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Scientific reports2024; 14(1); 9971; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-60805-0

Proximity tracking using ultra-wideband technology for equine social behaviour research.

Abstract: Sociopositive interactions with conspecifics are essential for equine welfare and quality of life. This study aimed to validate the use of wearable ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to quantify the spatial relationships and dynamics of social behaviour in horses by continuous (1/s) measurement of interindividual distances. After testing the UWB devices' spatiotemporal accuracy in a static environment, the UWB measurement validity, feasibility and utility under dynamic field conditions was assessed in a group of 8 horses. Comparison of the proximity measurements with video surveillance data established the measurement accuracy and validity (r = 0.83, p < 0.0001) of the UWB technology. The utility for social behaviour research was demonstrated by the excellent accordance of affiliative relationships (preferred partners) identified using UWB with video observations. The horses remained a median of 5.82 m (95% CI 5.13-6.41 m) apart from each other and spent 20% (median, 95% CI 14-26%) of their time in a distance ≤ 3 m to their preferred partner. The proximity measurements and corresponding speed calculation allowed the identification of affiliative versus agonistic approaches based on differences in the approach speed and the distance and duration of the resulting proximity. Affiliative approaches were statistically significantly slower (median: 1.57 km/h, 95% CI 1.26-1.92 km/h, p = 0.0394) and resulted in greater proximity (median: 36.75 cm, 95% CI 19.5-62 cm, p = 0.0003) to the approached horse than agonistic approaches (median: 3.04 km/h, 95% CI 2.16-3.74 km/h, median proximity: 243 cm, 95% CI 130-319 cm), which caused an immediate retreat of the approached horse at a significantly greater speed (median: 3.77 km/h, 95% CI 3.52-5.85 km/h, p < 0.0001) than the approach.
Publication Date: 2024-04-30 PubMed ID: 38693325PubMed Central: 2630083DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60805-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This study uses ultra-wideband technology (UWB) worn by horses to gain a nuanced understanding of the social dynamics in horses, including how closely they choose to interact with their preferred companions, and how they react to others in the herd by measuring interindividual distances.

Overview

In their quest to understand equine social behavior better, the researchers embarked on a project to validate the use of wearable ultra-wideband technology to measure the spatial relationships among horses. After first testing the accuracy of the UWB devices in a static setting, they moved on to measure the spatial relationships and dynamics of a group of eight horses under real-world conditions.

Methodology and Findings

  • The researchers compared their UWB measurements to video surveillance data to cross-check the accuracy and reliability of the technology. The close correlation (r = 0.83) between the two methods demonstrates the validity of the UWB technology.
  • The researchers discovered that horses generally stayed approximately 5.82 meters apart from each other. They spent about 20% of the observed time in a distance of 3 meters or less to their preferred associate in the group.

Distinctive behaviors

  • The team identified that horses approached other horses either in a friendly (affiliative) or competitive/antagonistic way. The UWB data revealed key differences in the approach speed, distance, and duration of these two types of approaches.
  • Affiliative behaviours, which involve social bonding and friendly interactions, were associated with slower approach speeds and close proximity to the approached horse.
  • On the other hand, agonistic behaviors, which include contest and rivalry behaviors, involved faster approach speeds and a larger distance maintained from the approached horse. These approaches also caused the recipient horse to retreat at a significantly faster speed.

Conclusion

The results indicated that UWB can provide valuable insights into understanding equine social behavior accurately by highlighting spatial dynamics, affiliation patterns and encounter types. This information is crucial for the welfare and quality of life of horses as it highlights the essentiality of their sociopositive interactions with other equines. Future research can reinforce these findings and explore other features of equine behavior using this technology.

Cite This Article

APA
Torres Borda L, Roth P, Lumetzberger J, Auer U, Jenner F. (2024). Proximity tracking using ultra-wideband technology for equine social behaviour research. Sci Rep, 14(1), 9971. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60805-0

Publication

ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 1
Pages: 9971

Researcher Affiliations

Torres Borda, Laura
  • Equine Surgery Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
Roth, Peter
  • Computational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Lumetzberger, Jennifer
  • Computational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Auer, Ulrike
  • Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Intensive Care Medicine Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Jenner, Florien
  • Equine Surgery Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria. Florien.Jenner@vetmeduni.ac.at.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Social Behavior
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Male
  • Female
  • Wearable Electronic Devices
  • Video Recording

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