FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Welfare Assessment and Husbandry Practices of Working Horses...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(3); 392; doi: 10.3390/ani10030392

Welfare Assessment and Husbandry Practices of Working Horses in Fiji.

Abstract: Fiji; working horse; welfare, intervention; husbandry; healthcare.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2020-02-28 PubMed ID: 32121106PubMed Central: PMC7142562DOI: 10.3390/ani10030392Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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.

This research study examines the wellbeing and care practices of working horses in Fiji, evaluating the impact and effectiveness of intervention strategies in place to improve horse healthcare and husbandry practices.

Overview of the Study

  • The research focuses on the welfare conditions and husbandry practices – that is, the care, cultivation, and breeding – of working horses in Fiji. This includes an investigation into how these horses are treated, the nature of their work, as well as their general health and living conditions.
  • The study aims not only to shed light on working horse conditions in this specific region but also to provide insights that could be applicable to similar regions around the world. It addresses a need for targeted research in this area, given that many welfare studies tend not to focus specifically on working horses.

Intervention Strategies

  • The paper goes beyond providing a snapshot of current conditions; it examines the impact and effectiveness of intervention strategies that are currently in place to improve horse healthcare and husbandry practices.
  • This involves assessing whether existing protocols and programs contribute to better treatment and welfare of working horses in Fiji. These interventions can be from a range of initiatives – including government policies, non-governmental organization activities, or farming communities’ self-implemented measures.

Significance and Implications of the Study

  • The implications of this research extend beyond Fiji, as it provides critical data that could inform similar intervention strategies in comparable contexts worldwide.
  • If successful, this research could influence animal welfare policy and community education, ensuring that working horses around the world receive better treatment and care.
  • Moreover, the research could contribute to a better understanding of optimal healthcare and husbandry practices for working horses, improving their general welfare conditions and lowering chances of disease or other health issues.

Cite This Article

APA
Fröhlich N, Sells PD, Sommerville R, Bolwell CF, Cantley C, Martin JE, Gordon SJG, Coombs T. (2020). Welfare Assessment and Husbandry Practices of Working Horses in Fiji. Animals (Basel), 10(3), 392. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10030392

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 3
PII: 392

Researcher Affiliations

Fröhlich, Navina
  • The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Easter Bush Campus, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK.
Sells, Patrick D
  • Chasemore Farm, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3JT, UK.
Sommerville, Rebecca
  • Brooke, 2nd Floor, The Hallmark Building, 52-56 Leadenhall Street, London EC3M 5JE, UK.
Bolwell, Charlotte F
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand.
Cantley, Charlotte
  • New Zealand Veterinary Association, Level 2, 44 Victoria Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand.
Martin, Jessica E
  • The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Easter Bush Campus, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK.
Gordon, Stuart J G
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand.
Coombs, Tamsin
  • Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Peter Wilson Building, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interests.

References

This article includes 23 references
  1. Starkey P.H.. The history of working animals in Africa.. In: Blench R., Macdonald K.C., editors. The Origins and Development of African Livestock: Archaeology, Genetics, Linguistics and Ethnography. Routledge; London, UK: 2006. pp. 478–502.
  2. Brooke Invisible Workers Research Project. [(accessed on 19 March 2019)];2018 Available online: https://www.thebrooke.org/for-professionals/invisible-workers-research-project.
  3. Van Dijk L., Duguma B.E., Hernández Gil M., Marcoppido G., Ochieng F., Schlechter P., Starkey P., Wanga C., Zanella A.. Role, Impact and Welfare of Working (Traction and Transport) Animals.. FAO; Rome, Italy: 2014. FAO Animal Production and Health Report (FAO) eng no. 5.
  4. Pritchard JC, Lindberg AC, Main DC, Whay HR. Assessment of the welfare of working horses, mules and donkeys, using health and behaviour parameters.. Prev Vet Med 2005 Jul 12;69(3-4):265-83.
    doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2005.02.002pubmed: 15907574google scholar: lookup
  5. Sells PD, Pinchbeck G, Mezzane H, Ibourki J, Crane M. Pack wounds of donkeys and mules in the Northern High Atlas and lowlands of Morocco.. Equine Vet J 2010 Apr;42(3):219-26.
    doi: 10.2746/042516409X478532pubmed: 20486978google scholar: lookup
  6. Burn C.C., Dennison T.L., Whay H.R.. Relationships between behaviour and health in working horses, donkeys, and mules in developing countries.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2010;126:109–118.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2010.06.007google scholar: lookup
  7. Ali A.B.A., Sayed M.A.E., Matoock M.Y., Fouad M.A., Heleski C.R.. A welfare assessment scoring system for working equids—A method for identifying at risk populations and for monitoring progress of welfare enhancement strategies (trialed in Egypt). Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2016;176:52–62.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2015.12.001google scholar: lookup
  8. Popescu S., Diugan E.A.. The Relationship between Behavioral and Other Welfare Indicators of Working Horses.. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2013;33:1–12.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2012.04.001google scholar: lookup
  9. Pritchard JC. Animal traction and transport in the 21st century: getting the priorities right.. Vet J 2010 Dec;186(3):271-4.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.08.004pubmed: 20833088google scholar: lookup
  10. Food and Agriculture Organisation Food and Agricultural Statistical Database. [(accessed on 9 March 2019)];2018 Available online: http://www.fao.org/corp/statistics/
  11. American Association of Equine Practitioners Equine Welfare Committee AAEP Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities. [(accessed on 9 March 2019)];2004 Available online: https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Guidelines/AAEPCareGuidelinesRR2012.pdf.
  12. Sommerville R, Brown AF, Upjohn M. A standardised equine-based welfare assessment tool used for six years in low and middle income countries.. PLoS One 2018;13(2):e0192354.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192354pmc: PMC5821349pubmed: 29466391google scholar: lookup
  13. Pritchard J, Upjohn M, Hirson T. Improving working equine welfare in 'hard-win' situations, where gains are difficult, expensive or marginal.. PLoS One 2018;13(2):e0191950.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191950pmc: PMC5800664pubmed: 29408887google scholar: lookup
  14. Upjohn MM, Shipton K, Pfeiffer DU, Lerotholi T, Attwood G, Verheyen KL. Cross-sectional survey of owner knowledge and husbandry practices, tack and health issues affecting working horses in Lesotho.. Equine Vet J 2012 May;44(3):310-8.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00442.xpubmed: 21848533google scholar: lookup
  15. Brooke Guatemala will Now Include Animas in Disaster Response Protocol. [(accessed on 30 September 2019)];2019 Available online: https://www.thebrooke.org/news/guatemala-will-now-include-animals-disaster-response-protocol.
  16. Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) 2nd ed. Practical Action Publishing Ltd.; Warwickshire, UK: 2014. Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards Project; pp. 1–16.
  17. Luna D, Vásquez RA, Rojas M, Tadich TA. Welfare Status of Working Horses and Owners' Perceptions of Their Animals.. Animals (Basel) 2017 Aug 1;7(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani7080056pmc: PMC5575568pubmed: 28788109google scholar: lookup
  18. Tadich T., Escobar A., Pearson R.A.. Husbandry and welfare aspects of urban draught horses in the South of Chile.. Arch. Med. Vet. 2018;40:267–273.
    doi: 10.4067/S0301-732X2008000300007google scholar: lookup
  19. Broster CE, Burn CC, Barr AR, Whay HR. The range and prevalence of pathological abnormalities associated with lameness in working horses from developing countries.. Equine Vet J 2009 May;41(5):474-81.
    doi: 10.2746/042516409X373907pubmed: 19642408google scholar: lookup
  20. Dobromylskyj P., Flecknell P.A., Lascelles B.D., Livingston A., Taylor P., Waterman-Pearson A.. Pain assessment.. In: Flecknell P.A., Waterman-Pearson A., editors. Pain Management in Animals. WB Saunders; London, UK: 2000. pp. 53–80.
  21. Swann W.J.. Improving the welfare of working equine animals in developing countries. Short communication.. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 2006;100:148–151.
    doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2006.04.001google scholar: lookup
  22. Popescu S, Diugan EA, Spinu M. The interrelations of good welfare indicators assessed in working horses and their relationships with the type of work.. Res Vet Sci 2014 Apr;96(2):406-14.
    doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.12.014pubmed: 24461957google scholar: lookup
  23. Hall C, Goodwin D, Heleski C, Randle H, Waran N. Is there evidence of learned helplessness in horses?. J Appl Anim Welf Sci 2008;11(3):249-66.
    doi: 10.1080/10888700802101130pubmed: 18569222google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.