Effects of orientation, intermittent rest and vehicle cleaning during transport on development of transport-related respiratory disease in horses.
Abstract: The effects of various factors on the inflammatory and stress response in horses during transportation were examined in Experiments 1 and 2, carried out in April and August, respectively. In Experiment 1, three groups (G1-G3) of four Thoroughbreds were used, and in Experiment 2, two groups (G4, G5). G1 animals were loaded into lorries with their heads facing forwards (FF) and given periods of short rest (SR) (30 min for every 4 h driven). G2 horses were loaded facing rearwards (FR) and given SR. G3 horses were FF and given periods of long rest (LR) (2 h rest for every 4 h driven). G4 horses were transported FF with hay suspended in front of them and no cleaning of faeces or urine during rest stops. G5 horses were FF and given pellets instead of hay, and the lorry was cleaned and washed at each rest stop. G4 and G5 horses were rested for 1 h after every 5 h of driving. All groups were driven a distance of 1500 km, and the total journey time was 37 h for G1 and G2, 49 h for G3, and 40 h for G4 and G5. In Experiment 1, indicators of inflammatory and stress responses tended to be highest in G1, intermediate in G2 and lowest in G3. In Experiment 2 they tended to be higher in G4 than in G5. The results suggested that increasing the rest time and cleaning the interior of the vehicle during rest stops reduced transportation stress and respiratory insults, factors that may lead to respiratory disease.
Publication Date: 2005-03-02 PubMed ID: 15737342DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2004.09.006Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the impacts of several factors like animal orientation during transit, resting periods, and the cleanliness of the vehicle on stress and inflammatory responses in horses, which can lead to respiratory diseases.
Methodology and Groups
- In two experiments, a set of various factors affecting the stress and inflammatory response in horses during transport was scrutinised. The first and second experiments were conducted in April and August, respectively.
- In the first experiment, three groups of Thoroughbreds took part (G1-G3), and in the second experiment, two groups (G4, G5) were involved.
- The horses in G1 were loaded into trucks oriented with their heads facing forward (FF) and were given short periods of rest (SR) every 4 hours of driving. This rest period was 30 minutes.
- In contrast, the horses in G2 were loaded to face the rear (FR) and were also given SR.
- G3 horses were oriented FF but given longer rest periods (LR), specifically 2 hours of rest for every 4 hours driven.
- G4 horses were transported with their heads at the front alongside hay placed in front of them without any cleaning of faeces or urine during stops.
- The horses in G5 were loaded forward-facing, given pellets instead of hay, and the transport vehicle was cleaned at each rest stop.
- All horse groups covered a distance of 1500 km with varying total journey times; 37 hours for G1 and G2, 49 hours for G3, and 40 hours for G4 and G5.
Research Findings
- The results from the first experiment showed that observable signs of inflammatory and stress responses were highest in G1, intermediate in G2, and lowest in G3. This hints that a longer rest period could reduce stress and inflammatory reactions in horses during transport.
- In the second experiment, these indicators were observed to be higher in G4 than in G5. This suggests that the cleanliness of the transport vehicle and the replacement of hay with pellets could further mitigate transportation stress and respiratory harm in horses.
- The findings overall imply that increasing the rest duration and ensuring the cleanliness of the transport vehicle during rest stops can reduce transportation-induced stress and the risk of respiratory ailments in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Oikawa M, Hobo S, Oyamada T, Yoshikawa H.
(2005).
Effects of orientation, intermittent rest and vehicle cleaning during transport on development of transport-related respiratory disease in horses.
J Comp Pathol, 132(2-3), 153-168.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpa.2004.09.006 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 321-4 Tokami, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 320-0856, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry / methods
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal / physiology
- Heart Rate / physiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Pneumonia, Bacterial / etiology
- Pneumonia, Bacterial / pathology
- Pneumonia, Bacterial / veterinary
- Rest / physiology
- Rest / psychology
- Streptococcal Infections / etiology
- Streptococcal Infections / pathology
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Stress, Physiological / complications
- Stress, Physiological / physiopathology
- Stress, Physiological / veterinary
- Transportation
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar Schmidt C, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Stahl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Earley B, Edwards S, Faucitano L, Marti S, Miranda de La Lama GC, Costa LN, Thomsen PT, Ashe S, Mur L, Van der Stede Y, Herskin M. Welfare of equidae during transport. EFSA J 2022 Sep;20(9):e07444.
- Miller AB, Harris PA, Barker VD, Adams AA. Short-term transport stress and supplementation alter immune function in aged horses. PLoS One 2021;16(8):e0254139.
- Maeda Y, Oikawa MA. Patterns of Rectal Temperature and Shipping Fever Incidence in Horses Transported Over Long-Distances. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:27.
- Padalino B, Rogers CW, Guiver D, Bridges JP, Riley CB. Risk Factors for Transport-Related Problem Behaviors in Horses: A New Zealand Survey. Animals (Basel) 2018 Aug 2;8(8).
- Padalino B, Raidal SL, Knight P, Celi P, Jeffcott L, Muscatello G. Behaviour during transportation predicts stress response and lower airway contamination in horses. PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0194272.
- York A, Matusiewicz J, Padalino B. How to minimise the incidence of transport-related problem behaviours in horses: a review. J Equine Sci 2017;28(3):67-75.
- Hekman JP, Karas AZ, Sharp CR. Psychogenic Stress in Hospitalized Dogs: Cross Species Comparisons, Implications for Health Care, and the Challenges of Evaluation. Animals (Basel) 2014 Jun 16;4(2):331-47.
- Akai M, Hobo S, Wada S. Effect of Low-Dose Human Interferon-alpha on Shipping Fever of Thoroughbred Racehorses. J Equine Sci 2008;19(4):91-5.
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