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Physiology & behavior2013; 118; 32-39; doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.05.013

An assessment of the aversive nature of an animal management procedure (clipping) using behavioral and physiological measures.

Abstract: Animal management often involves procedures that, while unlikely to cause physical pain, still cause aversive responses. The domestic horse (Equus caballus) regularly has excessive hair clipped off to facilitate its use as a riding/driving animal and this procedure causes adverse behavioral responses in some animals. The aim of this study was to compare behavioral and physiological measures to assess the aversive effect of this procedure. Ten horses were selected on the basis of being either compliant (C: n=5) or non-compliant (NC: n=5) during this procedure. The horses were subjected to a sham clipping procedure (SC: where the blades had been removed from the clippers) for a period of ten minutes. Measures were taken pre, during and post SC (-10min to +30min) and mean values calculated for ALL horses and for C and NC separately. Behavioral activity was scored (scale 1-5) by twenty students from video footage in (phase/group-blind scoring). Heart rate (HR), salivary cortisol and eye temperature were monitored throughout the procedure. The NC horses were found to be significantly more behaviorally active/less relaxed throughout the trial than C horses (p<0.05) with the greatest difference occurring during the SC procedure (p<0.01). NC horses were more active/less relaxed during, compared with pre or post SC (p<0.05), but showed no behavioral difference pre and post SC. HR of the NC horses was higher than that of the C horses throughout the trial but only significantly so after 10min of SC (p<0.01). ALL horses showed a significant increase in HR between +5 and +10min into the procedure (p<0.05). There was a significant increase in salivary cortisol concentration in ALL horses post procedure (p<0.01) with levels peaking at 20minute post SC. No significant differences in salivary cortisol concentration between C and NC were found at any stage of the trial. Eye temperature increased significantly in ALL horses during SC, peaking at +10min into the procedure (p<0.05) and then decreased substantially when SC had ceased (p<0.01). Although no significant differences were found between C and NC per se, there was a significant interaction between group and phase of trial (p<0.05) with the NC group showing a greater decrease in eye temperature post SC. There was a significant positive correlation between changes in salivary cortisol concentration and eye temperature (p<0.01) but no correlation between any of the other measures. Although the behavioral response of C and NC to this procedure was significantly different the physiological responses indicated that ALL horses found the procedure aversive. Eye temperature could be used as an objective and immediate measure of how an animal is responding to a specific situation in order to evaluate management procedures and adapt them where appropriate to reduce the negative impact on animal health and welfare.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2013-05-14 PubMed ID: 23685232DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.05.013Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 article investigates how clipping, a common management procedure for domestic horses, impacts their behavior and physiological responses. The study finds that clipping, although not physically painful, is aversive to horses and elicits measurable, negative responses in behavior as well as changes in heart rate, cortisol levels, and eye temperature.

Study Procedure and Subject Selection

  • The study involved ten horses that were classified as compliant (C) or non-compliant (NC) based on their response to clipping procedures. Five horses were placed in each category.
  • The researchers administered sham clipping (SC) sessions, where they pretended to clip the horses’ hair but removed the blades from the clippers.
  • The experiments took place over ten minutes while measures were taken before, during, and after, with a total observation period of forty minutes per session.

Data Collection and Analysis

  • The research team gathered a variety of data, including behavioral scores from observing video footage, heart rate measurements, salivary cortisol concentration (a stress marker), and eye temperature.
  • The scoring of behaviors, ranging from 1 to 5, were done by twenty students who were blind to the phase or the group of the horses.
  • All these data sets were compared between compliant and non-compliant horses and across different stages of the experimental procedure.

Findings from the Study

  • The non-compliant horses displayed higher behavioral activity/less relaxed behavior throughout the trial than compliant horses, with the maximum difference occurring during the sham clipping process.
  • Non-compliant horses exhibited more activity during the sham clipping procedure than before or after it. However, no perceptible behavioral change was noted between pre and post-sham clipping sessions.
  • All horses displayed an increased heart rate, cortisol level, and eye temperature during the sham clipping procedure. In terms of heart rate, significant differences between the two groups were noticed ten minutes into the procedure.
  • Salivary cortisol level increased after the procedure for all horses and peaked at 20 minutes after the sham procedure ended. However, no significant difference was noted between compliant and non-compliant horses.
  • Eye temperature increased significantly during the sham procedure and peaked at ten minutes in. Eye temperature then decreased substantially after the procedure. A significant difference was observed between the two groups, where the non-compliant group showed a greater decrease in eye temperature after the sham procedure.

Conclusion and Implications

  • The research concludes that although the behaviors of compliant and non-compliant horses differed during the procedure, the physiological data indicated the process was indeed aversive for all horses.
  • The researchers suggest eye temperature could be a useful metric to evaluate how animals respond to specific situations objectively.
  • This can aid in assessing and adapting animal management procedures, minimizing negative impacts on animal health and welfare.

Cite This Article

APA
Yarnell K, Hall C, Billett E. (2013). An assessment of the aversive nature of an animal management procedure (clipping) using behavioral and physiological measures. Physiol Behav, 118, 32-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.05.013

Publication

Physiology & behavior
ISSN: 1873-507X
NlmUniqueID: 0151504
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 118
Pages: 32-39
PII: S0031-9384(13)00154-6

Researcher Affiliations

Yarnell, Kelly
  • Nottingham Trent University, School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Brackenhurst Campus, Southwell, Nottinghamshire NG25 0QF, UK.
Hall, Carol
    Billett, Ellen

      MeSH Terms

      • Animal Husbandry / methods
      • Animals
      • Behavior, Animal / physiology
      • Body Temperature / physiology
      • Data Interpretation, Statistical
      • Female
      • Hair
      • Heart Rate / physiology
      • Horses / physiology
      • Hydrocortisone / metabolism
      • Male
      • Motor Activity / physiology
      • Ocular Physiological Phenomena
      • Saliva / metabolism
      • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology
      • Stress, Psychological / psychology

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