distribution, muscle activity, airway functioning or overall workload). For the meta-analysis a dataset containing information from each of the individual studies was created. Data included information such as type, degree, duration and circumstances of hyperflexion applied in that particular study as well as information on the horses (e.g., sport discipline, level of training, breed) and on the study design (e.g., size of study and experimental or epidemiological research design). The results of the study regarding the impact of hyperflexion on a) welfare and b) gymnastics were coded as positive (1), insignificant or contradictory (0) or negative (-1). The significant majority of studies (88%) concluded that a hyperflexed head and neck posture negatively impacts welfare. Just one study suggested welfare advantages of training in a hyperflexed head and neck posture. An analysis using a generalized linear mixed model to assess the influence of the above factors collated in the dataset revealed that none of these factors significantly influenced the probability of a study to detect negative welfare implications. Thus hyperflexing the neck appears to impair horses’ welfare regardless of, for example, the duration or the way of achieving hyperflexion. A concurrent assessment of the evidence for gymnastic benefits showed that approximately one quarter of studies conclude that there may be benefits, while another quarter of the studies conclude that hyperflexion has detrimental effects on gymnastics. Thus, on the costs-side there is a clear reduction in equine welfare and some undesirable gymnastic effects, as well as likely a compromised profile of the equestrian sports in public. Benefits, on the other hand, include some desirable gymnastic effects, and potentially increased control of the horse for the rider. On balance, it appears that the costs associated with hyperflexion exceed the potential benefits of the activity to both humans and horses. | ||||
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| Corporate Author | König von Borstel, U. | Thesis | |||
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| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5872 | ||
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| Author | Ayala, I.; Martos, N.F.; Silvan, G.; Gutierrez-Panizo, C.; Clavel, J.G.; Illera, J.C. | ||||
| Title | Cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, serotonin, adrenaline and noradrenaline serum concentrations in relation to disease and stress in the horse | Type | Journal Article | ||
| Year | 2012 | Publication | Research in Veterinary Science | Abbreviated Journal | |
| Volume | 93 | Issue | 1 | Pages | 103-107 |
| Keywords | Horse; Disease; Cortisol; Acth; Serotonin; Catecholamines; Stress | ||||
| Abstract | No detailed comparative data are available on the hormonal parameters of horses suffering from a number of diseases. The aim of our study was to measure concentrations of cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), serotonin, adrenaline and noradrenaline in horses with various diseases and following surgery, to assess the response of the HPA axis and adrenal medulla. Blood samples were obtained from six groups of horses comprising a total of 119 animals as follows: laminitis, acute abdominal syndrome (AAS), castration surgery, acute diseases, chronic diseases and healthy controls. Serum hormonal concentrations were determined for each group for comparison. Statistically significant differences between all groups and controls were found for cortisol, ACTH (except for castration), serotonin and adrenaline concentrations but only in horses with laminitis and AAS for noradrenaline. No statistically significant differences were found between males and females. The largest changes in the pituitary–adrenal axis activity occurred mainly in acute diseases, laminitis and in the AAS group. | ||||
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| ISSN | 0034-5288 | ISBN | Medium | ||
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Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5935 | ||
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| Author | Baragli, P.; Demuru, E.; Palagi, E. | ||||
| Title | Mirror on the wall, who is the horsest of our all? Self-recognition in Equus caballus | Type | Conference Article | ||
| Year | 2015 | Publication | Proceedings of the 3. International Equine Science Meeting | Abbreviated Journal | Proc. 3. Int. Equine. Sci. Mtg |
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| Keywords | Domestic horse • Mark test • Socio-cognitive skills • Self-awareness | ||||
| Abstract | Mirror Self-Recognition (MSR) is an extremely rare capacity in the animal kingdom that reveals the emergence of complex cognitive capacities (de Waal 2008). So far, MSR has been reported only in humans, chimpanzees (Gallup, 1970), bottlenose dolphins (Reiss and Marino, 2001) and Asian elephants (Plotnik et al, 2006), all species characterized by a highly developed cognition. There is growing evidence that domestic horses posses high cognitive abilities, such as cross-modal individual recognition (Proops et al, 2009), triadic post-conflict reunion to maintain social homeostasis (Cozzi et al, 2010), complex communicative systems (Whatan and McComb, 2014), flexibility in problem-solving (Lovrovich et al, 2015), and long-term memory (Hanggi and Ingersoll, 2009). All these capacities make horses a good candidate to test the ability of MSR in a domestic species. Through a classical MSR experimental paradigm (de Waal 2008) we tested eight horses living in social groups under semi-natural conditions (from the Italian Horse Protection rescue centre). Animals showing MSR typically go through four stages (Plotnik et al, 2006): (i) social response, (ii) physical mirror inspection (e.g., looking behind the mirror), (iii) repetitive mirror-testing behaviour (i.e., the beginning of mirror understanding), and (iv) self-directed behaviour (i.e., recognition of the mirror image as self). The final stage, known as the “mark-test”, is verified when a subject spontaneously uses the mirror to check for a coloured artificial mark on its own body which it cannot perceive otherwise. The horses underwent a three-phase “mark-test”: 1) with sham mark (transparent ultrasound water gel) positioned on both side at jaw level, 2) mark (yellow eye shadow mixed with ultrasound water gel) positioned on left side of jaw (with sham mark on the right), 3) mark (yellow eye shadow mixed with ultrasound water gel) positioned on right side of jaw (with sham mark on the left) The mirror was one 0.5-cm-thick piece of 140x220-cm plexiglass glue on wood. Each test lasted one hour, horses were tested once a day, in consecutive days and at the same time. Our preliminary result on 1 horse shows some changes in self-directed behaviours which can be attributed to presence of the coloured mark. Firstly, the presence of the coloured mark significantly increased the frequency of scratching on both sides of the muzzle (p < 0.0001). The most intriguing result (p < 0.0001) comes from the comparison of the scratching rates directed towards the coloured mark side (N = 41) and the sham mark side (N = 23). Under the control condition (i.e. sham mark on both sides) no statistical difference was found for the scratching rates directed to the muzzle sides (dx N = 8; sx N = 5). Although further analyses are needed to confirm these preliminary results, our finding opens new scenarios about the evolution of Mirror Self-Recognition. The capacity of horses to recognize themselves in a mirror may be the outcome of an evolutionary convergence process driven by the cognitive pressures imposed by a complex social system and maintained despite thousands years of domestication. Keywords: Domestic horse · Mark test · Socio-cognitive skills · Self-awareness References De Waal FBM (2008) The thief in the mirror. PloS Biol 6(8):e201 Gallup GG Jr (1970) Chimpanzees: Self-recognition. Science 167: 86-87. Reiss D, Marino L (2001). Mirror self-recognition in the bottlenose dolphin: A case of cognitive convergence. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98:5937-5942. Plotnik J, de Waal FBM, Reiss D (2006) Self-recognition in an Asian elephant. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103: 17053-17057. Proops L, McComb K, Reby D. (2009) Cross-modal individual recognition in domestic horses (Equus caballus). Proc Nat Acad Sci USA;106:947-951. Cozzi A, Sighieri C, Gazzano A, Nicol CJ, Baragli P. Post-conflict friendly reunion in a permanent group of horses (Equus caballus). Behav Process 2010;85:185-190. Wathan J, McComb K. The eyes and ears are visual indicators of attention in domestic horses. Curr Biol 2014;24(15): R677-R679. Lovrovich P, Sighieri C, Baragli P (2015) Following human-given cues or not? Horses (Equus caballus) get smarter and change strategy in a delayed three choice task. Appl Anim Behav Sci, in press. Hanggi EB, Ingersoll JF. (2009) Long-term memory for categories and concepts in horses (Equus caballus). Anim Cogn; 12:451-462. |
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| Corporate Author | Baragli, P. | Thesis | |||
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Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5874 | ||
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| Author | Malavasi, R.; Huber, L. | ||||
| Title | Referential communication in the domestic horse (Equus caballus): first exploration in an ungulate species | Type | Conference Article | ||
| Year | 2015 | Publication | Proceedings of the 3. International Equine Science Meeting | Abbreviated Journal | Proc. 3. Int. Equine. Sci. Mtg |
| Volume | Issue | Pages | |||
| Keywords | domestic horse, referential communication, human-horse communication, intentionality | ||||
| Abstract | An important question in the study of animal communication is whether non-human animals are able to produce communicative gestures, i.e. nonvocal bodily actions directed to a recipient, physically ineffective but with a meaning shared in the social group [1]. Passive gestures are instrumental, tuned to the mere presence/absence of others, whereas active informers recognize receivers as communicative agents and activate shared-attention mechanisms for identifying their attentional state (SAM [2]; e.g. Schwab and Huber [3]). Six operational criteria must be evaluated to classify a signal as referential and intentional [4]: (1) alternative gazes between the partner and the target; (2) apparent attention-getting behaviours are deployed; (3) an audience is required to exhibit the behaviour; (4) the attentional status of an observer influences the propensity to exhibit behaviours; (5) communication is persistent and (6) there is elaboration of communicative behaviour when apparent attempts to manipulate the partner fail. Dogs [5] and non-human primates (reviewed in Liebal and Call [6]) can tune a human receiver’s attention to the object of interest by combining directional and attention-getting signals, such as turning the head or body, gazing to the receiver, and/or establishing eye contact. Research on other species is scarce. Horses rely on humans to survive in domestic settings and may have evolved skills for communicating flexibly with them [7]. Horses understand human attentional cues (such as body and head orientation, eyes opened/closed) [8], permanent pointing [9] and, to some extent, gazing [10]. Here we tested the ability of 14 outdoor, herd-living domestic horses to communicate referentially with a human partner about the location of a desired target, a bucket of food out of reach. After the baiting of two buckets placed in opposite, unreachable locations were shown by the experimenter, the subject would walk to one of the two buckets. Because approaching a bucket would reveal that the food is out of reach, we expected the horse to look back to the experimenter, then to the bucket, and alternate this gazing several times to indicate its intention. To test whether our prediction is correct and alternate gazing is indeed the result of the horse's referential communication, we video-recorded the behaviour of the subjects in the test (FORWARD) and three control conditions: (1) FORWARD: experimenter oriented to the center of the arena, (2) BACK: experimenter backward oriented in respect to the arena, (3) ALONE: experimenter absent, (4) MANY: as FORWARD plus a familiar human oriented to the subject behind the bucket (Figure 1). We used a conservative criterion of back gazing by considering only turning the head back more than 90 degrees. The results confirmed our prediction. The horses alternated gazes between the partner and the buck significantly more often in the FORWARD than in all the other conditions (Table 1), thus satisfying operational criteria #1, #3 and #4. They also alternated head nods with gazes to the partner significantly more often during the FORWARD condition. We thus considered head nods not an instrumental signal of arousal, but an attention-getting behaviour with communicative function. Subjects used both head nods and neck stretched toward the buck more often in the FORWARD than in the BACK and the ALONE conditions, thus satisfying criteria #2, #3 and #4. In condition MANY, the frequency of head nods did not differ from condition FORWARD, probably because nods were directed to the additional partner behind the buck. This also satisfies criteria #4. The horses gazed to the partner most often in the FORWARD than in the BACK and the MANY conditions, but not in the ALONE. In this condition, subjects could observe the partner walking further from the test arena. To test for the different functions of gazes in presence and in absence of the partner, we compared their average duration between the two conditions: the significantly longer duration of gazes when the subject was alone suggests the instrumental monitoring function of gazes in this experimental condition. Altogether, the findings suggest that domestic horses possess the ability to use referential communication in an interspecific context, but additional analyses are needed to test for operational criteria #5 and #6. Flexible and voluntary use of communicative signals reveal sophisticated cognitive processes involved in the strategic emission of these signals, and the finding of referential communication skills in an ungulate species forces us to reconsider the evolutionary path of intelligence. Furthermore, ungulates are used intensively by humans (transportation, meat, agriculture, leisure activities), and their welfare is often compromised. Determining whether ungulates can communicate their needs and preferences is paramount to a proper ethical management. |
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| Corporate Author | Malavasi, R. | Thesis | |||
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Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5876 | ||
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| Author | Berger, A.; Wolfram, M. | ||||
| Title | Integration of zoo-kept Przewalski horses into a herd of Przewalski horses living in a semireserve | Type | Conference Article | ||
| Year | 2015 | Publication | Proceedings of the 3. International Equine Science Meeting | Abbreviated Journal | Proc. 3. Int. Equine. Sci. Mtg |
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| Keywords | Przewalski horse, introduction, stress | ||||
| Abstract | Naturally, horses live in groups in which all individuals are long-term acquainted with each other and a stable hierarchical system is established. In conservation management, introduction of horses into foreign groups is often required but will lead to fights, stress and increased health risks for the animals. We investigated the integration process of four Przewalski mares from the Zoo Leipzig into the herd of five Przewalski horses of the semireserve Liebenthal (Brandenburg, Germany). We observed changes in social hierarchy as well as a higher stress level (expressed by disturbed activity pattern and lower synchronization with environmental conditions) especially in the introduced horses (from Zoo Leipzig). We investigated the animals continuously over two years to detect what time is needed for a successful integration. Finally, we give some advice for the integration of Przewalski horses into a new herd to reduce the stress of the animals substantially. | ||||
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| Corporate Author | Berger, A. | Thesis | |||
| Publisher | Xenophon Publishing | Place of Publication | Wald | Editor | Krueger. K. |
| Language | Summary Language | Original Title | |||
| Series Editor | Series Title | Abbreviated Series Title | |||
| Series Volume | Series Issue | Edition | |||
| ISSN | ISBN | 978-3-95625-000-2 | Medium | ||
| Area | Expedition | Conference | |||
| Notes |
Approved | no | |||
| Call Number | Equine Behaviour @ team @ | Serial | 5892 | ||
| Permanent link to this record | |||||