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International journal of veterinary science and medicine2018; 6(1); 97-102; doi: 10.1016/j.ijvsm.2018.03.002

Physiological responses in horses, donkeys and mules sold at livestock markets.

Abstract: The horse welfare at markets includes fatigue, fear, fasting, dehydration and injuries. However, the scientific literature contains no readily-available information on the physiology responses of equids sold in livestock markets. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of holding in livestock markets on gas exchange, the acid-base balance, energy metabolism, and the mineral and water balance in 4 types of horses (), donkeys () and mules (( × ). To this end, a total of 1,438 equine were utilized, after classification into six groups, as follows: mules, donkeys, culled horses, horses (Mexican rodeo horses), foals, and ponies. The time intervals evaluated were 1 and 5 h. During the study, the animals received only water . The physiological blood indicators assessed were: PCO (mm Hg) and PO (mm Hg) pressure, pH, glucose (mg/dL), lactate (mg/dL), bicarbonate levels (mmol/L), hematocrit (%), Na, K and Ca (mmol/L). The animals that presented the most marked physiological alterations were the mules and donkeys. The mules that remained in the corrals for 1 h presented increases ( < 0.0001) in the values for pO glucose, hematocrit and blood pH, compared to reference values (RV), while the donkeys had increases ( < 0.0001) in glucose and hematocrit values. By the end of the first hour at the exhibition corrals the equine were dehydrated, suffered fatigue, and suffered metabolic and compensatory problems, probably due to the combined effects of a series of factors that include transport and inadequate handling.
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Publication Date: 2018-03-13 PubMed ID: 30255085PubMed Central: PMC6145166DOI: 10.1016/j.ijvsm.2018.03.002Google 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 focuses on the physiological responses of horses, donkeys, and mules sold in livestock markets. It examines the impacts of these markets on the animals’ gas exchange, acid-base balance, energy metabolism, and mineral and water balance, suggesting that many of these animals, particularly mules and donkeys, experience significant physiological alterations after spending time in market conditions.

Study Background

  • The authors of the study noted the lack of readily-available scientific literature pertaining to the physiological responses of equids (a term encompassing horses, donkeys, and mules) sold in livestock markets.
  • To address this gap, they conducted a research study evaluating the effects of conditions at livestock markets on these animals’ physiological parameters.
  • The focus was on several key areas: gas exchange, the acid-base balance (the balance in the body between acidity and alkalinity), energy metabolism (the process of generating energy from nutrients), and the balance of minerals and water in the body.

Methodology

  • To carry out this study, a total of 1,438 equids, classified into six groups (mules, donkeys, culled horses, Mexican rodeo horses, foals, and ponies), were examined.
  • The research team gathered data at 1 hour and 5 hours after the animals arrived at the market.
  • Concurrently, the animals in the study were only provided with water.
  • The assessment involved several physiological blood indicators, such as pressure, pH, glucose, lactate, bicarbonate levels, and concentrations of sodium, potassium, and calcium.

Findings

  • According to the study, the animals showing the most significant physiological changes were mules and donkeys.
  • Mules that had been in the corrals for 1 hour exhibited elevated levels of oxygen partial pressure, glucose, hematocrit (the proportion of red blood cells to the total blood volume), and blood pH compared to reference values (or normal values).
  • Similarly, donkeys exhibited high levels of glucose and hematocrit values.
  • At the end of the first hour in the exhibition corrals, it was observed that the equine were dehydrated, fatigued, and suffering from metabolic and compensatory problems, likely due to the combined effects of transport and improper handling.

Cite This Article

APA
Corrales-Hernández A, Mota-Rojas D, Guerrero-Legarreta I, Roldan-Santiago P, Rodríguez-Salinas S, Yáñez-Pizaña A, de la Cruz L, González-Lozano M, Mora-Medina P. (2018). Physiological responses in horses, donkeys and mules sold at livestock markets. Int J Vet Sci Med, 6(1), 97-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijvsm.2018.03.002

Publication

International journal of veterinary science and medicine
ISSN: 2314-4599
NlmUniqueID: 101626221
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 6
Issue: 1
Pages: 97-102

Researcher Affiliations

Corrales-Hernández, Alejandro
  • Maestría en Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Campus Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, México City, DF 04960, Mexico.
Mota-Rojas, Daniel
  • Stress Physiology and Farm Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Production and Agriculture, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, México City, DF 04960, Mexico.
Guerrero-Legarreta, Isabel
  • Department of Biotechnology: Food science, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Campus Iztapalapa, México, DF 09340, Mexico.
Roldan-Santiago, Patricia
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad del Valle de México, México City, Mexico.
Rodríguez-Salinas, Selene
  • Stress Physiology and Farm Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Production and Agriculture, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, México City, DF 04960, Mexico.
Yáñez-Pizaña, Ariadna
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad del Valle de México, México City, Mexico.
de la Cruz, Luis
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad del Valle de México, México City, Mexico.
González-Lozano, Miguel
  • FMVZ and CEIEPP, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad Universitaria, México City 04510, Mexico.
Mora-Medina, Patricia
  • Department of Livestock Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, FESC, Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Maśko M, Wierzbicka M, Zdrojkowski Ł, Jasiński T, Sikorska U, Pawliński B, Domino M. Comparison of Donkey, Pony, and Horse Dorsal Profiles and Head Shapes Using Geometric Morphometrics. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 5;12(7).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12070931pubmed: 35405919google scholar: lookup
  2. Sánchez-Hidalgo M, Bravo V, Gallo C. Behavior and Health Indicators to Assess Cull Cow's Welfare in Livestock Markets. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:471.
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  3. Leon AF, Sanchez JA, Romero MH. Association between Attitude and Empathy with the Quality of Human-Livestock Interactions. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jul 30;10(8).
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  4. Merkies K, Paraschou G, McGreevy PD. Morphometric Characteristics of the Skull in Horses and Donkeys-A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 8;10(6).
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  5. Dai F, Dalla Costa E, Cannas S, Heinzl EUL, Minero M, Mazzola SM. May Salivary Chromogranin A Act as a Physiological Index of Stress in Transported Donkeys? A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 3;10(6).
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  6. Mota-Rojas D, Orihuela A, Strappini-Asteggiano A, Nelly Cajiao-Pachón M, Agüera-Buendía E, Mora-Medina P, Ghezzi M, Alonso-Spilsbury M. Teaching animal welfare in veterinary schools in Latin America. Int J Vet Sci Med 2018 Dec;6(2):131-140.
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