Bem-estar em equinos do Jockey Club do Paraná: indicadores clínicos, etológicos e ritmo circadiano do cortisol / Welfare in horses of the Jockey Club Paraná: clinic ethologic indicators and circadian rhythm of cortisol

Com o objetivo de estudar parâmetros indicativos de bem-estar, 30 equinos de corrida foram avaliados quanto ao temperamento, comportamento, parâmetros clínicos (condição geral, escoriações, escore corporal, cólicas no último ano, frequências cardíaca e respiratória) e níveis de cortisol plasmático (matutino, vespertino e ritmo circadiano). Todos os animais apresentaram boas condições físicas gerais, parâmetros clínicos normais para a espécie e não tiveram cólica no ano anterior ao estudo, demonstrando a preocupação dos tratadores com a saúde física dos animais. Contudo, 36,7% dos animais estudados apresentavam estereotipias. Apesar da alta incidência de indivíduos com ritmo circadiano do cortisol (RCC) alterado dentro do grupo de animais com comportamentos anormais (63,64%), não foi encontrada diferença estatística (P>0,05) quando comparado com a incidência do grupo de animais sem estereotipia (31,58%). Quatro animais com estereotipia portavam dispositivos para restringir a expressão de anomalias. Desses, todos apresentaram RCC alterado, permitindo demonstrar que equinos restringidos fisicamente de realizar sua estereotipia apresentam 18 vezes mais chances de ter alteração no RCC do que um animal de comportamento normal. Conclui-se que os equinos do Jockey Club do Paraná, apesar de apresentarem condições físicas satisfatórias comparados a estudos nacionais anteriores, possuíam alterações comportamentais e de função adrenocortical compatíveis com estresse crônico. Os achados também corroboram noções prévias de que a estereotipia é uma forma de tentar aliviar o estresse crônico em equinos, e que o uso de meios físicos para restringir sua manifestação aumenta a chance de distúrbios no metabolismo do cortisol.(AU)

The objective was to study indicative parameters of welfare in 30 race horses evaluated for temperament, behavior, clinical parameters (general condition, abrasions, body score, colic in the last year, heart and respiratory rates) and plasma cortisol levels (morning, afternoon and circadian rhythm). All animals presented good general physical condition, normal clinical parameters for the species and no colic episodes in the year preceding the study. However, 36.7% of animals had stereotypies. Despite the high incidence of altered circadian cortisol rhythmicity (CCR) within the group of animals with abnormal behavior (63.64%), there was no statistical difference (P>0.05) when compared with the incidence in the group animals without stereotyping (31.58%). Four animals with stereotypic behavior carried devices to restrict the expression of anomalies. All these four individuals had altered CCR, showing that restricting the stereotypic behavior of a horse increases 18 times the chances of altered CCR when compared to an individual with normal behavior. The horses of the Jockey Club of Paraná, despite having good physical condition compared to previous national studies, had behavioral and adrenocortical function consonant with chronic stress changes. The results also corroborate previous concepts of stereotyping as stress relieving in horses, and that the use of its physical restriction increases the chances of disturbances in cortisol metabolism.(AU)

Bem-estar em equinos do Jockey Club do Paraná: indicadores clínicos, etológicos e ritmo circadiano do cortisol / Welfare in horses of the Jockey Club Paraná: clinic ethologic indicators and circadian rhythm of cortisol

Com o objetivo de estudar parâmetros indicativos de bem-estar, 30 equinos de corrida foram avaliados quanto ao temperamento, comportamento, parâmetros clínicos (condição geral, escoriações, escore corporal, cólicas no último ano, frequências cardíaca e respiratória) e níveis de cortisol plasmático (matutino, vespertino e ritmo circadiano). Todos os animais apresentaram boas condições físicas gerais, parâmetros clínicos normais para a espécie e não tiveram cólica no ano anterior ao estudo, demonstrando a preocupação dos tratadores com a saúde física dos animais. Contudo, 36,7% dos animais estudados apresentavam estereotipias. Apesar da alta incidência de indivíduos com ritmo circadiano do cortisol (RCC) alterado dentro do grupo de animais com comportamentos anormais (63,64%), não foi encontrada diferença estatística (P>0,05) quando comparado com a incidência do grupo de animais sem estereotipia (31,58%). Quatro animais com estereotipia portavam dispositivos para restringir a expressão de anomalias. Desses, todos apresentaram RCC alterado, permitindo demonstrar que equinos restringidos fisicamente de realizar sua estereotipia apresentam 18 vezes mais chances de ter alteração no RCC do que um animal de comportamento normal. Conclui-se que os equinos do Jockey Club do Paraná, apesar de apresentarem condições físicas satisfatórias comparados a estudos nacionais anteriores, possuíam alterações comportamentais e de função adrenocortical compatíveis com estresse crônico. Os achados também corroboram noções prévias de que a estereotipia é uma forma de tentar aliviar o estresse crônico em equinos, e que o uso de meios físicos para restringir sua manifestação aumenta a chance de distúrbios no metabolismo do cortisol.(AU)

The objective was to study indicative parameters of welfare in 30 race horses evaluated for temperament, behavior, clinical parameters (general condition, abrasions, body score, colic in the last year, heart and respiratory rates) and plasma cortisol levels (morning, afternoon and circadian rhythm). All animals presented good general physical condition, normal clinical parameters for the species and no colic episodes in the year preceding the study. However, 36.7% of animals had stereotypies. Despite the high incidence of altered circadian cortisol rhythmicity (CCR) within the group of animals with abnormal behavior (63.64%), there was no statistical difference (P>0.05) when compared with the incidence in the group animals without stereotyping (31.58%). Four animals with stereotypic behavior carried devices to restrict the expression of anomalies. All these four individuals had altered CCR, showing that restricting the stereotypic behavior of a horse increases 18 times the chances of altered CCR when compared to an individual with normal behavior. The horses of the Jockey Club of Paraná, despite having good physical condition compared to previous national studies, had behavioral and adrenocortical function consonant with chronic stress changes. The results also corroborate previous concepts of stereotyping as stress relieving in horses, and that the use of its physical restriction increases the chances of disturbances in cortisol metabolism.(AU)

Environment, behavior and welfare aspects of dairy cows reared in compost bedded pack barns system

The compost bedded pack barns is a loose housing confinement system for dairy cows, which aims to provide greater comfort in the resting area. Therefore, objective of this review was to investigate the environment, behavior and welfare aspects of dairy cows in the compost bedded pack barns system. The system is characterized by the large collective bed area, in which the objective is the composting of that area. In this way, the ideal bed management is the key point to the success of this system. In addition to daily revolving, an efficient ventilation system is required to perform the air exchange in the shed, and maintain adequate bed humidity levels, while maintaining a comfortable dry environment for the cows to lie down. The ventilation system also has great importance in the cows thermal comfort. In seasons of high average temperatures, ventilation reduces possible stress situations, raising the animals welfare level. Another characteristic of compost bedded pack barns is the greater spacing per animal in the bed area, allowing animals to express naturally the behavior of lying down and decrease the competition among animals. The compost bedded pack barns system presents the potential to provide comfort and welfare for dairy cows. However, good bed management and microclimatic environmental conditions are necessary. However, further studies are needed at the national level to provide more information on the ideal management of the system under climatic conditions in Brazil and the cows behavior in the system.(AU)

Environment, behavior and welfare aspects of dairy cows reared in compost bedded pack barns system

The compost bedded pack barns is a loose housing confinement system for dairy cows, which aims to provide greater comfort in the resting area. Therefore, objective of this review was to investigate the environment, behavior and welfare aspects of dairy cows in the compost bedded pack barns system. The system is characterized by the large collective bed area, in which the objective is the composting of that area. In this way, the ideal bed management is the key point to the success of this system. In addition to daily revolving, an efficient ventilation system is required to perform the air exchange in the shed, and maintain adequate bed humidity levels, while maintaining a comfortable dry environment for the cows to lie down. The ventilation system also has great importance in the cows’ thermal comfort. In seasons of high average temperatures, ventilation reduces possible stress situations, raising the animals’ welfare level. Another characteristic of compost bedded pack barns is the greater spacing per animal in the bed area, allowing animals to express naturally the behavior of lying down and decrease the competition among animals. The compost bedded pack barns system presents the potential to provide comfort and welfare for dairy cows. However, good bed management and microclimatic environmental conditions are necessary. However, further studies are needed at the national level to provide more information on the ideal management of the system under climatic conditions in Brazil and the cows’ behavior in the system.