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Journal of animal science2000; 78(10); 2568-2580; doi: 10.2527/2000.78102568x

Dehydration, stress, and water consumption of horses during long-distance commercial transport.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to characterize progressive dehydration, stress responses, and water consumption patterns of horses transported long distances in hot weather and to estimate recovery time after 30 h of transport. Thirty adult mares and geldings were deprived of access to feed and water for 6 h, blocked by age, sex, breed, and body condition score, and assigned to one of the following treatments: penned, offered water (Penned/Watered, n = 5); penned, no water (Penned, n = 5); transported, offered water (Transported/Watered, two groups of n = 5); or transported, no water (Transported, two groups of n = 5). None of the horses had access to feed while on treatment. A commercial, single-deck, open-top, 15.8-m-long trailer was divided into four compartments to accommodate the two Transported/Watered and two Transported groups at 1.77 m2 per horse. At 8, 17, 22, 27, 30, and 33 h after initiation of transport, the truck returned and stopped for 1 h to allow for data collection and to give the Transported/Watered and Penned/Watered horses 10 min of access to water in individual buckets. Treatments for the non-watered horses (Penned and Transported) were terminated after 30 h due to dehydration and fatigue, whereas the watered horses (Penned/Watered and Transported/Watered) could continue for another 2 h. Mean weight loss after 30 h was greater in the Penned (57.1 kg, 12.8%) and Transported (52.2 kg, 10.3%) groups than in the Transported/Watered (20.7 kg, 4.0%) and Penned/Watered (17 kg, 3.5%) groups (P < 0.0001). Respiration, heart rate, sodium, chloride, total protein, and osmolality were significantly elevated in the non-watered horses (P < 0.0001), and sodium, chloride, total protein, and osmolality greatly exceeded normal reference ranges, indicating severe dehydration. Although not statistically significant, the horses penned in full sun, with or without water, had a dehydration response that was slightly greater than that of the transported horses. Plasma cortisol concentrations had a significant time x treatment interaction (P < 0.0001), in which the Penned/Watered and Transported/Watered horses remained relatively consistent, whereas the Transported, and especially the Penned, horses' plasma cortisol concentrations greatly increased. Transporting healthy horses for more than 24 h during hot weather and without water will cause severe dehydration; transport for more than 28 h even with periodic access to water will likely be harmful due to increasing fatigue.
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Publication Date: 2000-10-26 PubMed ID: 11048922DOI: 10.2527/2000.78102568xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

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 paper investigates the effects of long distance transportation in hot weather on horses’ dehydration, stress levels, and water consumption. Scientists found that a lack of access to water during transport causes severe dehydration and stress in horses, even if they are healthy.

Methodology

  • The study involved thirty adult mares and geldings. These horses were deprived of feed and water for 6 hours before being arranged into four groups, differentiated by their access to water and environment (penned or transported).
  • The Transported groups were accommodated in a commercial, single-deck, open-top trailer with four compartments, each horse having 1.77 square meters of space.
  • At regular intervals (8, 17, 22, 27, 30, and 33 hours) during transport, the truck stopped for an hour-long break, during which data was collected and water was provided to horses in the groups intended to receive it.
  • The experiment was terminated for the groups of horses that were not provided with water after 30 hours due to dehydration and fatigue. The groups that were given water were allowed to continue for an additional 2 hours.

Findings

  • The research showed that horses who were not provided with water lost more weight than those who were given water. The weight loss was greatest in the Penned groups (57.1 kg and 52.2 kg, or 12.8% and 10.3% respectively), compared to the watered groups (20.7 kg and 17 kg, or 4.0% and 3.5% respectively).
  • Respiration, heart rate, sodium, chloride, total protein, and osmolality significantly increased in the horses that were not provided with water. Increased sodium, chloride, total protein and osmolality exceed normal ranges, indicating severe dehydration.
  • Although the difference was not statistically significant, the study observed that horses penned in full sun, irrespective of water access, had a marginally greater dehydration response compared to transported horses.
  • Plasma cortisol concentrations, a key indicator of stress, greatly increased in the penned and transported groups without water, while remaining relatively steady for the watered groups.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that transporting healthy horses for more than 24 hours in hot weather without water causes severe dehydration..
  • Additionally, transporting horses for more than 28 hours, even with periodic access to water, is likely harmful because of increasing fatigue.

Cite This Article

APA
Friend TH. (2000). Dehydration, stress, and water consumption of horses during long-distance commercial transport. J Anim Sci, 78(10), 2568-2580. https://doi.org/10.2527/2000.78102568x

Publication

Journal of animal science
ISSN: 0021-8812
NlmUniqueID: 8003002
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 78
Issue: 10
Pages: 2568-2580

Researcher Affiliations

Friend, T H
  • Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-2471, USA. t-friend@tamu.edu

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Commerce
  • Dehydration / veterinary
  • Drinking / physiology
  • Fatigue / physiopathology
  • Fatigue / veterinary
  • Female
  • Hematocrit / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Male
  • Stress, Physiological / physiopathology
  • Stress, Physiological / veterinary
  • Transportation
  • Weight Loss

Citations

This article has been cited 25 times.
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