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Bahman, M. |
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The prevalence of parascaris equorum in Tehran's riding clubs |
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Conference Article |
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2012 |
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Proceedings of the 2. International Equine Science Meeting |
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Proc. 2. Int. Equine. Sci. Mtg |
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in press |
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Parascaris; coproscopic examination; parasitology; deworming; endoparasites |
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Parascaris equorum (ascarid; roundworm) is a common nematode parasite which occurs in the small intestine of immature horses world-wide. Adult female ascarids lay eggs in the small intestine, and these eggs pass into the environment within the feces of the host. P. equorum is one of the rare nematodes which induce absolute acquired immunity. Most horses become immune during the first year of life, so patent ascarid infections are rarely diagnosed in horses over two years of age. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection with parascaris equorum in Tehran’s riding clubs. The prevalence and rate of infection was determined based on the coproscopic examination. Fecal samples were tested for the presence of parascaris using suspend method. In this investigation, 442 fecal samples of horses from North-East of Tehran’s riding clubs examined. From the viewpoint of parascaris roundworms, fecal samples were obtained from each box separately and send in containers with plastic lid. The samples were then transferred to the parasitology lab for further examination. The infection was recognized based on the observation of parascaris eggs in coproscopic examination. The infection rate in the foal in this study was zero percent. Another interesting result was increasing the infection rate in horses of 10 years or even older and gelding. Out of 442 samples, the infection rate in the samples taken in summer, was 3.16%, and in the fall, winter and spring it was 2.4%, 10% and 3.16% respectively. The infection rates in relation to the age, sex, excursion condition, seasons and deworming programs was studied too. The results showed that the local and the imported horses should be monitored parasitologically, because endoparasites may create a major epizootiolocall problem when these animals are kept in an organic raising system. Deworming program is to be continued with proper methodology, dose and throughout the productive age of the horses. |
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Bahman, M. |
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Xenophon Publishing |
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Wald |
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Krueger, K. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5498 |
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Ödberg, F. |
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History of schooling and its relation with conditioning laws and welfare |
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Conference Article |
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2012 |
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Proceedings of the 2. International Equine Science Meeting |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. 2. Int. Equine. Sci. Mtg |
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in press |
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While writings from the Hittite Kikkuli and the Greek hippiatrica concerned stamina training and mainly veterinary aspects, the first explicit writings left about schooling are from the hand of Xenophon. He showed already a plight to understand the horse’s behaviour and apply an animal-friendly schooling. What happened in Roman times and early middle ages is unclear through a lack of documents. Literature increased in late middle ages (a few Iberic authors and the Italian Rusius) but remained scarce. One presumes knights were brutal because of the strength of bits and spurs, but iconography shows also horses ridden without coercion. Linear progress in schooling cannot be found before the transition between the renaissance and baroque periods. Writings from renaissance masters such as Grisone, Fiaschi, Pignatelli and de la Broue, show a generally violent way of schooling (excepted Conte and Pavari) strangely contrasting with appeals for kindness. One then observes from the 17th century authors to the 18th century baroque masters a gradual improvement concerning important aspects: evolving 1/ from anthropomorphism to understanding horse behaviour, and 2/ from coercion to obtaining gradually suppleness and applying the laws of physics concerning weight distribution. Many baroque and early 19th century masters had understood intuitively conditioning laws discovered scientifically in the 20th century by the Pavlovians and behaviourists. The essence of schooling was settled in the baroque period. It subsided unfortunately in the 19th (with better survival in Germany, Austria and Iberic countries) because of a/ more interest for racing and hunting, b/ the French revolution that closed academies and c/ mass army training. Pressure of competition in the 20th nearly eradicated academic tradition. In the second part we translate some fundamental riding principles into scientific terminology. “Independence of aids” is based on discrimination of stimuli and overshadowing. “Discretion of aids” on generalization and second-order conditioning. “Descente de mains et de jambes” on avoidance of habituation, of confusion, and of the impossibility to apply negative reward. “Legs without hands, hands without legs” on avoidance of experimental neurosis due to contradictory stimuli. Time permitting, processes such as positive social modelling and occasion setting will be explained. The above mentioned principles are rarely applied nowadays. The FEI holds a large responsibility in the acceptance, even institutionalizing, of a probably animal-unfriendly riding. It is also shameful that some schools, that for years, or even centuries, were the guardians of old principles, are relinquishing them under commercial pressure. All too often, modern riding is obviously animal-unfriendly for the intuitive rider. Scientists however seek facts. Frequency of conflict behaviours is an indicator at ethological level. However, some horses could be in learned helplessness. There is no litmus test for that (except complicated avoidance learning procedures). There is a need for physiological stress parameters according to breed, age, sex. Horses schooled according to different philosophies are often from different breeds making matched-pairs studies difficult. The important role of pre- and postnatal experience complicates precise scientific evaluation in everyday equine practice. One cannot standardize ontogeny in horses as in laboratory animals. Keywords: academic riding principles, history, learning theory, welfare KW - |
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Odberg, F. |
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Xenophon Publishing |
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Wald |
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Krueger, K. |
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978-3-9808134-26 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5532 |
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Warmuth, V.; Eriksson, A.; Bower, M.A.; Barker, G.; Barrett, E.; Hanks, B.K.; Li, S.; Lomitashvili, D.; Ochir-Goryaeva, M.; Sizonov, G.V.; Soyonov, V.; Manica, A. |
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Reconstructing the origin and spread of horse domestication in the Eurasian steppe |
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2012 |
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |
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Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A |
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Despite decades of research across multiple disciplines, the early history of horse domestication remains poorly understood. On the basis of current evidence from archaeology, mitochondrial DNA, and Y-chromosomal sequencing, a number of different domestication scenarios have been proposed, ranging from the spread of domestic horses out of a restricted primary area of domestication to the domestication of numerous distinct wild horse populations. In this paper, we reconstruct both the population genetic structure of the extinct wild progenitor of domestic horses, Equus ferus, and the origin and spread of horse domestication in the Eurasian steppes by fitting a spatially explicit stepping-stone model to genotype data from >300 horses sampled across northern Eurasia. We find strong evidence for an expansion of E. ferus out of eastern Eurasia about 160 kya, likely reflecting the colonization of Eurasia by this species. Our best-fitting scenario further suggests that horse domestication originated in the western part of the Eurasian steppe and that domestic herds were repeatedly restocked with local wild horses as they spread out of this area. By showing that horse domestication was initiated in the western Eurasian steppe and that the spread of domestic herds across Eurasia involved extensive introgression from the wild, the scenario of horse domestication proposed here unites evidence from archaeology, mitochondrial DNA, and Y-chromosomal DNA. |
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5612 |
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Proops, L.; McComb, K. |
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Cross-modal individual recognition in domestic horses (Equus caballus) extends to familiar humans |
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2012 |
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Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
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279 |
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1741 |
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3131-3138 |
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It has recently been shown that some non-human animals can cross-modally recognize members of their own taxon. What is unclear is just how plastic this recognition system can be. In this study, we investigate whether an animal, the domestic horse, is capable of spontaneous cross-modal recognition of individuals from a morphologically very different species. We also provide the first insights into how cross-modal identity information is processed by examining whether there are hemispheric biases in this important social skill. In our preferential looking paradigm, subjects were presented with two people and playbacks of their voices to determine whether they were able to match the voice with the person. When presented with familiar handlers subjects could match the specific familiar person with the correct familiar voice. Horses were significantly better at performing the matching task when the congruent person was standing on their right, indicating marked hemispheric specialization (left hemisphere bias) in this ability. These results are the first to demonstrate that cross-modal recognition in animals can extend to individuals from phylogenetically very distant species. They also indicate that processes governed by the left hemisphere are central to the cross-modal matching of visual and auditory information from familiar individuals in a naturalistic setting. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5616 |
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Schneider, A.-C.; Melis, A.P.; Tomasello, M. |
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How chimpanzees solve collective action problems |
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2012 |
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Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
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We presented small groups of chimpanzees with two collective action situations, in which action was necessary for reward but there was a disincentive for individuals to act owing to the possibility of free-riding on the efforts of others. We found that in simpler scenarios (experiment 1) in which group size was small, there was a positive relationship between rank and action with more dominant individuals volunteering to act more often, particularly when the reward was less dispersed. Social tolerance also seemed to mediate action whereby higher tolerance levels within a group resulted in individuals of lower ranks sometimes acting and appropriating more of the reward. In more complex scenarios, when group size was larger and cooperation was necessary (experiment 2), overcoming the problem was more challenging. There was highly significant variability in the action rates of different individuals as well as between dyads, suggesting success was more greatly influenced by the individual personalities and personal relationships present in the group. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5629 |
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Meagher, R.K.; Mason, G.J. |
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Environmental Enrichment Reduces Signs of Boredom in Caged Mink |
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2012 |
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PLoS ONE |
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PLoS ONE |
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7 |
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11 |
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e49180 |
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<p>Animals housed in impoverished cages are often labelled ‘bored’. They have also been called ‘apathetic’ or ‘depressed’, particularly when profoundly inactive. However, these terms are rarely operationally defined and validated. As a negative state caused by under-stimulation, boredom should increase interest in stimuli of all kinds. Apathy (lack of interest), by contrast, should manifest as decreased interest in all stimuli, while anhedonia (loss of pleasure, a depressive symptom) should specifically decrease interest in normally rewarding stimuli. We tested the hypotheses that mink, a model carnivore, experience more boredom, depression-like apathy, or anhedonia in non-enriched (NE) cages than in complex, enriched (E) cages. We exposed 29 subjects (13 E, 16 NE) to ten stimuli categorized <italic>a priori</italic> as aversive (e.g. air puffs), rewarding (e.g. evoking chasing) or ambiguous/neutral (e.g. candles). Interest in stimuli was assessed via latencies to contact, contact durations, and durations oriented to stimuli. NE mink contacted all stimuli faster (P = 0.003) than E mink, and spent longer oriented to/in contact with them, albeit only significantly so for ambiguous ones (treatment*type P<0.013). With stimulus category removed from statistical models, interest in all stimuli was consistently higher among NE mink (P<0.0001 for all measures). NE mink also consumed more food rewards (P = 0.037). Finally, we investigated whether lying down while awake and stereotypic behaviour (both increased by NE housing) predicted these responses. Lying awake positively co-varied with certain measures of increased exploration. In contrast, stereotypic ‘scrabbling’ or locomotion (e.g. pacing) did not. Overall, NE mink showed no evidence of apathy or depression, but instead a heightened investigation of diverse stimuli consistent with boredom. This state was potentially indicated by spending much time lying still but awake (although this result requires replication). Boredom can thus be operationalized and assessed empirically in non-human animals. It can also be reduced by environmental enrichment.</p> |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5635 |
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Conradt, L. |
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Models in animal collective decision-making: information uncertainty and conflicting preferences |
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2012 |
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Interface Focus |
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2 |
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2 |
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226-240 |
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Collective decision-making plays a central part in the lives of many social animals. Two important factors that influence collective decision-making are information uncertainty and conflicting preferences. Here, I bring together, and briefly review, basic models relating to animal collective decision-making in situations with information uncertainty and in situations with conflicting preferences between group members. The intention is to give an overview about the different types of modelling approaches that have been employed and the questions that they address and raise. Despite the use of a wide range of different modelling techniques, results show a coherent picture, as follows. Relatively simple cognitive mechanisms can lead to effective information pooling. Groups often face a trade-off between decision accuracy and speed, but appropriate fine-tuning of behavioural parameters could achieve high accuracy while maintaining reasonable speed. The right balance of interdependence and independence between animals is crucial for maintaining group cohesion and achieving high decision accuracy. In conflict situations, a high degree of decision-sharing between individuals is predicted, as well as transient leadership and leadership according to needs and physiological status. Animals often face crucial trade-offs between maintaining group cohesion and influencing the decision outcome in their own favour. Despite the great progress that has been made, there remains one big gap in our knowledge: how do animals make collective decisions in situations when information uncertainty and conflict of interest operate simultaneously? |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5653 |
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Fureix, C.; Jego, P.; Henry, S.; Lansade, L.; Hausberger, M. |
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Towards an Ethological Animal Model of Depression? A Study on Horses |
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2012 |
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PLoS ONE |
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PLoS ONE |
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7 |
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e39280 EP - |
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<sec><title>Background</title><p>Recent reviews question current animal models of depression and emphasise the need for ethological models of mood disorders based on animals living under natural conditions. Domestic horses encounter chronic stress, including potential stress at work, which can induce behavioural disorders (<italic>e.g.</italic> “apathy”). Our pioneering study evaluated the potential of domestic horses in their usual environment to become an ethological model of depression by testing this models’ face validity (<italic>i.e.</italic> behavioural similarity with descriptions of human depressive states).</p></sec><sec><title>Methodology/Principal Findings</title><p>We observed the spontaneous behaviour of 59 working horses in their home environment, focusing on immobility bouts of apparent unresponsiveness when horses displayed an atypical posture (termed <italic>withdrawn</italic> hereafter), evaluated their responsiveness to their environment and their anxiety levels, and analysed cortisol levels. Twenty-four percent of the horses presented the withdrawn posture, also characterized by gaze, head and ears fixity, a profile that suggests a spontaneous expression of “behavioural despair”. When compared with control “non-withdrawn” horses from the same stable, withdrawn horses appeared more indifferent to environmental stimuli in their home environment but reacted more emotionally in more challenging situations. They exhibited lower plasma cortisol levels. Withdrawn horses all belonged to the same breed and females were over-represented.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions/Significance</title><p>Horse might be a useful potential candidate for an animal model of depression. Face validity of this model appeared good, and potential genetic input and high prevalence of these disorders in females add to the convergence. At a time when current animal models of depression are questioned and the need for novel models is expressed, this study suggests that novel models and biomarkers could emerge from ethological approaches in home environments.</p></sec> |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5709 |
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Baumgartner M. |
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Liegeverhalten von Pferden im Offenlaufstall auf unterschiedlichen Bodenmaterialien (Gummimatten, Späne und Sand) [Recumbency patterns of horses stabled in group housing systems on different bedding materials (rubber mats, shavings and sand)] |
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2012 |
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Die angemessenste Art ein Pferd als soziales Wesen unter menschlicher Obhut zu halten, ist in der Gruppe mit Seinesgleichen. Dabei gilt der Offenlaufstall mit getrennten Funktionsbereichen (Mehrraum-Außenlaufstall mit Auslauf) als die tiergerechteste Haltungsform für Pferde (BMELV, 2009). Aus Gründen der Arbeits- und Kostenersparnis sowie zur Reduzierung der Keim- und Staubbelastung werden in jüngster Zeit vermehrt Gummimatten als Einstreuersatz in Liegehallen von Offenlaufställen eingesetzt.
In vorliegender Arbeit sollte überprüft werden, ob Gummimatten (7,5 cm hoch, schaumstoffgefüllt; HIT-Softbed plus®) in Kombination mit minimaler Späneeinstreu als Liegeunterlage in Liegehallen von Offenlaufställen als tiergerecht beurteilt werden können. Darüber hinaus galt es zu klären, ob die Klimaverhältnisse in den Liegehallen trotz nicht saugfähiger Gummiunterlage den hygienischen Anforderungen des BMELVs (2009) an das Stallklima entsprechen. Dazu wurde das Liegeverhalten von einer repräsentativen Anzahl von 56 Pferden in einem Offenlaufstall mit getrennten Funktionsbereichen an jeweils 6 Tagen je Jahreszeit (Frühling, Sommer, Herbst, Winter) mittels kontinuierlicher Videoaufzeichnungen (n= 24 Tage) und zusätzlichen visuellen Direkt-beobachtungen (n= 60 Std) erfasst. Die Pferde hatten zum Liegen die Wahl zwischen folgenden drei Arealen: drei identisch ausgestatteten, jedoch unterschiedlich großen Liegehallen (mittig Gummimatten; Randbereich Späneeinstreu), einem Unterstand (Sand), sowie einem Sandplatz. Die Größe der Liegefläche in den drei Liegehallen (LH I 172 m², LH II und III jeweils 143 m²) entsprach den Anforderungen des BMELVs (2009). Unterstand und Sandplatz konnten zusätzlich von den Pferden zum Ruhen im Liegen genutzt werden. Ergänzend wurden folgende Einflussfaktoren auf das Liegeverhalten der Pferde erfasst: Tageszeit, Jahreszeit und Witterung sowie Alter, Stockmaß, Gewicht, „Body Condition Score“ und Rangordnung.
Durchschnittlich ruhten lediglich 35,2 der 52,3 in der Anlage befindlichen Pferde (67,3%) pro Beobachtungstag im Liegen in den Arealen. Demzufolge nahmen
Zusammenfassung 213
viele Pferde nicht jede Nacht eine Liegeposition ein. Die Hauptliegezeit mit 72% der erfassten Liegephasen war zwischen 0 und 6 Uhr. Bezogen auf die vorhandene Liegefläche je Areal ergab sich lediglich eine 50%ige Maximalauslastung an gleichzeitig liegenden Pferden.
Die Liegephasendauer variierte -unabhängig vom Areal- signifikant zwischen den Pferden (p=0,028) und darüber hinaus auch je Pferd (p<0,001). Die durchschnittliche Dauer pro Liegephase war mit 28,8 ± 0,5 (SEM) min signifikant länger in den Liegehallen (I, II und III), als im Unterstand mit 24,6 ± 0,9 min und auf dem Sandplatz mit 20,0 ± 1,9 min (p<0,001).
Die mittlere tägliche Gesamtliegedauer eines Pferdes betrug 91 ± 2,7 min in den Liegehallen (I, II und III), 43 ± 2,3 min im Unterstand und 27 ± 2,9 min auf dem Sandplatz (p<0,001). In den Liegehallen legte sich ein Pferd im Mittel 3,2 Mal am Tag ab, im Unterstand lediglich 1,7 und auf dem Sandplatz 1,3 Mal (p<0,001). 79% der registrierten Liegephasen (n= 2410) fanden darüber hinaus in den Liegehallen (I, II und III) statt, was deren zentrale Bedeutung als Liegebereich hervorhebt.
In der größeren Liegehalle I ruhten eine größere Anzahl an unterschiedlichen Pferden häufiger (p<0,0002) und länger (p<0,0005) pro Tag im Liegen als in den beiden etwas kleineren Liegehallen II und III.
Die tägliche Gesamtliegedauer pro Pferd war mit aufgestütztem Kopf mit 54,8 ± 1,6 Minuten länger als ohne aufgestützten Kopf mit 45,2 ± 1,8 min. In Seitenlage wurde im Durchschnitt pro Tag und Pferd 27,5 ± 1,1 min geruht (p<0,001). Diese Ruheposition wurde in den Liegehallen signifikant häufiger eingenommen, als auf dem Sandplatz oder im Unterstand (p<0,001).
Die tägliche mittlere Gesamtliegedauer pro Pferd auf Späne war mit 74,3 ± 2,9 min gegenüber 62,4 ± 2,3 min auf Gummimatten signifikant länger (p=0,005). Ebenso fanden in Relation zum Flächenangebot in den Liegehallen geringfügig mehr Liegephasen auf dem Späne-Bereich als auf den Gummimatten statt. Ebenfalls in Flächenrelation wurde der offen gestaltete Unterstand deutlich vor den anderen Arealen zum Ruhen im Liegen von den Pferden präferiert. Es sei deshalb auf die Bedeutung eines Unterstandes als zusätzliche Liegefläche in Offenlaufstallhaltung hingewiesen.
Die meisten Liegephasen und auch die längsten täglichen Liegezeiten fanden in den warmen Monaten statt (p=0,013). Im Winter flachte das Ruhen im Liegen
deutlich ab und verlagerte sich bei unter -10°C nahezu ausschließlich auf die Liegehallen (p=0,001).
Der leichte Späne-Überzug und der positive Effekt der bereits integrierten und die Gummimatten zum Liegen nutzenden Pferde waren mögliche Gründe dafür, dass die Neuankömmlinge ohne Gummimatten-Vorerfahrung (n= 10 Pferde ≤ 6 Monate in der Anlage) kein vermindertes Liegeverhalten im Vergleich zur bestehenden Herde (n= 46 Pferde; mind. 1 bis max. 3 J. in der Anlage) aufwiesen.
Die Rangordnung wurde mittels modifiziertem „Average Dominance Index“ berechnet. Die rangniederen Pferde hatten mit 2,6 gegenüber 3,4 und 3,1 sowohl signifikant weniger Liegephasen pro Pferd und Tag, als auch mit 69,3 ± 3,9 min eine um 22 min signifikant kürzere tägliche Gesamtliegedauer als die Ranghöheren (jeweils p<0,001). Rangniedrige Pferde ruhten in den Liegehallen weniger häufig (2,7 gegenüber 3,5 und 3,2 mittlere Anzahl Liegephasen/ Pferd/ Tag) und auch signifikant (p<0,001) kürzer je Tag (77,8 ± 5,0 min gegenüber 97,3 ± 3,9 min und 98,8 ± 5,1 min). Je jünger ein Pferd war, desto öfter (3,5 gegenüber 2,6 mittlere Anzahl Liegephasen/ Pferd/ Tag) und länger (103,7 ± 7,6 min gegenüber 56,1 ± 13,2 min) legte es sich am Tag nieder, und desto häufiger (90% der Liegephasen der 4 und 5 Jährigen gegenüber 39% und 70% der 16 bis 25 J.) nutzte es die Liegehallen zum Liegen (p<0,001). Das Stockmaß der Pferde und das Pferdegewicht zeigten keinen eindeutigen Einfluss auf das Liegeverhalten. Für den „Body Condition Score“ (Skala 1 bis 9) ergaben sich signifikante Unterschiede. Je höher der BCS der Pferde war, desto häufigere (p=0,0185) und längere Liegezeiten (p=0,007) wiesen sie auf.
Der monatlich gemessenen Ammoniakgehalt sowie Luftgeschwindigkeit, Luftfeuchtigkeit und Temperatur entsprachen bei Einsatz von Gummimatten in den Liegehallen den Anforderungen des BMELV (2009) an ein tiergerechtes Stallklima. Voraussetzung hierfür ist jedoch eine ausreichende Luftzirkulation im Stallgebäude sowie eine gute Stallhygiene.
Die Ergebnisse aus den vergleichenden Beobachtungen der unterschiedlichen Liegematerialien lassen schlussfolgern, dass die hier untersuchten verformbaren Gummimatten in Kombination mit minimaler Späneeinstreu in Offenlaufställen von der Mehrzahl der Pferde zum Ruhen im Liegen angenommen wurde und deshalb als weitgehend tiergerecht beurteilt werden können.
[Being highly social animals, horses are housed most adequately in groups. Loose housing systems are said to be the most species adequate system of horse housing (BMELV, 2009). Recently rubber mats have increasingly been used instead of shavings as bedding in loose housing systems where the different functional areas are separated. Advantages of rubber mats are that they are less cost and labour intensive as shavings, and their use also reduces the bacterial and dust contamination of the environment.
However, it has not yet been shown whether horses are capable of satisfying their recumbency needs on rubber mats as well as they can on shavings. This study looks to clarify this question, as well as to evaluate the hygienic conditions of the stabling climate in the areas equipped with sponge-filled rubber mats (HIT-Softbed® plus).
The recumbency patterns of 56 horses kept in a loose housing system with separate functional areas were observed on 6 days per season (spring, summer, autumn and winter) using wide angle video cameras. The different areas were: three similar but different large halls meant as lying areas (in the middle rubber mats; in the periphery shavings), an unsheltered area with sand footing and a sheltered area with sand footing. The size of the three halls meant as lying areas (LH I 172 m², LH II and III each 143 m²) was adequate with the demands of the BMELV (2009). Confounding factors which could also affect recumbency behaviour, such as day time, season and weather were taken into account. The role of the horses rank was also investigated. The occurrence of disruptions during recumbency phases by other members of the herd was also found out. Horse specific factors such as age, height, weight and body condition score were also taken into account as these could also have an effect on recumbency patterns.
On each day of observation, in average 35 different horses out of 56 horses (65%) were seen to be resting in a recumbent position. Hence many horses did not assume a recumbent position every night. Seventy-two percent of the recumbency
phases occurred between 0 and 4 am. The capacity of the area for a lying position at one time offered the horses was only exploited to 50%.
The length of the recumbency phase varied significantly between animals and for the individual animals over the duration of the observation period (p<0.001). The average recumbent time per lying phase was 28.8 ± 0.5 (SEM) minutes in the halls (I, II and III), 24.6 ± 0.9 min in the shelter and 20.0 ± 1.9 min on the sand area. The average time spent lying down per horse per day was 91 ± 2.7 min in the halls, 43 ± 2.3 min in the shelter and 27 ± 2.9 min on the sand area (p<0.001). The horses lay down an average of 3.2 times in the halls, 1.7 times in the shelter and 1.3 times in the sand area (p<0.001). Seventy-nine percent of the observed recumbency phases (n= 2410) were seen in the halls. This shows that along with the pastures, the halls played a central role in the recumbency patterns of the horses.
When comparing the halls, a wider variety of horses was observed spending a longer time in recumbency (p<0.0005) more often (p<0.0002) in hall I than in the somewhat smaller halls II and III.
The total time spent per day in recumbency with the head supported was 54.8 ± 1.6 min and hence was ten minutes longer than the total daily time spent in recumbency without the head supported with 45.2 ± 1.8 min. On average the horses spent 27.5 ± 1.1 min in lateral recumbency (p<0.001). Horses were observed to lie in lateral recumbency more often in the halls than on sand area or in the shelter (p<0.001).
The daily total length of time spent in recumbency was found to be significantly longer on bedding (74.3 ± 2.9 min) versus on rubber mats (62.4 ± 2.3 min) (p=0.005). Even though the average number and length of recumbency periods per day and horse, as well as the average time spent in lateral recumbency was greater for the halls, when taking surface area into consideration, it was found that the sheltered area was used the most per surface area for resting in recumbency. Hence it is relevant to state the importance of a shelter as additional lying space in loose housing systems.
The highest number of recumbency phases and the longest time spent daily lying down were seen in the mild months of the year (p=0.013). Temperatures below freezing led to decreased recumbency behavior. The horses observed lay down
almost exclusively in the halls when temperature was below -10°C (p<0.001).
The newcomers (n= 10 horses ≤ 6 months in the stable) to this housing system did not show a diminished recumbency behaviour compared to the other horses (n= 46 horses for 1 to 3 years in the stable). It is apparent that horses that do not have previous experience of rubber mats do not necessitate an adaptation period to use the mats to lay down on, as long as they are introduced into a group of horses that are already comfortable with the use of the mats. Likewise the shavings could help the horses adapt to the new material faster.
The rank of the horse in the herd was determined using a modified “Average Dominance Index”. The horses of low rank showed a significantly lower number of recumbency phases (2.6 compared to 3.4 and 3.1 per horse per day), as well as with 69.3 ± 3.9 min a highly significant shorter by 22 minutes length of recumbency phase when compared to horses of higher rank (each p<0.001). With diminishing rank, the horses lay down less frequently in the halls (2.7 compared to 3.5 and 3.2 recumbency phases per horse per day) and the total daily time spent in recumbency (77.8 ± 5.0 min compared to 97.3 ± 3.9 min und 98.8 ± 5.1 min) diminished significantly (p<0.001). Younger horses were found to lie down more frequently (3.5 compared to 2.6 recumbency phases per horse per day) but also to spend significantly longer periods (103.7 ± 7.6 min compared to 56.1 ± 13.2 min) in recumbency (p<0.001). Younger horses also tended to (90% of recumbency phases of 4 and 5 year old compared to 39% and 70% of 16 until 25 year old) use the halls for recumbent periods of rest (p<0.001). Horse height and weight did not influence recumbency behavior clearly. An interesting correlation was however noted with “body condition score” (BCS). A scale from 1 to 9 was used. The higher the BCS, the more (p=0.0185) and longer (p=0.007) time the animal spent resting in recumbency.
Air ammonia content, air velocity, ambient humidity and temperature measured monthly were within the recommendations of the BMELV (2009). Rubber mats are of no concern to hygiene when used as bedding in loose housing systems with segregated functional areas, as long as sufficient air circulation and proper stable hygiene are present.
The results of the comparative observations of the various bedding materials lead us to conclude that the currently studied rubber mats in combination with a
minimum amount of shaving are accepted by the majority of the horses and therefore are a widely species-appropriate bedding material for horses in loose housing systems.] |
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Obergfell, J. |
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Title |
Einf lus s v on St ruktur e l ement en auf da s Li eg ev e rha l t en v on Pf e rden in Gruppenha l tung unt e r Be rücks i cht igung de s Ag g r e s s i ons v e rha l t ens |
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Pferde, Ruheverhalten, Liegeverhalten, Aggressionsverhalten, Strukturelemente, Rangordnung [horses, rest behavior, lying behavior, aggression behavior, structural elements, rank order] |
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Durch die vorliegende Studie wurde der Einfluss von Strukturelementen auf das Liege- und Aggressionsverhalten von Pferden in Gruppenhaltung untersucht. Die Strukturelemente sollten Rückzugsmöglichkeiten bieten, sowie in ihrem Bereich zur Aufhebung der Individualdistanz führen und dadurch die Fläche relativ vergrößern. Für die Versuche stellte das Haupt- und Landesgestüt Marbach drei unabhängige Pferdegruppen mit verschiedener Herdengröße zur Verfügung, die jeweils in Einraum- Innenlaufställen gehalten wurden. Die Datenerfassung fand zwischen 23 und sieben Uhr statt. Insgesamt wurden 366 Stunden Videomaterial ausgewertet. Beim Ruheverhalten wurden mit Hilfe des event-sampling- Verfahrens die Parameter Gesamtliegedauer, Dauer in Seitenlage, Dauer der Einzelphasen in
Seitenlage und Abliegehäufigkeit pro Nacht erfasst. Es wurden Versuchsphasen ohne
Strukturelemente und mit hängenden Planen als Strukturierung durchgeführt. Im ersten Stall
kamen außerdem über einander gestapelte Strohballen zum Einsatz. Diese Art der
Strukturierung stellte sich jedoch als nicht praktikabel heraus und führte im Vergleich zu den Planen zu einer signifikanten Verschlechterung der Gesamtliegedauer. In Stall 1 konnte man eine tendenzielle Verbesserung der Parameter Gesamtliegedauer und Gesamtdauer in Seitenlage durch das Anbringen von Planen sehen. In Stall 3 dagegen verschlechterte sich das Ruheverhalten in den Versuchsphasen mit Planen gegenüber den Versuchsphasen ohne Struktur. Die Werte der Gesamtdauer in Seitenlage nahmen signifikant ab. In Stall 2 zeigten sich keine Unterschiede in den verschiedenen Versuchsphasen. Möglicherweise ist die Wirkung der Strukturelemente auf das Liegeverhalten abhängig von der Flächengröße. Stall 1 hatte bezogen auf die Leitlinien des BMELV die größte und Stall 3 die kleinste Fläche. Bei den anderen Parametern des Liegeverhaltens gab es keine signifikanten Unterschiede in den verschiedenen Versuchsphasen. Mit Hilfe des time-sampling-Verfahrens wurde die Anzahl gleichzeitig liegender Pferde und gleichzeitig liegender Pferde in Seitenlage bestimmt. Auch hier zeigten sich keine Unterschiede in den verschiedenen Versuchsphasen. Bei der Gegenüberstellung der Werte der Gesamtliegedauer und der Gesamtdauer in Seitenlage mit dem Alter der Pferde (Stall 1 und Stall 3) und mit dem Integrationszeitpunkt (Stall 1) konnte kein Zusammenhang festgestellt werden. Beim Aggressionsverhalten wurden mit Hilfe des
event-sampling-Verfahrens in den Ställen 2 und 3 verschiedene Arten von Aggressionen
erfasst, die dann in die drei Intensitätsgrade Low-Level-, Mid-Level- und High-Level-
Aggressionen unterteilt wurden. Neben der Anzahl wurde die Dauer der verschiedenen
Aggressionen bewertet. Insgesamt konnte eine positive Wirkung der Planen auf das
Aggressionsverhalten beobachtet werden. Die Gesamtanzahl an Aggressionen nahm in beiden
Ställen tendenziell in den Versuchsphasen mit Planen ab. In Stall 3 konnte, wenn man die
Aggressionen stundenweise betrachtet, ein signifikanter Unterschied festgestellt werden.
Auch der Hinterhandschlag und die Aggressionen, welche das Ruheverhalten stören,
verringerten sich tendenziell nach dem Anbringen von Strukturelementen. In beiden Ställen
nahm die relative Häufigkeit von Mid-Level-Aggressionen nach dem Anbringen von Planen
zu. Dagegen konnte bei den High-Level-Aggressionen und in Stall 3 bei den Low-Level-
Aggressionen eine relative Abnahme beobachtet werden. Sowohl die Anzahl als auch die
Dauer der Mid-Level-Aggressionen verringerten sich in Stall 3 stundenweise betrachtet
signifikant in den Versuchsphasen mit Planen. In Stall 2 war bei den High-Level-
Aggressionen sowohl bei der Dauer als auch bei der Anzahl eine signifikante Abnahme zu
sehen. Wenn man das Aggressionsverhalten in Bezug zu der Fläche in den zwei Ställen
betrachtet, schien diese vor allem einen Einfluss auf die High-Level-Aggressionen zu
nehmen. Mit Hilfe des Rangindex der Pferde im Stall 3 wurde eine Rangordnung aufgestellt.
Zwischen dem Platz der Pferde in der Rangordnung und den Parametern des Ruheverhaltens
(Gesamtliegedauer, Gesamtdauer in Seitenlage) sowie dem Alter der Pferde konnte kein
Zusammenhang festgestellt werden. Zwischen dem Rangindex und der Gesamtanzahl an
Aggressionen bestand dagegen ein hoch signifikanter Zusammenhang. Im Rahmen dieser
Studie ist das Anbringen von Strukturelementen in Bezug auf das Aggressionsverhalten in
Einraum-Innenlaufställen von Pferden zu empfehlen. Die Wirkung auf das Liegeverhalten der
Pferde sollte in weiteren Studien untersucht werden.
[In this study the influence of structural elements on lying and aggression behavior in horses
kept in groups was exanimated. Structural elements should offer the possibility of retreat.
Furthermore, within the respective area, the individual distance should be limited, thus
increasing the overall space relatively. For the studies the “Haupt- und Landesgestüt
Marbach” provided three non-related groups of different sized horses, each kept in separate
“Einraum-Innenlaufställen”. Data collection took place between 11 pm and 7 am. Altogether,
366 hours of video material were analyzed. Using the event-sampling-method, the following
parameters within the horses´ resting behavior were determined: The total lying period, the
total lying period in lateral position, the periods of the single lying in lateral position and the
frequency of lying down. Test phases were carried out without structural elements and with
hanging canvases as structural elements. In the first stable there were also three bales of straw
piled up on top of each other. This kind of structuring emerged as impractical and in
comparison to the canvas, led to a significant deterioration to the total period of lying. After
the canvases were fixed in the first stable, a slight improvement with the parameters of total
lying period and total lying period in the lateral position could be seen. In contrast, the resting
behavior in stable 3 worsened in the test phases with the canvases in comparison to the test phases without structural elements. The values for the total lying period in the lateral position
decreased significantly. In stable 2, there were no differences in the different test phases.
Possibly the effect of the structural elements is dependent of the space. Stable 1 had the
largest space and stable 3 the least space referred to the guideline of the BMELV. The other
parameters of the lying behavior showed no significant differences in the different test phases.
The number of horses lying at the same time, and the number of horses lying at the same time
in the lateral position were detected with the aid of the time-sampling-method. There were
also no differences between the different test phases. If the values of the total lying period and
the total lying period in lateral position were compared to the age of the horses (stable 1 and
stable 3) and to the point of integration (stable 1), there was no correlation.
Different kinds of aggression were detected by the means of the event-sampling-method in
stable 2 and 3 and were subdivided into the three levels of intensity: Low-level-, mid-level
and high-level-aggressions. Both the number and the duration of the different aggressions
were evaluated. All in all a positive influence of the canvas on the aggression behavior could
be observed. In both stables, the total number of aggressions decreased in the test phases with
canvases. In stable 3 a significant difference could be detected, if the aggressions were
observed per hour. Also hind limb kicks and aggressions disturbing the resting behavior,
decreased by trend, after fixing the canvases in the stable. In both stables the relative
frequency of mid-level-aggressions increased after the canvases were mounted. In contrast
there was a relative decrease at the high-level-aggressions and in stable 3 at the low-levelaggressions.
The number and the duration of the mid-level-aggressions in stable 3 decreased,
when considered by the hour in the test phases with canvases. In stable 2 a significant
decrease in duration and number of high-level-aggressions was observed. When examining
aggression behavior in reference to space in the two stables, high-level-aggressions seemed to
be mostly influenced. In stable 3 a rank order was established with the aid of the rank index of
the horses. There was no correlation between the horses´ rank and the parameters of the
resting behavior (the total lying period, the total lying period in lateral position) and between
horses´ rank and age. In contrast, there was a high significant correlation between the rank
index and the total number of aggressions. In context to this study, structural elements in
“Einraum-Innenlaufställen” (BMELV 2009) seem to have a positive influence on the
aggression behavior and thus seem to be recommendable. The influence on the lying behavior
should be investigated in further studies.] |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5772 |
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