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Animal welfare (South Mimms, England)2023; 32; e19; doi: 10.1017/awf.2023.10

The impact of strategic ventilation adjustments on stress responses in horses housed full-time in a vector-protected barn during the African horse sickness outbreak in Thailand.

Abstract: The severe outbreak of African horse sickness (AHS) in Thailand has forced horses to reside full-time inside barns that are covered by a small mesh net to prevent minuscule AHS insect vectors from gaining access. However, housing in the net-covered barn induces stress in horses, which compromises their welfare. Implementing strategic airflow adjustment while retaining the vector-protection characteristics has been proposed to help alleviate this problem. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of strategic ventilation adjustment on blood cortisol levels, heart rate and behaviour in horses in a vector-protected barn. Nine horses underwent two sequential stabling conditions: vector-protected barn housing and housing in a barn in which the air ventilation was explicitly adjusted. Heart rate was higher in the afternoon in horses housed in the barn without ventilation adjustment, whereas no change was observed in the barn with ventilation adjustment. The vector-protected housing increased the horses' behavioural scores. Blood cortisol level declined over time, and an earlier decrease was detected at 1400h in the barn with ventilation adjustment. Although airflow adjustment did not appear to statistically alter the stress response in horses during housing in the vector-protected barn, an earlier decline in cortisol level alongside an unchanged heart rate in horses during the day may indicate the positive impact of ventilation adjustment within the vector-protected barn. With limited options to reduce stress or discomfort in horses, this strategic protocol could, at least in part, be applied to managing horses' welfare during the AHS outbreak.
© The Author(s) 2023.
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Publication Date: 2023-03-23 PubMed ID: 38487428PubMed Central: PMC10936309DOI: 10.1017/awf.2023.10Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research paper examines the effects of strategic ventilation adjustments on the stress levels of horses that are kept full time in vector-protected barns during an outbreak of African horse sickness (AHS) in Thailand.

Introduction and Background

  • A severe outbreak of African horse sickness (AHS) in Thailand has necessitated that horses are kept inside net-covered barns full time in order to prevent minuscule AHS insect vectors from gaining access.
  • This housing method, while necessary, induces a level of stress in the horses which impacts their welfare.
  • One proposed method to alleviate this problem is the strategic adjustment of airflow in the barns while still retaining the necessary vector-protection characteristics.
  • The research aimed to investigate the effect of these proposed strategic ventilation adjustments on the blood cortisol levels, heart rate, and behaviour of the horses in these vector-protected barns.

Methodology and Findings

  • Nine horses underwent two sequential stabling conditions: one in a vector-protected barn, and one where the barn’s air ventilation was deliberately adjusted.
  • The heart rate was found to be higher in the afternoon for horses housed in the barn without ventilation adjustments, whereas no change was observed in horses in the adjusted barn.
  • Housing in the vector-protected barn also led to increased the behavioural scores of the horses.
  • Over time blood cortisol levels were seen to decline, with an earlier decrease detected around 1400h in the barn with the ventilation adjustment.
  • However, it was found that the adjustment in airflow did not result in a significant change in the stress response in the horses during their time in the vector-protected barn.

Conclusion and Impact

  • The observed earlier decrease in cortisol levels in conjunction with an unchanged heart rate for the horses during the day may indicate a positive impact resulting from the ventilation adjustment within the vector-protected barn.
  • Due to the limited options available to reduce stress or discomfort in the horses during an outbreak of AHS, this strategic protocol could at least in part be applied to manage horse welfare during such outbreaks.

Cite This Article

APA
Poochipakorn C, Joongpan W, Tongsangiam P, Phooseerit A, Leelahapongsathon K, Chanda M. (2023). The impact of strategic ventilation adjustments on stress responses in horses housed full-time in a vector-protected barn during the African horse sickness outbreak in Thailand. Anim Welf, 32, e19. https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2023.10

Publication

Animal welfare (South Mimms, England)
ISSN: 2054-1538
NlmUniqueID: 9214272
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 32
Pages: e19

Researcher Affiliations

Poochipakorn, Chanoknun
  • Veterinary Clinical Studies Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand.
Joongpan, Weena
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-Ok, Chonburi 20110, Thailand.
Tongsangiam, Pongphon
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-Ok, Chonburi 20110, Thailand.
Phooseerit, Areeya
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-Ok, Chonburi 20110, Thailand.
Leelahapongsathon, Kansuda
  • Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom, 73140, Thailand.
Chanda, Metha
  • Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand.
  • Center of Veterinary Research and Academic Service, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University Bang Khen Campus, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.

Conflict of Interest Statement

None.

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