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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(14); doi: 10.3390/ani12141739

Assessment of Welfare in Groups of Horses with Different Management, Environments and Activities by Measuring Cortisol in Horsehair, Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Hybrid Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

Abstract: Horses have always been animals used for companionship, work, transportation, and performance purposes over the history of humanity; there are different ways of managing horses, but studies on how horse welfare is influenced by different activities and managements are scanty. Understanding how the management, the environment, and the different uses of horses can affect the level of stress and well-being is important not only for people associated with horses. Three groups of horses with different management, environments, and activities were selected: (1) stabled horses ridden frequently, (2) horses that perform public order service under the Italian state police, and (3) free-ranging horses. Cortisol analysis was carried out on horsehair samples using liquid chromatography coupled to hybrid orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS), a laboratory technique used for the first time to quantify horsehair cortisol. The selection of horses to be included in the three groups was carried out by including only subjects with positive welfare assessment in accordance with the horse welfare assessment protocol (AWIN). These analyses demonstrated that the cortisol levels detected in the horsehair of free-ranging animals were significantly higher compared to those detected in stabled and working horses. These results may have been a consequence of complex environmental, managerial, and behavioral factors, which should be worth further investigation.
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Publication Date: 2022-07-06 PubMed ID: 35883286PubMed Central: PMC9312200DOI: 10.3390/ani12141739Google 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.

The research study examines and compares stress levels in horses managed differently and performing distinct activities, through measuring cortisol levels in their hair. The unique method of conducting the cortisol analysis using Liquid chromatography coupled to hybrid orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) was applied, revealing higher cortisol levels in free-ranging horses, suggesting increased stress levels compared to stabled and working horses.

Methodology

  • The research was conducted on three distinct groups of horses: frequent riders kept in stables, working horses under the Italian state police, and free-ranging horses.
  • A horse welfare assessment protocol, known as AWIN, was used to select subjects presenting positive welfare within these groups.
  • Cortisol, a hormone related to stress, was measured in the hair of horses. The cortisol analysis was performed for the first time using a laboratory technique called LC-HRMS/MS. This technique allows for high-resolution and accurate detection of cortisol levels in horse hair.

Findings

  • Results indicated that cortisol levels were significantly higher in free-ranging horses when compared to stabled and working horses.
  • This suggests that free-ranging horses might experience higher stress levels than horses subjected to other forms of management and activity.
  • It’s important to note that the increase in cortisol levels in free-ranging horses could potentially be a result of a combination of environmental, managerial, and behavioral elements, which would merit further research.

Significance

  • The research is valuable as it contributes to our understanding of how different management practices and activities can impact horse welfare, specifically their stress levels.
  • The findings highlight the potential effects of complex factors on stress levels in horses and underline the need for further investigation into these variables.
  • This could provide important insights for devising better management practices and guidelines to ensure the welfare of horses across various sectors – such as companionship, work, transportation, and performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Cerasoli F, Podaliri Vulpiani M, Saluti G, Conte A, Ricci M, Savini G, D'Alterio N. (2022). Assessment of Welfare in Groups of Horses with Different Management, Environments and Activities by Measuring Cortisol in Horsehair, Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Hybrid Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. Animals (Basel), 12(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12141739

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 14

Researcher Affiliations

Cerasoli, Francesco
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Podaliri Vulpiani, Michele
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Saluti, Giorgio
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Conte, Annamaria
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Ricci, Matteo
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
Savini, Giovanni
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
D'Alterio, Nicola
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy.

Grant Funding

  • IZSAMPS/19 RC / Governo Italiano

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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  4. Castellani F, Ricci M, Rosato R, Manucci A, Di Simone V, Cerasoli F, Calandrini A, Costa ED, Vulpiani MP, Scortichini G, Saluti G. Surrogate analyte approach for the determination of endogenous cortisol, cortisone, DHEA, DHEAS in horse hair and sheep wool by LC-HRMS/MS. Sci Rep 2025 Apr 29;15(1):14987.
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