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Frontiers in veterinary science2023; 10; 1214015; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1214015

Assessing the impact of draught load pulling on welfare in equids.

Abstract: About 112 million working equids are the source of income for 600 million people globally. Many equids are used for pulling loads (up to 15,000 kg per day) to transport goods. Most of them are associated with brick kilns, mining, and agriculture industries in developing countries. They may suffer from welfare issues such as overloading, being beaten, and being forced to work for long periods. These issues may occur due to a poor understanding of load-pulling equids. Understanding their capabilities and the elements that influence them is critical for efficient performance and welfare. The measurement of stride characteristics and gait kinematics can reveal loading adaptations and help identify loading limitations. It is known that both loading and fatigue change the locomotor patterns of load-pulling horses. Heart rate is a stress quantifying metric and an important representative of the speed of work and draught force. Heart rate variability is a regularly used statistic to quantify a physiological response to stresses, but it has never been used for load-pulling equids. Changes in blood lactate, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide contents are reliable biochemical indicators of the effects of load pulling. Changes in plasma cortisol levels reflect the intensity of exercise and stress levels in horses while pulling a load. However, eye blink rate is a cheap, simple, and immediate indicator of acute equine stress, and we suggest it may be used to aid in load-pulling equine welfare assessment. However, further research is needed for a standardized and evidence-based draught load pulling capacity of working horses, mules, and donkeys.
Copyright © 2023 Bukhari and Parkes.
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Publication Date: 2023-08-17 PubMed ID: 37662986PubMed Central: PMC10469728DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1214015Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 aims to identify and evaluate key factors in assessing the welfare of working equids (horses, mules, donkeys) that are used for pulling loads in various industries, particularly in developing countries. Their study emphasizes the need for further research, proposing measurement of stride characteristic, gait kinematics, heart rate and variability, blood lactate, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide contents, plasma cortisol levels, and eye blink rate as possible indicators of stress and physical limitations in these animals.

Understanding the Load-Pulling Capabilities of Equids

  • The researchers highlight the lack of comprehensive understanding about the physical and physiological capabilities of working equids in load-pulling work. An improved understanding would allow for more efficient use of these animals and better welfare conditions.

Evaluating Stride Characteristics and Gait Kinematics

  • The researchers identified stride characteristics and gait kinematics as potential indicators of the limitations and adaptations of equids under load. Alterations in their locomotor patterns can reveal the effects of load pulling and fatigue.

Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability

  • Heart rate is viewed as a significant stress indicator and representative of the work speed and draft force. The researchers highlight heart rate variability as a commonly used metric to gauge physiological responses to stress, although this method has not previously been applied to load-pulling equids.

Biochemical Indicators and Cortisol Levels

  • Blood lactate, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide content changes were identified as reliable biochemical markers of the impact of load pulling on equids.
  • Changes in plasma cortisol levels could reflect the intensity of exercise and stress in load-pulling horses as cortisol is a known stress hormone.

Eye Blink Rate as an Indicator

  • The researchers propose eye blink rate as an affordable, simple, and immediate assessment tool for acute equine stress. This might help with on-the-spot equine welfare evaluation during load pulling.

Need for Further Research

  • The article concludes with a call for more research to establish standardized and evidence-based draft load pulling capacities for working horses, mules, and donkeys.

Cite This Article

APA
Bukhari SSUH, Parkes RSV. (2023). Assessing the impact of draught load pulling on welfare in equids. Front Vet Sci, 10, 1214015. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1214015

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Pages: 1214015
PII: 1214015

Researcher Affiliations

Bukhari, Syed S U H
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Centre for Animal Health and Welfare, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Parkes, Rebecca S V
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Centre for Animal Health and Welfare, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
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