No-Contact Microchip Monitoring of Body Temperature in Yearling Horses.
Abstract: In clinics, temperature is used as an indicator of health. Mostly rectal temperature is recorded, requiring handling and time. Temperature-sensitive identification microchips could be an alternative. Foals (26 males and 17 females), 4-12 months old, were housed in stalls over two winters (December-February). They were equipped with an identification and temperature sensor microchip implanted in the neckline. Temperature was recorded using an antenna located near the drinking trough. Animals were fed concentrated feed and forage twice daily, with free access to water. Rectal temperatures (79 measurements) were recorded simultaneously in 26 animals. Data were analyzed with a linear mixed model, using natural cubic splines for the mean curve and a random horse effect. All animals remained healthy throughout the study. More than 100,000 recordings were obtained. Mean temperature for all individuals at all times was 37.5 ± 0.1°C. Time of the day affected temperature with a daily amplitude of 0.96°C (P < .001). Lowest temperatures were observed before dawn, the acrophase occurring around 18:00, with a smaller increase around midday. Mean temperature was 0.26°C higher in males (P < .05). It was also 0.1°C higher in light (<200 kg) compared with heavier foals (P < .001). Temperature decreased with increasing daylight (-0.35°C over the study period, P < .001). Microchip and rectal temperatures remained within normal limits and were significantly correlated (R = 0.16, P < .001). This noninvasive tool does not require extra-handling and will allow a better monitoring of normal body temperature values taking into consideration time of the day, meal time, and sex.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2019-12-14 PubMed ID: 32067664DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102892Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Animal Health
- Animal Science
- Animal Studies
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Management
- Disease Prevention
- Disease Surveillance
- Equine Health
- Equine Science
- Foals
- Horses
- Microbiology
- Noninvasive Procedures
- Temperature
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Yearlings
Summary
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The research article investigates the use of microchips to monitor body temperature in young horses, offering a less invasive and more efficient way to monitor their health status. The study found significant correlations between the temperatures recorded by these microchips and traditional rectal measurements.
Participants and Method
- The participants in the study were foals that were 4-12 months old. There were 26 males and 17 females, all of which were healthy throughout the study.
- The foals were housed in stalls over the course of two winters (December to February).
- Each foal was equipped with an identification and temperature sensor microchip that was implanted in the neckline.
- The temperature was recorded using an antenna located near the drinking trough, with over 100,000 recordings obtained.
- Rectal temperatures were also recorded in 26 of the animals for comparison. A total of 79 such measurements were recorded.
- The recorded data were then analyzed with a linear mixed model, using natural cubic splines for the mean curve and a random horse effect.
Findings
- The average temperature for all individuals at all times was 37.5 ± 0.1°C.
- The time of day affected the temperature, with a daily amplitude of 0.96°C. The lowest temperatures were observed before dawn, the highest occurring around 18:00, and a smaller increase around midday.
- Males had a mean temperature 0.26°C higher than females.
- Lighter foals (<200 kg) had a mean temperature 0.1°C higher than their heavier peers.
- Temperature decreased with increasing daylight by 0.35°C over the course of the study.
- The temperatures recorded by the microchips significantly correlated with the rectal temperatures (R = 0.16, P < .001).
Conclusions
- This noninvasive tool offers a more efficient way to monitor the health of young horses.
- It does not require extra handling and provides valuable information about normal body temperature values considering factors such as time of day, meal time, and sex.
- The study suggests that future health monitoring of foals can benefit from using temperature-sensitive microchip technology.
Cite This Article
APA
Auclair-Ronzaud J, Benoist S, Dubois C, Frejaville M, Jousset T, Jaffrézic F, Wimel L, Chavatte-Palmer P.
(2019).
No-Contact Microchip Monitoring of Body Temperature in Yearling Horses.
J Equine Vet Sci, 86, 102892.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102892 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- IFCE, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, Chamberet, France. Electronic address: juliette.auclair-ronzaud@ifce.fr.
- IFCE, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, Chamberet, France.
- IFCE, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, Chamberet, France.
- IFCE, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, Chamberet, France.
- IFCE, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, Chamberet, France.
- GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
- IFCE, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, Chamberet, France.
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, ENVA, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas, France. Electronic address: pascale.chavatte-palmer@inra.fr.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Body Temperature
- Drinking
- Female
- Horses
- Male
- Prostheses and Implants
- Seasons
- Temperature
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Kang H, Zsoldos RR, Sole-Guitart A, Narayan E, Cawdell-Smith AJ, Gaughan JB. Heat stress in horses: a literature review. Int J Biometeorol 2023 Jun;67(6):957-973.
- Kang H, Zsoldos RR, Woldeyohannes SM, Gaughan JB, Sole Guitart A. The Use of Percutaneous Thermal Sensing Microchips for Body Temperature Measurements in Horses Prior to, during and after Treadmill Exercise. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 2;10(12).
- Goig M, Godino J, Tejedor MT, Burgio F. Correlation of temperature-sensing microchip and rectal temperature measurements in cats. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1319722.
- Sterkenburgh TR, Villalba-Diez J, Ordieres-Meré J. Socio-Technical Analysis of the Benefits and Barriers to Using a Digital Representation of the Global Horse Population in Equine Veterinary Medicine. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 17;13(22).
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