Abstract:
Single-confinement housing can pose welfare risks to domestic horses. This study investigated horses\' stress responses when confined to single stalls in different stable designs in a tropical savanna region to address a gap in the literature. In total, 23 horses were assigned to a stable with a central corridor and solid external walls (A) (N = 8), a stable with one side corridor and solid external walls (B) (N = 6), or a stable with a central corridor and no solid external walls (C) (N = 9). Air velocity, relative humidity, air temperature, and noxious gases were measured inside the stables, and the heart rate and HRV of the horses were also determined. The relative humidity was lower in stable C than in stable A (p < 0.05), while the air temperature was higher in stable C than in stable B (p < 0.05) during the day. The airflow and ammonia levels were higher in stable C than in stables B and A (p < 0.01-0.0001). Overall, horses\' HRV in stable A was lower than in those in stables B and C (p < 0.05-0.01). Horses in stable A tended to experience more stress than those in other stables.
摘要:
单禁房会给家养马带来福利风险。这项研究调查了在热带稀树草原地区将马限制在不同稳定设计中的单个摊位时的应激反应,以解决文献中的空白。总的来说,23匹马被分配到具有中央走廊和坚固外墙的马stable(A)(N=8),一侧走廊和坚固外墙的马厩(B)(N=6),或具有中央走廊且没有坚固外墙的稳定(C)(N=9)。空气速度,相对湿度,空气温度,在马厩内测量有毒气体,还测定了马的心率和HRV。稳定C的相对湿度低于稳定A(p<0.05),而白天稳定C的空气温度高于稳定B(p<0.05)。稳定C中的气流和氨水平高于稳定B和A中的气流和氨水平(p<0.01-0.0001)。总的来说,马A的HRV低于马B和C的HRV(p<0.05-0.01)。马在稳定的A往往经历更多的压力比那些在其他马厩。