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BMC veterinary research2013; 9; 3; doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-3

Plasma cortisol and faecal cortisol metabolites concentrations in stereotypic and non-stereotypic horses: do stereotypic horses cope better with poor environmental conditions?

Abstract: Stereotypic behaviours, i.e. repetitive behaviours induced by frustration, repeated attempts to cope and/or brain dysfunction, are intriguing as they occur in a variety of domestic and captive species without any clear adaptive function. Among the different hypotheses, the coping hypothesis predicts that stereotypic behaviours provide a way for animals in unfavourable environmental conditions to adjust. As such, they are expected to have a lower physiological stress level (glucocorticoids) than non-stereotypic animals. Attempts to link stereotypic behaviours with glucocorticoids however have yielded contradictory results. Here we investigated correlates of oral and motor stereotypic behaviours and glucocorticoid levels in two large samples of domestic horses (NStudy1 = 55, NStudy2 = 58), kept in sub-optimal conditions (e.g. confinement, social isolation), and already known to experience poor welfare states. Each horse was observed in its box using focal sampling (study 1) and instantaneous scan sampling (study 2). Plasma samples (collected in study 1) but also non-invasive faecal samples (collected in both studies) were retrieved in order to assess cortisol levels. Results: Results showed that 1) plasma cortisol and faecal cortisol metabolites concentrations did not differ between horses displaying stereotypic behaviours and non-stereotypic horses and 2) both oral and motor stereotypic behaviour levels did not predict plasma cortisol or faecal cortisol metabolites concentrations. Conclusions: Cortisol measures, collected in two large samples of horses using both plasma sampling as well as faecal sampling (the latter method minimizing bias due to a non-invasive sampling procedure), therefore do not indicate that stereotypic horses cope better, at least in terms of adrenocortical activity.
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Publication Date: 2013-01-07 PubMed ID: 23289406PubMed Central: PMC3544618DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-3Google 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.

The research is exploring the link between stereotypic behaviours, such as repetitive movements due to frustration or coping mechanisms, and levels of stress, measured by concentrations of cortisol, in horses kept under poor environmental conditions. Contrary to some expectations, stereotypic horses did not have lower cortisol levels, suggesting they don’t cope better in terms of stress response.

Hypothesis and Objective

  • The research aims to explore the connection between stereotypic behaviours in horses and the stress levels of these animals, in terms of glucocorticoids or cortisol levels. These behaviours are repetitive actions that apparently serve no clear function, observed in both domestic and captive animals of various species. They are assumed to be induced by factors such as frustration or a need to cope with challenging circumstances.
  • According to the “coping hypothesis”, stereotypic behaviours may help animals kept in sub-optimal conditions to cope and adjust to their environment. If this was true, these animals would be expected to have lower cortisol levels, signifying reduced stress levels.

Methodology

  • The study was conducted using two large groups of domestic horses (55 in the first study, 58 in the second), kept under poor conditions including confinement and social isolation.
  • Researchers used observation methods including focal sampling and instantaneous scan sampling. They collected both plasma and faecal samples to assess cortisol levels, which represent the physiological stress level of the horses.

Results

  • Contrary to what the coping hypothesis predicted, there were no significant differences in cortisol levels between the stereotypic horses and the non-stereotypic horses.
  • Also, both oral and motor stereotypic behaviour levels did not predict either plasma cortisol or faecal cortisol metabolites concentrations. This indicates that the display of stereotypic behaviours did not correspond with the physiological stress responses of the horses.

Conclusion

  • Contrary to the initial hypothesis, the results suggest that stereotypic behaviours do not indicate better coping mechanisms in terms of adrenocortical activity, at least not in the studied conditions.
  • As this research used both invasive and non-invasive methods of sample collection, this conclusion is assumed to be free of bias, providing a comprehensive perspective on the matter.

Cite This Article

APA
Fureix C, Benhajali H, Henry S, Bruchet A, Prunier A, Ezzaouia M, Coste C, Hausberger M, Palme R, Jego P. (2013). Plasma cortisol and faecal cortisol metabolites concentrations in stereotypic and non-stereotypic horses: do stereotypic horses cope better with poor environmental conditions? BMC Vet Res, 9, 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-9-3

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 9
Pages: 3

Researcher Affiliations

Fureix, Carole
  • Université Rennes 1 UMR CNRS 6552 Ethologie Animale et Humaine, Campus de Beaulieu bâtiment 25, 263 avenue Général Leclerc, Rennes Cedex, 35042, France. carole.fureix@gmail.com
Benhajali, Haïfa
    Henry, Séverine
      Bruchet, Anaelle
        Prunier, Armelle
          Ezzaouia, Mohammed
            Coste, Caroline
              Hausberger, Martine
                Palme, Rupert
                  Jego, Patrick

                    MeSH Terms

                    • Adaptation, Psychological / physiology
                    • Animals
                    • Environment
                    • Feces / chemistry
                    • Female
                    • Horses / blood
                    • Horses / physiology
                    • Horses / psychology
                    • Hydrocortisone / analysis
                    • Hydrocortisone / blood
                    • Male
                    • Social Isolation / psychology
                    • Stereotyped Behavior / physiology

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