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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(19); 2505; doi: 10.3390/ani12192505

Effect of Cooling Blanket on the Heat Stress of Horses in Hot and Humid Environments.

Abstract: Heat stress is serious problem for livestock. While riding horses and racehorses spend the majority of their days in stalls, there are few reports on effective methods for reducing stall heat stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an ice horse blanket in hot and humid environments. Twenty healthy horses were measured first without the blanket (C) and then measured with the blanket (IB), or vice versa, in a cross-over trial. The blanket was designed to keep cooling the front back, the rear back, and the loin. Skin surface temperature, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and plasma cortisol level in both C and IB were measured at 10:00, 12:30, and 15:00. The skin surface temperature of the front back was decreased with cooling time in IB, whereas it was not changed in C. Similarly, heart rate, respiratory rate, and plasma cortisol level also decreased only in IB. The blanket used in the present study had the advantage of allowing for gentle cooling of the horse's body without the use of water or fans. Applying this methodology should enable effective reduction of heat stress not only in horses but also in other mammals kept in barns.
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Publication Date: 2022-09-20 PubMed ID: 36230247PubMed Central: PMC9559210DOI: 10.3390/ani12192505Google 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 study investigated the effectiveness of a cooling blanket, specifically designed for horses, in reducing heat stress in hot and humid conditions. The researchers conducted a cross-over trial with 20 horses to explore the impact of this cooling device on several measures, including their skin surface temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and cortisol levels.

Study design and procedure

  • The research was conducted on 20 healthy horses. This sample size allowed for robust statistical analysis and the detection of any significant variations in the measured parameters.
  • A cross-over design was used, where measurements were first taken from horses without the cooling blanket (referred to as group C), and subsequently with the horses wearing the ice blanket (group IB). Using this design minimised variability and ensured that any observed differences could be attributed to the intervention, rather than individual horse characteristics.
  • The cooling blanket was designed to cool specific parts of the horse’s body: the front back, the rear back, and the loin. The focus on these areas ensured targeted cooling whilst being comfortable for the horse.

Measurements and results

  • Data was collected at three different time points – 10:00, 12:30, and 15:00. This allowed for the investigation of any temporal effects and ensured that recordings represented a comprehensive range of conditions across the day.
  • Several parameters were measured to accurately assess the horses’ level of heat stress. These included skin surface temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and plasma cortisol level. Cortisol is a hormone released during stress and is therefore a useful indicator of physiological stress levels.
  • The results indicated that the cooling blanket was effective in reducing heat stress in the horses. The researchers observed a decrease in the skin surface temperature of the front back, heart rate, respiratory rate, and cortisol levels in the horses wearing the cooling blanket, while no changes were noted in those without the cooling blanket.

Implications and potential applications

  • This research provides promising evidence supporting the use of a cooling blanket in managing heat stress in horses, particularly in hot and humid environments. The study highlights the potential of this tool in promoting the welfare and performance of horses.
  • The researchers suggest the cooling method could be applied more broadly to other mammals kept in barns, demonstrating its potential to have a significant impact on livestock management practices and animal welfare more generally.

Cite This Article

APA
Ojima Y, Torii S, Maeda Y, Matsuura A. (2022). Effect of Cooling Blanket on the Heat Stress of Horses in Hot and Humid Environments. Animals (Basel), 12(19), 2505. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192505

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 19
PII: 2505

Researcher Affiliations

Ojima, Yuki
  • Department of Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, 23-35-1, Higashi, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan.
Torii, Suzuka
  • Department of Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, 23-35-1, Higashi, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan.
Maeda, Yosuke
  • Department of Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, 23-35-1, Higashi, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan.
Matsuura, Akihiro
  • Department of Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, 23-35-1, Higashi, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Pan Y, Su X, Liu Y, Fan P, Li X, Ying Y, Ping J. A laser-Engraved Wearable Electrochemical Sensing Patch for Heat Stress Precise Individual Management of Horse. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024 Jul;11(28):e2310069.
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