Physiological and behavioural responses of young horses to hot iron branding and microchip implantation.
Abstract: Branding is the traditional and well-established method used to mark horses, but recently microchip transponders for implantation have become available. In this study, behaviour, physiological stress variables and skin temperature in foals were determined in response to hot-iron branding (n=7) and microchip implantation (n=7). Salivary cortisol concentrations increased in response to branding (1.8 ± 0.2 ng/mL) and microchip implantation (1.4 ± 0.1ng/mL), but cortisol release over time did not differ. In response to both manipulations there was a transient increase in heart rate (P<0.001) and heart rate variability (P<0.01). Branding and microchip implantation induced a comparable aversive behaviour (branding, score 3.86 ± 0.85; microchip, score 4.00 ± 0.82). Both techniques thus caused similar physiological and behavioural changes indicative of stress. Acutely, implantation of a microchip was as stressful as branding in foals. Branding caused a necrotising skin burn lasting at least 7 days. Moreover branding, but not microchip implantation (P<0.001), was accompanied by a generalized increase in skin temperature which was comparable to low degree post-burn hypermetabolism in humans.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2011-09-13 PubMed ID: 21917490DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.08.008Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research paper studies the physical and behavioural reactions of young horses to traditional hot iron branding versus microchip implantation. The findings reveal that both methods induce similar stress responses in horses. However, branding induces a skin burn that persist for at least a week, along with a generalized increase in skin temperature.
Research Methodology
- The study involved monitoring behavioral responses, skin temperature, and physiological stress indicators in foals subjected to hot-iron branding or microchip implantation.
- Both methods were applied to seven young horses each.
- The researchers measured salivary cortisol concentrations in these foals as an indicator of stress.
Analysis and Findings
- Both branding and microchip implantation treatments triggered an increase in salivary cortisol. However, the degree of cortisol release over time was comparable between the two procedures.
- Both techniques caused a temporary increase in heart rate and fluctuation in heart rate, suggesting physiological stress.
- The observed behavioral responses to both procedures were comparable, indicating that they were both similarly distressing for the animals.
Implications of the Study
- The study raises significant concerns about the stressful nature of both branding and microchip implantation techniques used in horses.
- While both techniques are equally distressing for the animals, the research highlighted that branding also causes a skin burn which could last for at least seven days, coupled with a generalized increase in skin temperature akin to low degree post-burn hypermetabolism in humans.
- This could question the humane aspects of traditional branding methods, and provided a scientific basis for considering alternate, less stressful identification techniques for horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Erber R, Wulf M, Becker-Birck M, Kaps S, Aurich JE, Möstl E, Aurich C.
(2011).
Physiological and behavioural responses of young horses to hot iron branding and microchip implantation.
Vet J, 191(2), 171-175.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.08.008 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Science, 16845 Neustadt (Dosse), Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Identification Systems / veterinary
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal / physiology
- Burns / physiopathology
- Burns / veterinary
- Female
- Heart Rate
- Horses / injuries
- Horses / physiology
- Hydrocortisone / metabolism
- Male
- Pain / veterinary
- Saliva / metabolism
- Stress, Physiological
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Carvalho JRG, Trindade PHE, Conde G, Antonioli ML, Funnicelli MIG, Dias PP, Canola PA, Chinelatto MA, Ferraz GC. Facial Expressions of Horses Using Weighted Multivariate Statistics for Assessment of Subtle Local Pain Induced by Polylactide-Based Polymers Implanted Subcutaneously. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 13;12(18).
- Kang H, Zsoldos RR, Skinner JE, Gaughan JB, Mellor VA, Sole-Guitart A. The Use of Percutaneous Thermal Sensing Microchips to Measure Body Temperature in Horses during and after Exercise Using Three Different Cool-Down Methods. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 14;12(10).
- Hernández-Avalos I, Mota-Rojas D, Mendoza-Flores JE, Casas-Alvarado A, Flores-Padilla K, Miranda-Cortes AE, Torres-Bernal F, Gómez-Prado J, Mora-Medina P. Nociceptive pain and anxiety in equines: Physiological and behavioral alterations. Vet World 2021 Nov;14(11):2984-2995.
- Abou-Khalil NS, Ali MF, Ali MM, Ibrahim A. Surgical castration versus chemical castration in donkeys: response of stress, lipid profile and redox potential biomarkers. BMC Vet Res 2020 Aug 26;16(1):310.
- Broux B, De Clercq D, Vera L, Ven S, Deprez P, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Can heart rate variability parameters derived by a heart rate monitor differentiate between atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm?. BMC Vet Res 2018 Oct 25;14(1):320.
- Rowland AL, Navas de Solis C, Lepiz MA, Cummings KJ, Watts AE. Bone Marrow Aspiration Does Not Induce a Measurable Pain Response Compared to Sham Procedure. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:233.
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- Caja G, Díaz-Medina E, Salama AA, Salama OA, El-Shafie MH, El-Metwaly HA, Ayadi M, Aljumaah RS, Alshaikh MA, Yahyahoui MH, Seddik MM, Hammadi M, Khorchani T, Amann O, Cabrera S. Comparison of visual and electronic devices for individual identification of dromedary camels under different farming conditions. J Anim Sci 2016 Aug;94(8):3561-3571.
- Dalla Costa E, Minero M, Lebelt D, Stucke D, Canali E, Leach MC. Development of the Horse Grimace Scale (HGS) as a pain assessment tool in horses undergoing routine castration. PLoS One 2014;9(3):e92281.
- Franzen V, Reisbeck D, Leibl Y, Schoster A, May A. Pain Assessment of Horses With Trigeminal-Mediated Headshaking (TMHS) at Rest Between Episodes. J Vet Intern Med 2025 May-Jun;39(3):e70064.
- Hall C, Kay R. Living the good life? A systematic review of behavioural signs of affective state in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) and factors relating to quality of life. Part 2: Horse-human interactions. Anim Welf 2024;33:e41.
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