Investigating the gastrointestinal physiology of mature horses with and without a history of cribbing behavior in response to feeding a digestive support supplement.

Cribbing, a stereotypic oral behavior observed in horses, involves placing incisors on a fixed object, arching the neck, pulling against the object, and emitting an audible grunt. This behavior has been associated with gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction and gastric ulceration. In this randomized crossover study, we investigated the impact of a GI support supplement (SPL) on the GI environment and physiology of four cribbing (CB) and four non-cribbing horses (NCB). Mature Quarter Horses, acclimated to individual stalls for 16 hours daily with paddock turnout in pairs for 8 hours per day, were randomly assigned to receive either the SPL or placebo for 21 days, followed by a 2-week washout period. Fecal and gastric samples were collected for pH determination and blood samples were analyzed for serum cortisol and gastrin levels. Endoscopic examinations assessed gastric ulcer severity, and cribbing frequency and bouts were recorded via video surveillance. Data were analyzed using a mixed-model ANOVA. Results showed no differences in fecal and gastric pH between cribbing statuses. However, an interaction between supplementation and cribbing status was observed for squamous mucosa ulcer scores (P=0.003). There were no differences in glandular mucosa ulcer scores, serum cortisol, serum gastrin, and crib-bite count between CB and NCB horses or between supplementation groups. Crib-bout duration did not differ with supplementation, but differences were found between periods (P<0.05) and hour ranges (P<0.001). Our findings suggest that the GI support supplement may not effectively address cribbing behavior or alter the GI environment in NCB or CB horses.

Technical note: ShinyAnimalCV: open-source cloud-based web application for object detection, segmentation, and three-dimensional visualization of animals using computer vision.

Computer vision (CV), a non-intrusive and cost-effective technology, has furthered the development of precision livestock farming by enabling optimized decision-making through timely and individualized animal care. The availability of affordable two- and three-dimensional camera sensors, combined with various machine learning and deep learning algorithms, has provided a valuable opportunity to improve livestock production systems. However, despite the availability of various CV tools in the public domain, applying these tools to animal data can be challenging, often requiring users to have programming and data analysis skills, as well as access to computing resources. Moreover, the rapid expansion of precision livestock farming is creating a growing need to educate and train animal science students in CV. This presents educators with the challenge of efficiently demonstrating the complex algorithms involved in CV. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop ShinyAnimalCV, an open-source cloud-based web application designed to facilitate CV teaching in animal science. This application provides a user-friendly interface for performing CV tasks, including object segmentation, detection, three-dimensional surface visualization, and extraction of two- and three-dimensional morphological features. Nine pre-trained CV models using top-view animal data are included in the application. ShinyAnimalCV has been deployed online using cloud computing platforms. The source code of ShinyAnimalCV is available on GitHub, along with detailed documentation on training CV models using custom data and deploying ShinyAnimalCV locally to allow users to fully leverage the capabilities of the application. ShinyAnimalCV can help to support the teaching of CV, thereby laying the groundwork to promote the adoption of CV in the animal science community.

The integration of cameras and data science has great potential to revolutionize livestock production systems, making them more efficient and sustainable by replacing human-based management with real-time individualized animal care. However, applying these digital tools to animal data presents challenges that require computer programming and data analysis skills, as well as access to computing resources. Additionally, there is a growing need to train animal science students to analyze image or video data using data science algorithms. However, teaching computer programming to all types of students from the ground up can prove complicated and challenging. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop ShinyAnimalCV, a user-friendly online web application that supports users to learn the application of data science to analyze animal digital video data, without the need for complex coding. The application includes nine pre-trained models for detecting and segmenting animals in image data and can be easily accessed through a web browser. We have also made the source code and detailed documentation available online for advanced users who wish to use the application locally. This software tool facilitates the teaching of digital animal data analysis in the animal science community, with potential benefits to livestock production systems.

Behavioral and Physiological Reactions to a Sudden Novel Object in the Weanling Horse: Quantitative Phenotypes for Future GWAS.

The startle response can be defined as a reflexive reaction to the sudden appearance of a novel stimulus that influences the survival and resilience of animals. In domesticated species, the behavioral component of the startle response can, in some cases, cause serious injury to the animal or human handlers if inappropriately expressed. Here, we describe a longitudinal study in a population of stock-type horses that quantified behavioral startle responses elicited by the presentation of a sudden novel object (rapidly opening umbrella). The study was performed in weanling foals across four consecutive years (n = 74, mean age = 256 days). Behavioral assays for the startle response phenotype focused on six behavioral variables: latency to return to the feed pan (seconds), maximum distance fled (meters), proportion of time spent walking or trotting (seconds), and how long a horse spent standing facing away from or toward the novel object. We observed behavioral startle response variables in relation to cardiac response, age, and sex for each individual. Each horse's cardiac startle response pattern was determined and categorized into heart rate response cluster groups identified as accelerators and decelerators. Using principal component analysis (PCA) with a factor rotation, we identified "startle response" phenotypes that summarize the behavioral and physiological variables. The largest component of variation, Factor 1, comprised 32.5% of the behavioral variable with a positive correlation with latency and distance, and was not influenced by sex or age. Factor 2 comprised 23.2% of the variation, and was positively correlated with activity level performed such as proportion of time spent walking and/or trotting. Horses with the accelerator type cardiac response had significantly higher Factor 1 scores than decelerators but did not differ in Factor 2. Future work includes expanding our sample size to conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify novel genetic loci influencing behavioral startle reactions using recorded behavioral and physiological phenotypes.

Digestibility and nitrogen and water balance in horses fed rhizoma peanut hay.

Rhizoma peanut (RP, Arachis glabrata) hay has the potential to meet horses' crude protein (CP) requirements with less nitrogen excretion than other legumes. This study aimed to evaluate nutrient intake, apparent digestibility, and nitrogen balance of RP "Florigraze" hay compared with alfalfa (ALF, Medicago sativa L. "Legendary XHD") and bermudagrass (BG, Cynodon dactylon L. "Coastal") hays when fed to maintenance horses at 2% body weight/d on a dry matter (DM) basis. We hypothesized that nutrient intake would be comparable between the legume hays and lesser for BG and that RP would result in reduced nitrogen excretion compared with ALF. Six mature Quarter Horse geldings (593 ± 40 kg; mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to one of the hays in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square with 21-d periods. A 14-d adaptation phase was followed by a 3-d total fecal and urine collection. Days 18 to 21 were used for a companion study. Intake of nutrients is reported on a DM basis. Digestible energy (DE) intakes from ALF (29.91 Mcal/d) and RP (29.37 Mcal/d) were greater (P < 0.0001) than BG (20.78 Mcal/d). CP intake was greater (P < 0.0001) for ALF (2.5 kg/d), followed by RP (1.9 kg/d) and BG (1.5 kg/d). All hays exceeded maintenance requirements for DE, CP, Ca, and P. Apparent digestibility of DM and CP was greatest (P < 0.0001) for ALF (69% and 84%), intermediate for RP (61% and 72%), and least for BG (46% and 64%). Apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber did not differ (P = 0.2228) among hays, while digestibility of acid detergent fiber (P = 0.0054) was least for RP but similar for ALF and BG. Water intake (kg/d) for ALF (57) was greater (P = 0.0068) than RP (45) and BG (41). Greater (P = 0.0271) water retention (kg/d) was observed for ALF (13.5), followed by RP (10.8) and BG (7.5). There was a difference in nitrogen excretion, with greatest urinary nitrogen excretion for ALF (P < 0.0001) and greatest fecal nitrogen excretion for BG (P = 0.0001). Total nitrogen excretion was greater (P < 0.0001) for ALF (278 g/d), followed by RP (211 g/d) and BG (179 g/d). Nitrogen retention was greater (P = 0.0005) for ALF when represented as g/d (ALF: 129, RP: 86, and BG: 57 g/d) but similar (P = 0.0377) to RP when presented as percent of nitrogen intake (ALF: 32%, RP: 29%, and BG: 24%). Results indicate that RP hay is a suitable legume for horses by meeting DE and CP requirements and having a significant reduction in nitrogen compared with ALF.

A Survey of Horse Selection, Longevity, and Retirement in Equine-Assisted Services in the United States.

Little published information exists on the horses in equine-assisted services (EAS), particularly their selection, longevity, and retirement. The purpose of this study was to characterize horses and procedures used in EAS. A pilot survey was developed using focus group discussions and distributed to Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH Intl) centers in Florida (n = 45, Part I) before further modification and distribution to members of PATH Intl., American Hippotherapy Association (AHA), eagala, and Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) (n = 26,000, Part II). Response rates were 36% (Part I) and 0.7% (Part II). Centers report a median of 10 (Part I) or 9 (Part II) horses and ponies. Selection procedures included initial screening (Part I = 100%, Part II = 96%), pre-purchase or pre-donation exam (I = 64%, II = 60%), acclimation period (I = 100%, II = 84%), trial period (I = 91%, II = 90%), and other (II = 11%). Horses remained active in programs for less than a year to over 20 years with the greatest number working 7-10 (Part I) or 1-6 (Part II) yr. In Part I of the study, behavior (44%) was the leading cause of retirement followed by unsoundness (33%). In Part II, unsoundness was the highest ranked response followed by behavior. Behavior, soundness, and health emerged as key factors in horse selection and retirement. Future work should focus on investigating these issues at an individual horse level.

Characterization of Forage Utilization and Pasture Management Practices on Florida Horse Operations.

This study used an online survey to gather information on forage utilization and pasture management practices implemented on horse farms in Florida. We hypothesized that pastures were inadequately managed and underutilized, resulting in greater reliance on hay. Data from 80 complete responses were submitted to descriptive analysis and Fisher's exact test. Significantly associated variables were also evaluated using multiple correspondence analysis. The primary function of the facility most reported was recreational horse use (62%). Nearly all operations (n = 79) had pasture available, with 57% reporting housing horses on pasture full time (24 hr/d) and 48% reporting implementation of rotational stocking. Most respondents reported using a combination of hay and pasture (57.5%) as their primary source of forage, followed by pasture only (32.5%) and hay only (10%). Pasture maintenance was performed by 82% of respondents, and 6% did not implement any type of pasture management. Primary forage fed to the horses was related to the type of pasture management implemented (P = .0313) and turnout practices (P = .0003). The multiple correspondence analysis showed that relying on hay as the primary source of forage was associated with a shorter duration of pasture access and lack of pasture management. Most operations did not have their hay (89%) or pasture (94%) analyzed for nutrient composition. Despite pasture availability, lack of adequate pasture management appeared to contribute to a greater dependence on hay feeding. Pasture management practices and forage analysis are potential areas for horse owner education in Florida.

Extension Horses, Inc. experts act fast to create online resources to assist the horse industry during COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting stay-at-home directives, adopted out of necessity to protect human health, introduced significant challenges for horse owners and small equine businesses. Restricted access, and in many cases closure of barns, resulted in a multitude of questions and concerns within the equine community which needed to be addressed rapidly. Extension Horses, Inc. (EH) coordinated the development and delivery of a variety of educational resources utilizing a combination of online formats and dissemination through social media and EH member contact lists. A series of infographics, webinars, and podcasts (three in each category) were created to provide guidance on essential care of horses, emergency preparedness, financial assistance, legal concerns, and biosecurity during the crucial, initial weeks of the pandemic (March to April 2020). Web conferencing technology (Zoom) was used to facilitate discussion and task delegation among EH members and to conduct and record webinars and podcasts. Podcasts were hosted on Buzzsprout and infographics were created using Adobe InDesign. Live webinar participants were invited to participate in several polls during the webinar and were sent a brief survey to complete at the end of the webinar series. Analytics for all educational resources combined demonstrated a 32-d total direct reach of 135,563. Most live webinar participants identified themselves as horse owners and small equine business owners (55%). The majority of live webinar participants indicated the information was useful (99%), and they would utilize the resources they had learned about (80%). Survey respondents reported that Facebook, email, and word of mouth were key ways in which they learned about the webinars. The same survey found that the web-platform was an effective method to receive information (85% high satisfaction) and respondents were highly likely to recommend future EH webinars to others (88%). The three infographics had a total Facebook reach of 131,765, the webinars had 3,522 total views, and the three podcasts had 276 total downloads. The rapid response of EH and quick turnaround of products allowed a large online audience to receive vital information for coping with COVID-19. Having the established EH network, already familiar with virtual education, was a big asset in this effort. This can serve as a model for cooperative extension to utilize in future collaborative responses to industry issues.