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PloS one2014; 9(9); e103189; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103189

Testing VHF/GPS collar design and safety in the study of free-roaming horses.

Abstract: Effective and safe monitoring techniques are needed by U.S. land managers to understand free-roaming horse behavior and habitat use and to aid in making informed management decisions. Global positioning system (GPS) and very high frequency (VHF) radio collars can be used to provide high spatial and temporal resolution information for detecting free-roaming horse movement. GPS and VHF collars are a common tool used in wildlife management, but have rarely been used for free-roaming horse research and monitoring in the United States. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the design, safety, and detachment device on GPS/VHF collars used to collect free-roaming horse location and movement data. Between 2009 and 2010, 28 domestic and feral horses were marked with commercial and custom designed VHF/GPS collars. Individual horses were evaluated for damage caused by the collar placement, and following initial observations, collar design was modified to reduce the potential for injury. After collar modifications, which included the addition of collar length adjustments to both sides of the collar allowing for better alignment of collar and neck shapes, adding foam padding to the custom collars to replicate the commercial collar foam padding, and repositioning the detachment device to reduce wear along the jowl, we observed little to no evidence of collar wear on horses. Neither custom-built nor commercial collars caused injury to study horses, however, most of the custom-built collars failed to collect data. During the evaluation of collar detachment devices, we had an 89% success rate of collar devices detaching correctly. This study showed that free-roaming horses can be safely marked with GPS and/or VHF collars with minimal risk of injury, and that these collars can be a useful tool for monitoring horses without creating a risk to horse health and wellness.
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Publication Date: 2014-09-08 PubMed ID: 25198704PubMed Central: PMC4157739DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103189Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

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 study chronicles the use and effectiveness of custom and commercial VHF/GPS collars on monitoring free-roaming horse movements. It also discusses the necessary modifications made to ensure the collar’s safety and efficiency in collecting data.

Study Overview

  • The research focused on reliable and efficient ways for U.S. land managers to understand the behavior and habitat use of free-roaming horses.
  • Global positioning systems (GPS) and very high frequency (VHF) radio collars were analyzed as potential tools for providing high spatial and temporal resolution information in order to detect the movement of free-roaming horses.
  • The primary purpose of the research was to assess the design, safety, and the detachment device on VHF/GPS collars employed to collect location and movement data of free-roaming horses.

Methodology

  • During the period of 2009 to 2010, 28 domestic and feral horses were marked with either a commercial or custom designed VHF/GPS collar.
  • The effect of the collar placement on horses was estimated by evaluating each individual horse for collar-induced damage.
  • Subsequent collar designs were adjusted based on initial observations to reduce potential for injury. These adjustments included modifying collar length on both sides for better alignment and fit, adding foam padding to match commercial collar padding, and relocating the detachment device to curtail wear along the jowl.

Findings

  • It was observed that there was little to no evidence of collar wear on horses after the changes had been implemented in the collar design.
  • Neither the custom-built nor commercial collars caused injury to the study horses. However, most of the custom-built collars failed to collect data effectively.
  • The collar detachment devices showed an 89% success rate of detaching correctly during evaluation.

Conclusion

  • Through the results obtained from this study, it was concluded that free-roaming horses can be safely tagged with GPS and/or VHF collars without the threat of potentially causing harm.
  • Moreover, these collars can act as a useful tool for monitoring horse movements without compromising horse health and well-being.

Cite This Article

APA
Collins GH, Petersen SL, Carr CA, Pielstick L. (2014). Testing VHF/GPS collar design and safety in the study of free-roaming horses. PLoS One, 9(9), e103189. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0103189

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 9
Pages: e103189
PII: e103189

Researcher Affiliations

Collins, Gail H
  • U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Lakeview, Oregon, United States of America.
Petersen, Steven L
  • Department of Plant and Wildlife Services, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America.
Carr, Craig A
  • Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, United States of America.
Pielstick, Leon
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Burns, Oregon, United States of America.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Geographic Information Systems / instrumentation
  • Horses
  • Wireless Technology / instrumentation

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 10 times.
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