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Author Zeitler-Feicht, M. H.; Streit, S.; Dempfle, L. openurl 
  Title Automatic feeding systems for horses in group housing systems with regard to animal welfare. Part 2: Comparison of different automatic feeding systems Type Journal Article
  Year 2011 Publication Tierärztliche Praxis Großtiere Abbreviated Journal Tierärztl Prax  
  Volume 39 Issue G Pages 33-40  
  Keywords (up) Pferd, Fütterungssystem, Bauvarianten, soziale Interaktionen, Besuchshäufigkeit, Aufenthaltsdauer, Herzfrequenz, Verletzungsrisiko [Horse, feeding system, different types of construction, social interactions, visiting frequency, duration of stay, heart rate, risk of injury]  
  Abstract Ziel: Überprüfung der Tiergerechtheit von in der Bauweise unterschiedlichen

Futterabrufstationen für Pferde in Gruppenhaltung anhand ethologischer

und physiologischer Parameter. Material und Methoden: In 32

Offenlaufställen (452 Pferde) mit computergesteuerten Abrufstationen

für Kraftfutter und Heu erfolgten kontinuierliche Direktbeobachtungen

für je einen 24-Stunden-Tag (Tortenstückverfahren). Erfasst wurden: Aufenthaltsdauer,

Besuchshäufigkeit, Droh- und Meideverhalten im Fütterungsbereich,

Blockaden sowie Herzfrequenz und Integumentverletzungen.

Ergebnisse: Eine Durchlaufstation reduzierte die Zahl der Auseinandersetzungen

im Fütterungsbereich signifikant. Ansonsten erhöhten die

für das fressende Pferd tiergerechten Varianten (Fressstand mit Eingangssperre,

ohne Austreibehilfe) Besuchshäufigkeit und Aufenthaltsdauer und

steigerten somit auch die Anzahl an Drohgesten je Tier und Tag. Insgesamt

betrachtet kann jedoch die Anzahl an sozionegativen Interaktionen

im Fütterungsbereich der Abrufstationen als relativ gering eingestuft

werden. Die Herzfrequenz lag im Warteareal bei den meisten Pferden im

physiologischen Bereich (45,1 ± 12,42 Schläge/min), erhöhte sich jedoch

in der Abrufstation um ca. 20 Schläge/min. Einige Tiere zeigten möglicherweise

stressbedingt kurzfristig auffallend hohe Werte (≥ 100 Schläge/

min). Integumentverletzungen im Zusammenhang mit dem Fütterungssystem

traten nicht auf. Der wichtigste Einflussfaktor auf die Untersuchungskriterien

war der Betrieb (Fläche, Konzeption, Management).

Schlussfolgerung: Durchlaufstationen sind pferdegerechter als Rücklaufstationen.

Nicht tiergerecht sind Stationen mit stromführender Austreibehilfe.

Weitere bauliche Unterschiede der derzeitigen Futterabrufstationen

dürften eher von untergeordneter Bedeutung sein, vor allem da

Flächengebot und Konzeption der Offenstallanlage sowie das Management

die überprüften Kriterien zur Tiergerechtheit maßgeblich beeinflussen.

Untersuchungen zur Abklärung der Ursache für die vereinzelt aufgetretenen

sehr hohen Herzfrequenzwerte sollten durchgeführt werden.

Objective: Comparison with regard to animal welfare of different automatic

feeding systems for hay and concentrate in group housing systems

for horses using parameters of ethology and physiology. Material and

methods: Parameters of research comprised: duration of stay, frequency

of visit, threatening behaviour with and without risk of injury, and avoiding

behaviour as well as heart rate and injuries of the integument. 452

horses were observed at the feeding area of 32 run-out-sheds. Every group

of horses was continuously observed following the pie chart system for

24 hours. Results: The “walk-through” station significantly reduced the

number of conflicts in the feeding area, whereas those systems which are

appropriate for the feeding horses (feeding station with access barrier and

without stimulation device by electric shock) led to a higher frequency of

visits and a longer duration of stay resulting in more threatening gestures.

However, the number of negative interactions in the feeding area of the

feeding systems can all together be classified as relatively insignificant.

The heart rate was within the physiological range (45.1 ± 12.42 beats/min)

in the waiting area, but increased by approximately 20 beats/min on average

within the feeding station. Some horses showed a very high heart rate

(≥ 100 beats/min) while entering the feeding station, possibly stress-related.

There were no injuries of the integument associated with the feeding

systems. The most important factor of the observation criteria was the

individual group housing system with its different dimensions, conception

and management. Conclusion: “Walk-through” stations are better than

”walk-back” stations with regard to animal welfare. Likewise, automatic

feeding stations with a current-carrying stimulation device are not supportive

of good welfare. The other differences between the constructions

of feeding stations of present systems are probably of less importance, particularly

as it was shown that the stable (management, stable area, conception)

had a significant influence on the surveyed parameters. Investigations

to obtain information on the cause for the sporadic occurrence of

very high heart rate values should be undertaken.]
 
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 5766  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Flauger, B. url  openurl
  Title The introduction of horses into new social groups with special regard to their stress level Type Manuscript
  Year 2011 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages  
  Keywords (up) Pferd; Equiden; Eingliederungstechnik; Integrationspferd; Stress; Cortisol; Endokrine Reaktion; Gruppenhaltung; Verletzungsgefahr; Aggression; Futterplatzwahl; Kot; Geruchssinn; Mensch-Pferd Interaktion; horse; equids; introduction technique; integration horse; stress; cortisol; endocrine response; group housing; injury risk; aggression; feeding decision; faecal sample; olfaction; human-horse interaction  
  Abstract Horses are a highly social species living in complex social systems which should require them to memorise and generalise social experiences and distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics. In the main part of my thesis I concentrated on the specific conflict situation of a horse being introduced into a new social group, and investigated its behaviour and stress level. Horses were either introduced (1) immediately, (2) after an observation period, or (3) together with an integration horse after an observation period. Additionally, in the second part of my thesis I arranged several experiments to elaborate additional aspects which could affect the behaviour of horses during introductions. In this study I could describe a simplified method for measuring stress through the analysis of faecal GCMs in horses. An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for 11-oxoaetiocholanolone using 11-oxoaetiocholanolone-17-CMO: BSA (3?,11-oxo-A EIA) as antigen showed high amounts of immunoreactive substances. The new assay increases the accuracy of the test and lowers the expenses per sample; also storing of samples at room temperature after collection is less critical. This is a big advantage both in the field of wildlife management of equids and in the field of equestrian sports (chapter 1). Comparing the different introduction techniques, the introduction with an integration horse led to significantly less total interactions and lower levels of aggression than the introduction of single horses, both immediately and after several days of observing the new group. Additionally, by observing the behaviour of the horses during everyday sociality I could develop a formula describing the interrelationship between expected aggression level and enclosure size per horse. The curve takes an exponential shape. Starting from a space allowance of 300 m2 and more per horse, the amount of aggressions per hour approaches zero. For the reduction of aggression levels and injury risks in socially kept horses I recommend an enclosure size of at least 300 m2 per horse (chapter 2). I further investigated the stress level of the introduced animals. Horses which were immediately introduced did not show elevated faecal GCMs. In contrast, horses which were introduced after an observation period had slightly elevated values 2 and 3 days after the introduction. For horses introduced together with an integration horse faecal GCMs were significantly above the baseline value on the day of introduction and 1 day after it. These differences between introduction techniques indicate that the introduction event itself is not as stressful as previously assumed. Rather standing together with an integration horse and not being able to integrate immediately into the complete group elicits stress in horses (chapter 3). In the commentary of chapter 4 several studies are discussed which failed to demonstrate social learning in horses. It is argued that they did not consider important aspects which could have an influence, such as the dominance status or the social background of the horses (chapter 4). In chapter 5 a social feeding situation was investigated. The social rank as well as the position of conspecifics affected the feeding strategy of horses. Domestic horses used social cognition and strategic decision making in order to decide where to feed. When possible they tended to return to the same, continuously supplied feeding site and switched to an ?avoidance tendency? in the presence of dominant horses or when another horse was already feeding there (chapter 5). One possibility to recognize group members is through olfactory recognition. In chapter 6 it is shown that horses are able to distinguish their own from their conspecifics? faeces. In addition, they paid most attention to the faeces of those group members from which they received the highest amount of aggressive behaviour (chapter 6). Horses show cognitive abilities because they are able to use humans as local enhancement cues when searching for food, independently of their body posture or gaze consistency when the persons face them. Moreover, they seem to orientate on the attention of familiar persons more than of unfamiliar persons (chapter 7). Altogether, the results of this thesis provide further support for the view that horses show good conflict resolution strategies. They are perfectly able to deal with the conflict situation of being introduced to new group members, and the introduction event itself is not as stressful as previously assumed. It is rather suggested that standing together with an integration horse and not being able to integrate immediately into the complete group elicits stress in horses. All additional experimental set-ups could demonstrate that horses are well capable of social cognition.  
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ epub18463 Serial 5736  
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Author Murray, J.K.; Singer, E.R.; Morgan, K.L.; Proudman, C.J.; French, N.P. url  openurl
  Title Memory decay and performance-related information bias in the reporting of scores by event riders Type Journal Article
  Year 2004 Publication Preventive Veterinary Medicine Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 63 Issue 3-4 Pages 173-182  
  Keywords (up) Reporting bias; Memory decay; Risk factors; Horse; Cross-country  
  Abstract We used data from a case-control study investigating risk factors for horse falls in the cross-country phase of eventing in Great Britain (GB) to examine evidence for memory decay and information bias. Responses to two questions obtained by telephone for 173 cases and 521 controls were examined for evidence of differential reporting according to the respondent's case-control status and performance in the dressage and cross-country phases of competitions. Information bias was found in the accuracy of reporting dressage penalty scores when analysed as a function of performance level (good/poor). Poor dressage performers were less likely to report accurate dressage scores than good performers. The accuracy of reporting dressage scores decreased as the time between the event and questionnaire completion increased, with no case-control interaction. Competitors who incurred cross-country jumping penalties at the event preceding the selected event reported their cross-country scores with less accuracy when compared with competitors who incurred no penalties. No information bias was found when the reporting of dressage and cross-country scores were analysed as a function of respondent category (case/control).  
  Address  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 3955  
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Author Reluga, T.C.; Viscido, S. doi  openurl
  Title Simulated evolution of selfish herd behavior Type Journal Article
  Year 2005 Publication Journal of Theoretical Biology Abbreviated Journal J. Theor. Biol.  
  Volume 234 Issue 2 Pages 213-225  
  Keywords (up) Selfish herd; Behavior; Evolution; Predation risk  
  Abstract Single species aggregations are a commonly observed phenomenon. One potential explanation for these aggregations is provided by the selfish herd hypothesis, which states that aggregations result from individual efforts to reduce personnel predation risk at the expense of group-mates. Not all movement rules based on the selfish herd hypothesis are consistent with observed animal behavior. Previous work has shown that herd-like aggregations are not generated by movement rules limited to local interactions between nearest neighbors. Instead, rules generating realistic herds appear to require delocalized interactions. To date, it has been an open question whether or not the necessary delocalization can emerge from local interactions under natural selection. To address this question, we study an individual-based model with a single quantitative genetic trait that controls the influence of neighbors as a function of distance. The results indicate that predation-based selection can increase the influence of distant neighbors relative to near neighbors. Our results lend support for the idea that selfish herd behavior can arise from localized movement rules under natural selection.  
  Address  
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  ISSN ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 553  
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