Developing and validation for welfare indicators of horses used for beef cattle management

• Grant number: 15/14421-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2015
• End date: August 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Ecology of Domestic Animals and Ethology
• Principal Investigator: Mateus José Rodrigues Paranhos da Costa
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Esteves Trindade
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 16/15374-1 - Assessment of body language in the evaluation of animal welfare in ranch horses, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

The aim of this study is to characterize the welfare status of horses used during beef cattle management, through the following approaches: i) to develop and validate equine welfare indicators undergoing work routines in beef cattle farms and ii) identifying from the usual management systems, those that threat the welfare of the horses. Fourteen clinically healthy horses belonging to The Animal Science Institute of Sertãozinho-SP or commercial farms will be evaluated. The indicators will be based on both animal and environment, which includes physiological indicators (heart and respiratory rate, skin turgor, capillary refill time, serum levels of cortisol, lactate, creatine kinase, amino aspartatotransferase and total plasma protein, and differential white blood cells count, blood test and infrared thermography of the orbital region), health indicators (body condition score, abnormalities in the dental arches, signs of injury, condition of the hooves, itching signals in the tail base, presence of ectoparasites, nasal and ocular discharge, lesions in the oral cavity and body surface), environmental variables (temperature and relative humidity, accommodation and working conditions and behavioral indicators (assessment facial and body expressions). The results will be analyzed by means of multivariate analysis, multiple correspondence and factors in order to establish a horse's welfare index regarding to handling routines. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ESTEVES TRINDADE, PEDRO HENRIQUE; FERRAZ, GUILHERME DE CAMARGO; PEREIRA LIMA, MARIA LUCIA; NEGRAO, JOAO ALBERTO; PARANHOS DA COSTA, MATEUS J. R.. Eye Surface Temperature as a Potential Indicator of Physical Fitness in Ranch Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, v. 75, p. 1-8, APR 2019. (15/14421-3, 16/15374-1)

ESTEVES TRINDADE, PEDRO HENRIQUE; HARTMANN, ELKE; KEELING, LINDA J.; ANDERSEN, PIA HAUBRO; FERRAZ, GUILHERME DE CAMARGO; RODRIGUES PARANHOS DA COSTA, MATEUS JOSE. Effect of work on body language of ranch horses in Brazil. PLoS One, v. 15, n. 1, JAN 28 2020. (15/26738-1, 16/15374-1, 15/14421-3)

ZULIANI, LAURA; TRINDADE, PEDRO HENRIQUE ESTEVES; DA COSTA, MATEUS JOSE RODRIGUES PARANHOS. Welfare assessment of horses and mules used in commercial beef cattle ranches in Brazil. APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE, v. 264, p. 7-pg., 2023-05-22. (15/14421-3)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

TRINDADE, Pedro Henrique Esteves. Desenvolvimento e validação de indicadores de bem-estar de equinos utilizados no manejo de bovinos de corte. 2017. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias. Jaboticabal Jaboticabal.