RÉSUMÉ
RESUMEN Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio observacional-transversal fue investigar asociaciones entre puntajes de salud mental para estrés, ansiedad, depresión y resiliencia de ovinocultores, e indicadores de bienestar ovino. Materiales y métodos. Veintidós fincas ovinas en los departamentos colombianos de Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Tolima y Meta, fueron visitadas una sola vez. Se evaluó salud clínica, limpieza y tranquilidad de ovejas seleccionadas al azar por finca para identificar número de animales con diferentes problemas de bienestar, como cojera, sobrecrecimiento de pezuñas, y mastitis. Se realizó una entrevista cara-a-cara con el productor para recopilar información demográfica (tamaño y año de establecimiento del sistema, género, edad, rol en la finca y educación) y completar las escalas-psicométricas validadas para evaluar resiliencia, estrés, ansiedad y depresión. Se utilizaron modelos de regresión lineal para evaluar asociaciones entre las puntuaciones de salud mental de los productores, aspectos demográficos y prevalencia a nivel-de-rebaño de indicadores de bienestar ovino. Resultados. Se evaluó un total de 427 ovejas entre todas las fincas. Los problemas de bienestar más prevalentes fueron sobrecrecimiento de pezuñas (40.9%) y suciedad del vellón (32.9%); los menos prevalentes fueron mastitis clínica (1.3%) y problemas respiratorios (1.2%). El nivel de estrés de los productores se asoció positivamente con la prevalencia de ovejas clínicamente cojas y el tamaño del sistema. La ansiedad se asoció positivamente con la prevalencia de ovejas con vellón sucio, cojera clínica y con ser una productora mujer. La depresión se asoció positivamente con la prevalencia de sobrecrecimiento de pezuñas. Conclusiones. Los hallazgos mostraron que niveles altos de estrés, ansiedad y depresión en los productores se asociaron con la presencia de problemas de bienestar animal, fincas más grandes y género.
ABSTRACT Objective. The objective of this observational cross-sectional study was to investigate associations between sheep farmers' mental health scores for stress, anxiety, depression, and resilience, and sheep welfare indicators. Materials and methods. Twenty-two sheep farms in the Colombian departments of Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Tolima, and Meta, were visited on a single occasion. Clinical health, cleanliness, and calmness of randomly selected sheep per farm were scored to identify the number of animals with different welfare problems such as lameness, hoof overgrowth, and mastitis. A face-to-face interview with the farmer was performed to gather demographic information (farm size and year of establishment, gender, age, role at the farm, and education) and to complete validated psychometric scales to assess resilience, stress, anxiety, and depression. Linear regression models were used to evaluate associations between farmers' mental health scores, demographic aspects, and within-flock prevalence of sheep welfare indicators. Results. A total of 427 sheep were evaluated across different farms. The most prevalent welfare problems were hoof overgrowth (40.9%) and dirty fleece (32.9%); the least prevalent were clinical mastitis (1.3%) and respiratory issues (1.2%). Farmers' stress level was positively associated with the prevalence of clinically lame sheep and farm size. Anxiety was positively associated with the prevalence of sheep with dirty fleeces, clinical lameness, and with being a female farmer. Depression was positively associated with the prevalence of hoof overgrowth. Conclusions. Findings showed that higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among farmers were associated with the presence of animal welfare problems, larger farms, and gender.
RÉSUMÉ
About 800 donkeys that were confined in a restrictive area used in a manner comparable to a warehouse for receiving donkeys for slaughter were abandoned. After receiving reports of mistreatment, civilians acted to save the animals. A task force was organized that planned veterinary and zootechnical actions and activities for daily health management, feeding, and clinical care to attend to the abandoned donkeys. Positive cases were diagnosed for glanders, equine infectious anemia, equine herpesvirus, and equine babesiosis. The objective of this communication is to bring to the attention of the scientific community the interventions in the area of animal health and welfare, to address the episode of northeast donkeys that were victims of international trade. It is fundamental to change the approach related to the management of donkeys in Brazil, and appeal to the necessity to identify ethical and sustainable ways to incorporate donkeys in Brazil in the 21st century.(AU)
Cerca de 800 jumentos confinados em uma área utilizada como entreposto de recebimento e encaminhamento de jumentos para abate foram abandonados. Após denúncias de maus tratos, a sociedade civil atuou para salvar os animais. Foi constituída uma força tarefa que planejou ações e atividades veterinárias e zootécnicas atuando diariamente no manejo sanitário, na alimentação e nos cuidados clínicos na assistência aos jumentos abandonados. Foram diagnosticados casos positivos de mormo, anemia infecciosa equina, herpesvírus equino e babesiose equina. O objetivo desta comunicação foi relatar para a comunidade científica as intervenções nas áreas de saúde e bem-estar animal no episódio dos jumentos nordestinos vítimas do comércio internacional. É fundamental mudar a abordagem em relação ao manejo de jumentos no Brasil e apelar para a necessidade de identificar maneiras éticas e sustentáveis de incorporar os jumentos no Brasil do século 21.(AU)