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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / Behavioral and hormonal assessment of stress in foals (Equus...
PloS one2023; 18(1); e0280078; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280078

Behavioral and hormonal assessment of stress in foals (Equus caballus) throughout the weaning process.

Abstract: This study had the aim to demonstrate the midterm effects (three weeks) of weaning on foals' welfare. For this purpose, foals' behavioral changes and fecal levels metabolites of cortisol were evaluated. The observations took place at the state stud farm of Baden-Wuerttemberg in Germany. Ten foals (six colts and four fillies) were observed from one day before weaning up until three weeks after weaning. Weaning was divided into three blocks, the first in September, the second in October, and the last in November. The behavioral observation was done during an eight-hour period between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The observer documented the exact behavior shown by the foal every five minutes during the eight hours. To scale the stress experienced by the foal, the glucocorticoid metabolite 11,17-dioxoandrostane was measured with the 11-oxoetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay, which allows assessing the foal's plasma cortisol level changes throughout the trail through fecal samples. All foals displayed a distinct hormonal stress response to the weaning process through increased fecal cortisol metabolite levels. Their body posture distribution took a shift from mainly moving before weaning to mainly standing during the three weeks after weaning. Compared with the day before weaning, the foals showed less active behavior and significantly increased their resting behavior. Regarding the overall resting behavior, the weaned foals initially increased their time spent resting in a lying position during daytime and then started to decrease the time lying. After weaning, the foals showed a significant increase in resting while standing. In conclusion, the foals showed an expected behavioral development and an expected curve of cortisol metabolite values throughout the study. However, it seemed that the changes had not returned "back to normal" at three weeks after weaning. Therefore, we suggest that weaned foals need a minimum of three weeks to acclimate to the new situation.
Copyright: © 2023 Delank et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Publication Date: 2023-01-06 PubMed ID: 36607910PubMed Central: PMC9821722DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280078Google 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.

The research is about determining the mid-term effects of weaning on the welfare of foals, through the observation of behavioral changes and cortisol metabolite levels in fecal matter.

Objective and Method

  • The study aimed to understand the impact of weaning on young horses (foals), both in terms of their behavior and stress levels, as indicated by cortisol metabolite levels in their feces.
  • The study was conducted on ten foals, six colts and four fillies, at the state stud farm of Baden-Wuerttemberg in Germany.
  • Weaning was carried out in three blocks, in September, October, and November respectively.
  • The behavior of the foals was observed between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. for one day before weaning until three weeks post-weaning. A record was taken of the foal’s behavior every five minutes during this eight-hour period.
  • Stress levels were measured by analyzing the levels of the glucocorticoid metabolite 11,17-dioxoandrostane, a by-product of cortisol, a hormone released under stress, in the foals’ feces using a specialized test known as the 11-oxoetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay.

Findings

  • The study found that weaning had a noticeable impact on the foals’ behavior and stress levels.
  • Throughout the process of weaning, all foals displayed an increased level of stress as seen through heightened fecal cortisol metabolite levels.
  • There was a marked change in the foals’ bodily posture from mostly moving before weaning to primarily standing during the three weeks post-weaning.
  • Behavioral changes post-weaning included reduced active behavior and a significant increase in resting behavior. Over time, the foals decreased their resting time in a lying position and increased their resting time while standing.

Conclusion

  • While the study showed expected behavioral changes and cortisol levels throughout the study, it was noted that these did not return to normal even three weeks after weaning.
  • The researchers suggested that foals take at least three weeks to adjust to the changes brought on by weaning, indicating that the process has significant long-term effects on the animals’ stress levels and behavior.
  • Understanding this change can help guide more compassionate and effective weaning practices in the equine industry, potentially improving the welfare and reducing the stress of young foals during this transition period.

Cite This Article

APA
Delank K, Reese S, Erhard M, Wöhr AC. (2023). Behavioral and hormonal assessment of stress in foals (Equus caballus) throughout the weaning process. PLoS One, 18(1), e0280078. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280078

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Pages: e0280078
PII: e0280078

Researcher Affiliations

Delank, Kristin
  • Department of Veterinary Science, Chair of Animal Welfare, Behavioral Studies, Animal Hygiene and Animal Husbandry, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
Reese, Sven
  • Department of Veterinary Science, Chair of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
Erhard, Michael
  • Department of Veterinary Science, Chair of Animal Welfare, Behavioral Studies, Animal Hygiene and Animal Husbandry, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
Wöhr, Anna-Caroline
  • Department of Veterinary Science, Chair of Animal Welfare, Behavioral Studies, Animal Hygiene and Animal Husbandry, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Female
  • Male
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Weaning
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Germany

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Ermers C, McGilchrist N, Fenner K, Wilson B, McGreevy P. The Fibre Requirements of Horses and the Consequences and Causes of Failure to Meet Them.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 20;13(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13081414pubmed: 37106977google scholar: lookup
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