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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Domestic Foal Weaning: Need for Re-Thinking Breeding Practic...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(2); 361; doi: 10.3390/ani10020361

Domestic Foal Weaning: Need for Re-Thinking Breeding Practices?

Abstract: Artificial weaning is a standard practice known to be one of the most stressful events in a domestic foal's life. Research has mainly focused on ways to alleviate weaning stress. However, there is still a need for more detailed research on what should constitute best practices with respect to animal welfare. The aim of this review is to address this issue by examining the natural weaning process. We first provide an overview of the scientific literature on the natural temporal dynamics of the dam-offspring bond in horses: it is to be noted that the natural process of weaning is little documented, individual variations have been poorly investigated and immediate effects of weaning on the mare-foal relationship remain unexplored. To partly address these gaps, we performed a study around the weaning period on 16 mare-foal pairs kept with minimal human interference. Most foals were weaned spontaneously when 9-10 months old, with individual variations mainly due to the conception rate of mares. Natural weaning induced no stress response in either partner and was performed without clear signs of rejection by the dams either just before or after. We lastly open up the discussion on the need for rethinking weaning practices under domestic conditions.
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Publication Date: 2020-02-23 PubMed ID: 32102206PubMed Central: PMC7070483DOI: 10.3390/ani10020361Google 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 article examines the standard practice of artificial weaning in domestic foals and its stressful effects, with a focus on understanding the natural weaning process and its implications for better practices related to animal welfare.

Key Components of the Study

  • The study starts by acknowledging the lack of detailed research on the best weaning practices for domestic foals, with a particular focus on animal welfare. It aims to bridge this gap by scrutinizing the natural weaning process.
  • The researchers performed a review of scientific literature concerning the natural progression of the dam-offspring relationship in horses. They emphasize that there is sparse documentation on the dynamics of natural weaning. Factors such as individual variations in the weaning process and the immediate effects of weaning on the mother-foal relationship are understudied.

The Study Design

  • To address the gaps identified, the researchers conducted their own study. They observed 16 mare-foal pairs which were maintained with minimal human involvement. This setup allowed for a less controlled and more natural observation, leading to more genuine findings.
  • The age of foals at the time of spontaneous weaning was recorded. The researchers found that most foals were naturally weaned when they were about 9 to 10 months old. Individual variations were largely attributed to the mares’ conception rate.

Findings & Discussions

  • The study points out that natural weaning elicited no stress response from either the mare or the foal. Furthermore, the mothers did not display any noticeable signs of rejection just before or after the weaning process.
  • The researchers consequently suggest that there is a necessity for reconsidering artificial weaning practices under domestic circumstances. Given the observed stress-free process of natural weaning, it is suggested that adapting such methods may promote overall healthier animal welfare.

Conclusion

  • By advocating for a re-examination of existing weaning practices, the study emphasizes the need to align these practices more closely with the natural weaning process, in light of its lesser associated stress and better adaptation to individual variations.

Cite This Article

APA
Henry S, Sigurjónsdóttir H, Klapper A, Joubert J, Montier G, Hausberger M. (2020). Domestic Foal Weaning: Need for Re-Thinking Breeding Practices? Animals (Basel), 10(2), 361. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020361

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
PII: 361

Researcher Affiliations

Henry, Séverine
  • Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale et Humaine)-UMR 6552, F-35000 Rennes, France.
Sigurjónsdóttir, Hrefna
  • Faculty of Subject Teacher Education, School of Education, University of Iceland, Stakkahlíð, R105 Reykjavík, Iceland.
Klapper, Aziliz
  • Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale et Humaine)-UMR 6552, F-35000 Rennes, France.
Joubert, Julie
  • Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale et Humaine)-UMR 6552, F-35000 Rennes, France.
Montier, Gabrielle
  • Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale et Humaine)-UMR 6552, F-35000 Rennes, France.
Hausberger, Martine
  • Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale et Humaine)-UMR 6552, F-35000 Rennes, France.

Grant Funding

  • PHC 18092015 / Partenariats Hubert Curien

Conflict of Interest Statement

“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

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Citations

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