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Home / Equine Research Bank / Biol Lett / Rapid animal welfare assessment: an archaeological approach.
Biology letters2014; 10(9); 20140390; doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0390

Rapid animal welfare assessment: an archaeological approach.

Abstract: The welfare of an individual depends on its capacity to overcome suboptimal conditions in its environment; otherwise, its physical and psychological health becomes compromised. A situation that clearly indicates lack of control of the environment is the expression of abnormal behaviours, such as stereotypies. This study aimed to verify the well-being of police horses using a new rapid form of welfare assessment: an archaeological approach. To this end, we sampled and quantified marks found on the stables, deposited as a result of abnormal behaviour. We cross-referenced these physical marks with veterinary records of diseases, such as colic, known to be associated with stress. A total of 46 horses were sampled and the results showed a significant medium-strength, positive correlation between bite mark frequency on stable doors and the incidence of colic. A weak significant positive correlation was found between length of scratch marks (from pawing) and the incidence of lameness. We conclude that these marks reflect the accumulated expression of abnormal behaviour and can provide rapid insight into the welfare of individual animals.
© 2014 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2014-09-12 PubMed ID: 25209197PubMed Central: PMC4190958DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0390Google 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 researchers in this study used an innovative “archaeological” technique to evaluate the well-being of police horses by examining physical marks on their stables in relation to abnormal behaviors. The research found that certain types of marks were significantly correlated with veterinary health records, suggesting the technique could provide a quick way to check on an animal’s well-being.

Objective of Research

  • The research aimed to apply a new and innovative method of assessing the welfare of police horses based on an “archaeological approach.” This involves examining physical marks on the stables that are a result of abnormal behaviors, indicating stress or discomfort in the animal.

Methodology

  • Physical marks on the stables of 46 police horses, classified as scratches or bite marks, were quantitatively analyzed.
  • These marks were considered representative of abnormal behavior linked to stress and were therefore interpreted as indicators of the horse’s wellbeing.
  • These physical indicators were then cross-referenced with veterinary records, particularly those related to illnesses known to be associated with stress, like colic and lameness.

Results and Conclusions

  • The data revealed a medium-strength, positive correlation between the frequency of bite marks on stables’ doors and the incidence of colic in the horses. That is, more frequent bite marks suggest a higher likelihood of the horse experiencing colic.
  • A weaker, but still significant, positive correlation was found between the length of scratch marks, prompted by pawing, and the incidence of lameness in the horses. This suggests that horses that paw more often, thus leaving longer scratch marks, are more likely to suffer from lameness.
  • The study concludes that these tangible indicators – the bite and scratch marks – are reflective of accumulated abnormal behavior in horses. As such, they can be used as a rapid assessment tool, to gain understanding about the welfare and health conditions of individual animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Schork IG, Young RJ. (2014). Rapid animal welfare assessment: an archaeological approach. Biol Lett, 10(9), 20140390. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0390

Publication

Biology letters
ISSN: 1744-957X
NlmUniqueID: 101247722
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 9
PII: 20140390

Researcher Affiliations

Schork, Ivana Gabriela
  • Conservation, Ecology and Animal Behaviour Group, Prédio 41, Mestrado em Zoologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Avenida Dom José Gaspar, 500, Coração Eucarístico, 30535-610 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Young, Robert John
  • Conservation, Ecology and Animal Behaviour Group, Prédio 41, Mestrado em Zoologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Avenida Dom José Gaspar, 500, Coração Eucarístico, 30535-610 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil School of Environment and Life Science, University of Salford Manchester, Peel Building, Salford M5 4WT, UK r.j.young@salford.ac.uk.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Husbandry
  • Animal Welfare
  • Animals
  • Archaeology
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Colic / epidemiology
  • Colic / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / psychology
  • Horses
  • Housing, Animal
  • Lameness, Animal / epidemiology
  • Male

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Merridale-Punter MS, Wiethoelter AK, El-Hage CM, Hitchens PL. Prevalence and Factors Associated with Working Equid Lameness in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 10;12(22).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12223100pubmed: 36428328google scholar: lookup
  2. Schork IG, de Azevedo CS, Young RJ. Personality, abnormal behaviour, and health: An evaluation of the welfare of police horses.. PLoS One 2018;13(9):e0202750.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202750pubmed: 30183748google scholar: lookup
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