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Home / Equine Research Bank / Acta Vet Scand / A comparison of unheated loose housing with stables on the r...
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2017; 59(1); 73; doi: 10.1186/s13028-017-0339-3

A comparison of unheated loose housing with stables on the respiratory health of weaned-foals in cold winter conditions: an observational field-study.

Abstract: Newly weaned horses in Finland are often moved to unheated loose housing systems in which the weanlings have free access to a paddock and a shelter. This practice is considered to be good for the development of young horses. The daily temperatures can stay below - 20 °C in Finland for several consecutive weeks during the winter season. However, the effect of unheated housing in a cold climatic environment on the respiratory health of weanlings under field conditions has not been studied before. This investigation was an observational field-study comprising 60 weanlings among 11 different voluntary participant rearing farms in Finland. Weanlings were either kept in unheated loose housing systems (n = 36) or in stables (n = 24) and were clinically examined on two separate occasions 58 days apart in cold winter conditions. Results: The odds of clinical respiratory disease were lower in the older foals (log days); OR = 0.009, P = 0.044). The plasma fibrinogen concentration was higher when the available space (m/weanling) in the sleeping hall was smaller (P = 0.014) and it was lower when the sleeping hall was not insulated (P = 0.010). The plasma fibrinogen concentrations at the second examination were lower with a body condition score above 3 (P = 0.070). Standardbreds kept in loose housing systems had a lower body condition score than Finnhorses or Standardbreds kept in stables at both examinations (P = 0.026 and P = 0.007, respectively). Haemoglobin level was lower in weanlings in loose housing systems compared to their counterparts at the first examination (P = 0.037). Finnhorses had higher white blood cell count than Standardbreds at first (P = 0.002) and at the second examination (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Keeping weanling horses in cold loose housing systems does not seem to increase the occurrence of respiratory disease, but special attention should be focused on ventilation, air quality and feeding-practices. Our field study data suggest it might be advantageous to keep Standardbred foals born late in the season in a stable over the Finnish winter.
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Publication Date: 2017-10-26 PubMed ID: 29073941PubMed Central: PMC5658990DOI: 10.1186/s13028-017-0339-3Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Observational Study

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the effects of keeping young, newly weaned horses (weanlings) in unheated loose housing systems during Finland’s cold winters–compared to traditional stabling–on their respiratory health. The study finds no increase in respiratory disease from these cold loose housing conditions, suggesting such practice might be safe; however, certain housing and care practices are emphasized for optimal horse health.

Study Design and Methods

  • This was an observational field-study involving a total of 60 weanlings from 11 different volunteer horse rearing farms in Finland.
  • These young horses were either kept in unheated loose housing systems (36 weanlings) or in traditional stables (24 weanlings).
  • The researchers conducted clinical exams of the weanlings twice, spaced 58 days apart, in cold winter conditions with temperatures below -20 °C.

Key Findings

  • There was lower occurrence of clinical respiratory disease in older foals.
  • The plasma fibrinogen concentration, a measure related to inflammation and tissue damage, tended to be higher when the available space per weanling was smaller, and lower when the sleeping hall was not insulated.
  • Weanlings with a higher body condition score (a measure of physical health and body fat) had lower plasma fibrinogen levels in the second examination.
  • Standardbred weanlings kept in unheated loose housing had a lower body condition score than either Finnhorses or Standardbreds kept in stables. This was consistent at both examinations.
  • Haemoglobin levels, indicative of red blood cell levels, were lower in weanlings in unheated loose housing compared to those in stables at the first examination.
  • Finnhorses had higher white blood cell counts, indicating potential infections or inflammation, than Standardbreds at both examinations.

Conclusions and Recommendations

  • The study concluded that keeping weanlings in cold unheated loose housing systems does not seem to increase the occurrence of respiratory disease, indicating that this practice might be reasonable during Finland’s harsh winters.
  • Special attention, however, should be directed towards ventilation, air quality, and feeding-practices to ensure good animal health.
  • The study’s findings suggest it might be beneficial to keep late-born Standardbred foals in more traditional stables over the Finnish winter, rather than in the unheated loose housing systems.

Cite This Article

APA
Junkkari R, Simojoki H, Heiskanen ML, Pelkonen S, Sankari S, Tulamo RM, Mykkänen A. (2017). A comparison of unheated loose housing with stables on the respiratory health of weaned-foals in cold winter conditions: an observational field-study. Acta Vet Scand, 59(1), 73. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-017-0339-3

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 59
Issue: 1
Pages: 73
PII: 73

Researcher Affiliations

Junkkari, Reija
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland. reija.junkkari@helsinki.fi.
Simojoki, Heli
  • Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
Heiskanen, Minna-Liisa
  • Equine Information Centre, Neulaniementie 5, Kuopio, 70210, Finland.
Pelkonen, Sinikka
  • Research and Laboratory Department, Veterinary Bacteriology Research Unit, Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Neulaniementie 4, Kuopio, 70701, Finland.
Sankari, Satu
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
Tulamo, Riitta-Mari
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
Mykkänen, Anna
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cold Temperature
  • Female
  • Horses / growth & development
  • Housing, Animal
  • Male

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Junkkari R, Mykkänen A, Sulku P, Rantala M, Pohjanvirta T, Eklund M, Pelkonen S, Grönthal T. Occurrence, antibiotic susceptibility and genetic variation of Streptococcus zooepidemicus in Finnish weanling horses with and without respiratory infection. Acta Vet Scand 2026 Jan 27;68(1):7.
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  2. Chatha MA, Ahmad N, Abbas MA, Saadullah M, Khan JA. Effect of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the growth and development of young foals under subtropical conditions of Pakistan. PLoS One 2025;20(1):e0310784.
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  3. Robertson T, Thomas E, Starbuck G, Yarnell K. Global distribution and gap analysis of equine housing research: The findings so far and where to go next. Anim Welf 2024;33:e58.
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