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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(8); 1179; doi: 10.3390/ani14081179

Video Ethogram of Equine Social Behaviour.

Abstract: Equine social behaviour studies face challenges stemming from the absence of a comprehensive ethogram with unequivocal standardised definitions and the resulting limits to data comparison across studies. To address these constraints, this ethogram offers researchers a standardised framework, defining thirty-seven distinct equine social behaviours supplemented by video examples for enhanced clarity. These definitions amalgamate insights from existing ethograms and are fine-tuned through meticulous video observations, encompassing contextual cues such as distinguishing between aggressive and playful circling based on ear position and facial expressions and communicative nuances to provide a detailed representation of equine social behaviours. Video recordings complement the standardised definitions by capturing the dynamic flow and sequence of social interactions. By providing a dynamic and detailed representation, videos allow researchers to observe the temporal aspects of behaviour, including the sequence, duration, and rhythm of interactions. These detailed data are crucial for interpreting social behaviours and unravelling the complexities of equine societies. Standardized and video-illustrated definitions of equine social behaviour facilitate clear and consistent communication between researchers, enabling cross-study comparisons regarding the impact of husbandry practices and health conditions on equine social behaviour, which, in turn, can facilitate the assessment and optimisation of management practices and equine welfare.
Publication Date: 2024-04-14 PubMed ID: 38672327PubMed Central: PMC11047489DOI: 10.3390/ani14081179Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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This research article presents a standardised ethogram – a catalogue of distinct behaviours – for observing and defining equine social behaviour. The ethogram, which includes 37 distinct behaviours and is supplemented with video examples, will assist researchers in their studies and allow for more consistent and accurate comparisons of data across studies.

Challenges in Studying Equine Social Behaviour

  • According to the article, the study of equine social behaviour faces various challenges. The most significant of these is the lack of a comprehensive ethogram, which provides unequivocal standardised definitions of behaviours.
  • This obstacle presents difficulties for researchers when they attempt to compare data from different studies, as variances in the definition and interpretation of behaviours can lead to inaccuracies or misunderstandings.

Solution Provided by the Ethogram

  • To address these limitations, the researchers developed a standardised ethogram that defines 37 distinct equine social behaviours. These definitions were informed by existing ethograms and were adjusted based on careful observation of video footage.
  • The ethogram pays particular attention to contextual cues such as ear position and facial expressions, which can help to distinguish between behaviours that might appear similar on first glance, such as aggressive and playful circling.

Role of Video Recordings in Defining Behaviours

  • In addition to the written descriptions, video examples accompany each defined behaviour. These videos capture the progression and sequence of social interactions, allowing researchers to observe temporal aspects of behaviour such as the sequence, duration, and rhythm of interactions.
  • This multimedia approach is crucial in providing a detailed representation of equine social behaviours and unraveling the complexities of equine societies.

Applications and Implications of the Ethogram

  • The ethogram serves as a useful tool for researchers studying equine social behaviour and facilitates clear and consistent communication between researchers.
  • By standardising definitions of equine behaviour, researchers are better able to compare data across different studies. This could have important implications for assessing the impact of husbandry practices and health conditions on equine social behaviour.
  • The findings from these cross-study comparisons can in turn be utilised for assessing and optimising management practices and equine welfare.

Cite This Article

APA
Torres Borda L, Kelemen Z, Auer U, Jenner F. (2024). Video Ethogram of Equine Social Behaviour. Animals (Basel), 14(8), 1179. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14081179

Publication

ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 8
PII: 1179

Researcher Affiliations

Torres Borda, Laura
  • Equine Surgery Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Kelemen, Zsofia
  • Equine Surgery Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Auer, Ulrike
  • Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Intensive Care Medicine Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Jenner, Florien
  • Equine Surgery Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.

Grant Funding

  • NA / Sandgrueb-Stiftung
  • NA / Gut Aiderbichl

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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