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BMC veterinary research2017; 13(1); 324; doi: 10.1186/s12917-017-1241-y

Quantitative and qualitative aspects of standing-up behavior and the prevalence of osteochondrosis in Warmblood foals on different farms: could there be a link?

Abstract: Osteochondrosis (OC) is a common, clinically important joint disorder in which endochondral ossification is focally disturbed. Reduced blood supply to growing cartilage is considered an important cause of the condition, which has both genetic and environmental origins. Housing conditions can influence cartilage injury through peak-pressure changes during limb sliding. Additionally, circulatory perturbation can cause the avascular necrosis of cartilage. In this study, we evaluated the type and frequency of limb sliding during standing up and the occurrence of OC in foals aged up to 12 months on different farms. Methods: Standing-up behavior was observed in 50 weaned, group-housed, Dutch Warmblood foals aged 6-9 months at five farms using black-and-white surveillance cameras, and their standing-up behavior was scored using a predetermined ethogram. OC was scored using a categorical scale between 6 and 12 months of age in 50 foals in the weanling period, and in 48 from the weanling to yearling periods because two foals died in this time. Results: At both 6 and 12 months of age, the total prevalence of OC differed between the farms: the lowest prevalence was observed on a farm with no sliding, and the highest prevalence was evident on a farm with a higher sliding frequency. The mean ratio of sliding versus normal standing-up behavior was 29% (range: 0-50%); i.e., foals experienced limb sliding during around 29% of standing-up maneuvres. The frequency of sliding instead of normal standing-up behavior differed significantly between the farms (range: 0-50%; P < 0.05), but significantly decreased when foals could better prepare themselves to stand, e.g., when there was an obvious provocation such as the announced approach of another foal (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Small but significant differences exist between farms in the sliding frequency and total OC incidence in Warmblood foals, but whether environmental factors are causally related to these differences requires further elucidation.
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Publication Date: 2017-11-09 PubMed ID: 29121926PubMed Central: PMC5679338DOI: 10.1186/s12917-017-1241-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The researchers investigated any connections between the standing-up behavior of young Warmblood foals and the common joint disorder osteochondrosis (OC). They found a variation of OC prevalence among farms and small differences between sliding frequency and OC incidence.

Background

  • Osteochondrosis (OC) is a prevalent and significant joint disorder, thought to be caused by limited blood flow to growing cartilage.
  • The cause of this disorder can be both genetic and environmental, the latter of which is the focus of this research.
  • Living conditions can impact cartilage damage due to changes in the utmost pressure during limb movements.

Methods

  • The study observed the type and frequency of sliding while standing up in 50 weaned, grouped Warmblood foals from five separate farms.
  • The foals were aged between 6 to 9 months and were observed using surveillance cameras.
  • A predetermined ethogram (behavioral checklist) was used to score their standing-up behavior.
  • The occurrence of OC was scored using a categorical scale between 6 and 12 months in 50 foals during the weanling period and in 48 foals from the weanling to yearling periods because two foals died during this time.

Results

  • The total prevalence of OC varied between the farms studied.
  • The ratio of sliding versus normal standing-up behavior was on average about 29%, meaning foals experience limb sliding during approximately 29% of their standing-up maneuvers.
  • The frequency of sliding differed significantly among farms. The lowest OC prevalence was found on a farm with no sliding, while the highest was on a farm with more frequent sliding.
  • When foals had more time to prepare to stand, such as when there was an obvious provocation like another foal approaching, the sliding frequency significantly decreased.

Conclusions

  • While there are small but significant differences in sliding frequency and total OC incidence between farms, it isn’t clear whether environmental factors cause these differences.
  • Further research is needed to ascertain the causal links between environmental factors, standing-up behavior, and OC prevalence in Warmblood foals.

Cite This Article

APA
van Grevenhof EM, Gezelle Meerburg ARD, van Dierendonck MC, van den Belt AJM, van Schaik B, Meeus P, Back W. (2017). Quantitative and qualitative aspects of standing-up behavior and the prevalence of osteochondrosis in Warmblood foals on different farms: could there be a link? BMC Vet Res, 13(1), 324. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-017-1241-y

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Pages: 324
PII: 324

Researcher Affiliations

van Grevenhof, E M
  • Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Gezelle Meerburg, A R D
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Dierendonck, M C
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
  • Behavioral Biology Group, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
van den Belt, A J M
  • Department of Companion Animal Sciences, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Schaik, B
  • GD-Animal Health Service, Deventer, The Netherlands.
Meeus, P
  • Ridderkerk Equine Clinic, Ridderkerk, The Netherlands.
Back, W
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. W.Back@uu.nl.
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium. W.Back@uu.nl.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Husbandry
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Osteochondrosis / epidemiology
  • Osteochondrosis / veterinary
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Video Recording

Conflict of Interest Statement

ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE: The animals were all under the supervision of privately owned equine clinics and were routine patients, which were incorporated into the study with the informed consent of their owners. It was considered that there was no need for Animal Care and Ethics Committee approval according to Dutch law. CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION: This study was done in close collaboration with the GD-Animal Health Service, Deventer, The Netherlands, and they provided us with Consent to Publish. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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