FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Psychoneuroendocrinology / Progressive habituation to separation alleviates the negativ...
Psychoneuroendocrinology2018; 97; 59-68; doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.07.005

Progressive habituation to separation alleviates the negative effects of weaning in the mother and foal.

Abstract: Early and definitive separation between offspring and their mothers has negative consequences on behavioral and physiological responses. This study compared sudden and definitive weaning (Sudd group, N = 16) and weaning involving progressive habituation to separation using a fence line during the month preceding definitive separation (Prog group, N = 18). The impact of these two methods was assessed in both foals and their mothers through behavioral and biological parameters, including salivary cortisol, telomere length and blood transcriptomes. On the day of definitive separation, Prog foals neighed and trotted less and presented lower cortisol levels than Sudd foals. The weaning type also acted on the foals' personality development; Prog foals became more curious, less fearful and less gregarious than Sudd foals, and the effects remained visible for at least 3 months. In principal component analysis, the Sudd and Prog groups were well separated along a factor where fear, reactivity and gregariousness correlated with high cortisol levels, but curiosity was associated with an increased telomere length and higher expression of genes involved in mitochondrial functions. Progressive weaning was also beneficial in mares. Principal component analysis showed that most Sudd group mares had higher cortisol levels and displayed more alert postures, neighs and activity on the day of weaning, indicating higher stress levels, while Prog mares had profiles that were characterized by more time spent resting on the day of weaning and longer telomere lengths. In conclusion, this study shows that progressive habituation to separation alleviates the negative effect of definitive weaning on both the mother and her young compared to sudden separation.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2018-07-05 PubMed ID: 30005282DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.07.005Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 study examines the negative effects of sudden weaning (separation) between a mother horse (mare) and her offspring (foal). It concludes that progressive habituation to separation, gradually getting the foal used to being separate from its mother, is a beneficial approach with less harmful effects.

Research Objective and Methodology

  • The researchers sought to understand the impact of sudden versus gradual separation on both the foal and its mother.
  • They formed two groups for comparison: a sudden weaning group (Sudd) of 16 pairs of mares and foals, and a progressive weaning group (Prog) of 18 pairs.
  • The progressive weaning group was gradually habituated to separation using a fence line during the month before the final separation.

Data Collection and Parameters

  • Impact was measured through behavioral and biological parameters such as salivary cortisol, telomere length, and blood transcriptomes.
  • These measurements were meant to reflect stress levels, biological age, genetic activities and overall health of the subject.

Findings and Conclusions

  • On the day of final separation, progressive weaning foals displayed less stress both physiologically and behaviorally compared to sudden weaning group. They trotted and neighed less and presented lower cortisol levels, indicating lower stress.
  • The type of weaning also affected foal personality development. Prog foals became more curious, less fearful and less gregarious than Sudd foals. This effect remained for at least 3 months.
  • Analysis of the findings showed a correlation between fear, reactivity and gregariousness with high cortisol levels. Conversely, curiosity was associated with longer telomere lengths and higher gene expression in mitochondrial function.
  • Progressive weaning also had benefits for the mares. They showed lower cortisol levels, indicating less stress, and displayed fewer signs of alertness and activity on the day of weaning compared to the sudden weaning group.
  • The results of this study indicate that progressive habituation to separation alleviates the negative effects of definitive weaning for both the mother and her young.

Cite This Article

APA
Lansade L, Foury A, Reigner F, Vidament M, Guettier E, Bouvet G, Soulet D, Parias C, Ruet A, Mach N, Lévy F, Moisan MP. (2018). Progressive habituation to separation alleviates the negative effects of weaning in the mother and foal. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 97, 59-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.07.005

Publication

Psychoneuroendocrinology
ISSN: 1873-3360
NlmUniqueID: 7612148
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 97
Pages: 59-68
PII: S0306-4530(18)30327-5

Researcher Affiliations

Lansade, Léa
  • INRA, PRC, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, Nouzilly, France. Electronic address: lea.lansade@inra.fr.
Foury, Aline
  • INRA, UMR 1286, Université Bordeaux, Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, Bordeaux, France.
Reigner, Fabrice
  • INRA, UEPAO 297, Nouzilly, France.
Vidament, Marianne
  • INRA, PRC, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, Nouzilly, France.
Guettier, Elodie
  • INRA, UEPAO 297, Nouzilly, France.
Bouvet, Gwenaelle
  • INRA, PRC, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, Nouzilly, France.
Soulet, Delphine
  • INRA, PRC, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, Nouzilly, France.
Parias, Céline
  • INRA, PRC, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, Nouzilly, France.
Ruet, Alice
  • INRA, PRC, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, Nouzilly, France.
Mach, Nuria
  • INRA, UMR 1313, AgroParisTech, University Paris-Saclay Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Lévy, Frédéric
  • INRA, PRC, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, Nouzilly, France.
Moisan, Marie-Pierre
  • INRA, UMR 1286, Université Bordeaux, Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, Bordeaux, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anxiety, Separation / genetics
  • Anxiety, Separation / psychology
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Female
  • Habituation, Psychophysiologic
  • Horses / genetics
  • Horses / psychology
  • Hydrocortisone / analysis
  • Mothers
  • Psychology
  • Saliva / chemistry
  • Telomere
  • Transcriptome
  • Weaning

Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
  1. Foury A, Mach N, Ruet A, Lansade L, Moisan MP. Transcriptomic signature related to poor welfare of sport horses.. Compr Psychoneuroendocrinol 2023 Nov;16:100201.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100201pubmed: 37655309google scholar: lookup
  2. Stasiak K, Dunowska M, Rola J. Kinetics of the Equid Herpesvirus 2 and 5 Infections among Mares and Foals from Three Polish National Studs.. Viruses 2022 Mar 29;14(4).
    doi: 10.3390/v14040713pubmed: 35458443google scholar: lookup
  3. Erwin SJ, Blikslager AT, Ziegler AL. Age-Dependent Intestinal Repair: Implications for Foals with Severe Colic.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Nov 23;11(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11123337pubmed: 34944114google scholar: lookup
  4. Zane L, Ensminger DC, Vázquez-Medina JP. Short-term elevations in glucocorticoids do not alter telomere lengths: A systematic review and meta-analysis of non-primate vertebrate studies.. PLoS One 2021;16(10):e0257370.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257370pubmed: 34597314google scholar: lookup
  5. Delgado M, Buffington CAT, Bain M, Smith DL, Vernau K. Early maternal separation is not associated with changes in telomere length in domestic kittens (Felis catus).. PeerJ 2021;9:e11394.
    doi: 10.7717/peerj.11394pubmed: 34141465google scholar: lookup
  6. Mach N, Ruet A, Clark A, Bars-Cortina D, Ramayo-Caldas Y, Crisci E, Pennarun S, Dhorne-Pollet S, Foury A, Moisan MP, Lansade L. Priming for welfare: gut microbiota is associated with equitation conditions and behavior in horse athletes.. Sci Rep 2020 May 20;10(1):8311.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-65444-9pubmed: 32433513google scholar: lookup
  7. Henry S, Sigurjónsdóttir H, Klapper A, Joubert J, Montier G, Hausberger M. Domestic Foal Weaning: Need for Re-Thinking Breeding Practices?. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 23;10(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10020361pubmed: 32102206google scholar: lookup
  8. Ruet A, Lemarchand J, Parias C, Mach N, Moisan MP, Foury A, Briant C, Lansade L. Housing Horses in Individual Boxes Is a Challenge with Regard to Welfare.. Animals (Basel) 2019 Aug 28;9(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani9090621pubmed: 31466327google scholar: lookup
  9. Schanz L, Krueger K, Hintze S. Sex and Age Don't Matter, but Breed Type Does-Factors Influencing Eye Wrinkle Expression in Horses.. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:154.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00154pubmed: 31192235google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.