Survey of horse transportation in Switzerland: practices and issues.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to describe equine transportation practices and transport-related behavioural and health problems in Switzerland and to identify possible associations between them. An online survey was disseminated to Swiss equine industry members and questioned respondents' details, transport practices (before, during, and after journeys), horse transport-related behavioural (TRPBs) and health problems (TRHPs) experienced in the previous 2 years. The survey generated 441 valid responses, analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models (outcomes: TRPBs, TRHPs, injuries, diarrhea). Respondents were mainly women (79,5 %), younger than 50 years (75 %), and amateurs (80 %). Most of the respondents transported one or two horses (88,7 %), for a short (< 2 hours) journey (75,5 %). Pre-transport practices were performed by 72,1 % of respondents and horses' fitness for travel was assessed in the majority of cases (66,5 %). During the journey, horses were tethered (92,6 %) and monitored (52,7 %). The majority of respondents (74,9 %) assessed also the horses' fitness after travel. TRPBs were reported by 13,4 % of respondents. TRPBs' likelihood increased when the respondents were women, performed pre-transport practices and training for transport, did not assess drinking behaviour and general health before journey, and the horses experienced also TRHPs. TRHPs were reported by 34 % of the respondents and were associated with younger respondents, use of trucks, doing pre-transport practices, wearing protections, not monitoring horses during transport and preexisting TRPBs. Among TRHPs the most frequent were injuries (72,1 %) and diarrhea (41 %). The likelihood of injuries increased with younger respondents, use of trucks, wearing protections, lack of monitoring during transport and TRPBs. While younger respondents, longer journeys, wearing protections, lack of monitoring during transport, measuring rectal temperature after journeys and TRPBs increased the odds of reporting diarrhea. Even though our findings must be interpreted with caution due to survey limitations, considering that the found associations do not always mean causation, they highlight the strengths and weaknesses of transport practices in Switzerland and report evidence to implement current regulations on the protection of horse welfare during transport.

INTRODUCTION: Cette étude a pour but de décrire les pratiques de transport de chevaux et les problèmes de comportement et de santé liés à ces transports en Suisse et d'identifier les associations possibles entre ces deux éléments. Une enquête en ligne a été diffusée auprès des membres de la filière équine suisse et a permis de recueillir les coordonnées des répondants, les pratiques de transport (avant, pendant et après les trajets), les problèmes de comportement (TRPB) et de santé liés (TRHP) au transport des chevaux rencontrés au cours des deux années précédentes. L'enquête a généré 441 réponses valides, analysées à l'aide de statistiques descriptives et de modèles de régression logistique (résultats: TRPB, TRHP, blessures, diarrhée). Les répondants étaient principalement des femmes (79,5 %), âgées de moins de 50 ans (75 %) et amateurs (80 %). La plupart des personnes interrogées ont transporté un ou deux chevaux (88,7 %), pour un trajet court (< 2 heures) (75,5 %). Des mesures préalables au transport ont été prises par 72,1 % des répondants et l'aptitude des chevaux au voyage a été évaluée dans la majorité des cas (66,5 %). Pendant le voyage, les chevaux étaient attachés (92,6 %) et surveillés (52,7 %). La majorité des répondants (74,9 %) ont également évalué l'état des chevaux après le voyage. Des cas de TRPB ont été signalés par 13,4 % des répondants. La probabilité de TRPB augmente lorsque les personnes interrogées sont des femmes, qu'elles ont pris des mesures préalables au transport et ont entraîné le transport, qu'elles n'ont pas évalué le comportement d'abreuvement et l'état de santé général avant le voyage et que les chevaux ont souffert de TRHP. Les TRHP ont été signalées par 34 % des personnes interrogées et ont été associées à des personnes plus jeunes, à l'utilisation de camions, aux mesures préalables au transport, au port de protections, à l'absence de surveillance des chevaux pendant le transport et à des TRPB préexistantes. Parmi les TRHP, les plus fréquentes étaient les blessures (72,1 %) et la diarrhée (41 %). La probabilité de blessures augmente avec la jeunesse des répondants, l'utilisation de camions, le port de protections, l'absence de surveillance pendant le transport et la présence de TRPB. En revanche, les répondants plus jeunes, les trajets plus longs, le port de protections, l'absence de contrôle pendant le transport, la mesure de la température rectale après les trajets et les TRPB augmentent la probabilité de déclarer une diarrhée. Même si nos résultats doivent être interprétés avec prudence en raison des limites de l'enquête, considérant que les associations trouvées ne signifient pas toujours une causalité, ils soulignent les forces et les faiblesses des pratiques de transport en Suisse et rapportent des preuves pour mettre en œuvre les réglementations actuelles sur la protection du bien-être des chevaux pendant le transport.

Risk factors in equine transport-related health problems: A survey of the Australian equine industry.

BACKGROUND: Transportation can affect equine health and is a potential source of economic loss to the industry. OBJECTIVES: To identify journey (duration, vehicle, commercial or noncommercial) and horse (sex, age, breed, use, amateur or professional status) characteristics associated with the development of transport-related health problems in horses. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional online survey. METHODS: An online survey was conducted targeting amateur and professional participants in the Australian equine industry; eligible respondents were required to organise horse movements at least monthly. Respondents provided details of the last case of a transport-related health problem that had affected their horse(s). Associations between type of health problem, journey and horse characteristics were examined with multivariable multinomial regression analysis. RESULTS: Based on 214 responses, health problems were classified as injuries, muscular problems, heat stroke, gastrointestinal and respiratory problems, and death or euthanasia. Respiratory problems were reported most frequently (33.7%), followed by gastrointestinal problems (23.8%) and traumatic injuries (16.3%). The type of health problem was associated with journey duration (P<0.001) and horse breed (P = 0.001). Injuries were more likely to occur on short journeys, whereas more severe illnesses (gastrointestinal and respiratory problems, and death or euthanasia) were more likely to occur on long journeys. Using Standardbreds as the reference group, Thoroughbreds, Arabians and Warmbloods were more likely to experience a severe illness than an injury. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Self-selected participation in the study and the self-reported nature of transport-related problems. CONCLUSIONS: Horses undertaking journeys of longer than 24 h are at greater risk for the development of severe disease or death. Further studies on long-haul transportation effects are required to safeguard the welfare of horses moved over long distances.

Survey of horse transportation in Australia: issues and practices.

OBJECTIVE: To survey amateur and professional participants on equine transportation management, practices and outcomes in Australia. METHODS: An online survey targeting people who organised horse movements at least monthly was made available to a broad cross-section of amateur and professional equine associations. Respondents were invited to provide demographic details and information relating to their routine transportation management practices and their experiences of issues relating to the transportation of horses. RESULTS: Of 797 usable responses involving approximately 17,000 horses and 313,000 individual horse transport events, transport-related behavioural problems were reported by 38% of respondents, particularly at loading. Transport-related health problems had been experienced during or after transportation by horses in the care of 67% of respondents. The most common problems reported were traumatic injuries (45.0%), diarrhoea (20.0%), muscular problems (13.0%), respiratory problems (12.3%), overheating (10.5%) and colic (10.3%). In the 2 years reviewed in the survey, 9.4% of participants reported at least one case of transport-associated pneumonia and 35 horses had died, most commonly from fractures, colic or pneumonia. Although respondents identifying as amateurs transported horses less frequently and over shorter distances, the incidence of transport-related problems was similar between amateurs and professionals. Respondents reported specific precautions before, during and after transportation, although management was often not compliant with the Australian Code of horse transportation. CONCLUSIONS: Responses indicated that there remains a substantial risk of adverse welfare and health outcomes for horses transported in Australia and management practices reported may not be compliant with current recommendations for transportation.

Behavioral indicators to detect ovarian phase in the dromedary she-camel.

This pilot study was conducted to test the hypothesis that female camels behave differently in various ovarian phases in the presence of a restrained male camel. The aim was to identify behavioral patterns which could be used as indicators to detect ovulatory phase by visual observation in the presence of a restrained virile bull. Twenty-four healthy, nonpregnant, and nonlactating adult females were used. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed for each animal once a week over a 3-week period to determine the phase of the ovarian cycle. Females were considered to be in the ovulatory phase (O) when there was at least one preovulatory follicle (12<Ø<19 mm) protruding from the ovarian surface, and in the nonovulatory phase (NO), when growing follicles, regressing follicles, or corpora lutea were detected. Immediately after examination, each female was freely exposed to a restrained bull for 15 minutes, and her behaviors were filmed. The videos were analyzed through a focal animal-sampling ethogram (states: looking at the male; looking outside; standing close to the male; searching; and lying down; events: interaction with the male; urination; defecation; sound emission; and steps). A score for tail position (tail score: 1 = close to the vulva, 2 = horizontal, 3 = vertical) and for interest in the bull (male time score: from 1 to 5; 1 = <20% of observation period spent near the bull; 5 = more than 80%) were recorded. Ovulatory phase camels showed higher interest in the male than nonovulatory phases: they stood close to the male for longer periods (P = 0.0159), interacted with the male more frequently (P = 0.0004), and tended to lie down in front of him (P = 0.1202). Moreover, ovulatory phase had a significant effect on male time score (P < 0.01), mature follicular ovarian phase being associated with higher scores. Seeking the male has already been proposed as a behavioral indicator of estrus in camels, this has now been confirmed using a standardized ethogram. The present results clarify that camels behave differently in different ovarian phases and that monitoring their behavior in the presence of a restrained bull could help detect their ovulatory phase. This would have profound implications for enhancing fertility in dromedary camels by improving timing of mating or artificial insemination.

Is the left forelimb preference indicative of a stressful situation in horses?

Evidence for behavioural and brain lateralisation is now widespread among the animal kingdom; lateralisation of limb use (pawedness) occurs in several mammals including both feral and domestic horses. We investigated limb preferences in 14 Quarter Horse during different motor tasks (walking, stepping on and off a step, truck loading and unloading). Population lateralisation was observed in two tasks: horses preferentially used their left forelimb during truck loading and stepping off a step. The results also revealed that horses showed higher scores for anxious behaviours during truck loading suggesting that the use of the left forelimb in this task may reflect the main role of the right hemisphere in control of behaviour during stressful situation.