How Useful Are Existing Protocols in the Quick Assessment of the Welfare of Semi-Feral Horses? Pilot Study on Konik Polski Horses Living in the Forest Sanctuary-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

How Useful Are Existing Protocols in the Quick Assessment of the Welfare of Semi-Feral Horses? Pilot Study on Konik Polski Horses Living in the Forest Sanctuary

Published:2023-12-19 Issue:1 Volume:14 Page:8
ISSN:2076-2615
Container-title:Animals
language:en
Short-container-title:Animals

Author:

Górecka-Bruzda Aleksandra¹,Siemieniuch Marta²^ORCID,Lansade Léa³,Stanley Christina R.⁴^ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland

2. The Research Station of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Popielno, 12-222 Ruciane-Nida, Poland

3. Unité Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Français du Cheval et d’Equitation, F-37380 Nouzilly, France

4. Animal Behaviour & Welfare Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, Chester CH1 4B, UK

Abstract

Scientifically validated and standardised methods for the evaluation of the welfare of free-living horses are urgently needed by both the owners and managers of these populations and those responsible for implementing national welfare legislation. The aim of the study was to test the feasibility and usefulness of two welfare protocols that could be applied to semi-feral populations: a prototype of welfare assessment template (WAT) for Carneddau semi-feral ponies and the IFCE/INRAE Horse Welfare Protocol. Additionally, the body condition scale designed by Henneke (BCS-H) was employed. The study took place in July/August 2022 and April 2023 to evaluate the welfare of a pilot population of nineteen semi-feral Konik polski horses. The horses scored high or satisfactory under indicators across both protocols; only body condition scores were significantly lower in early spring (BCS-WAT: 1.11 ± 0.57; BCS-H: 3.84 ± 1.17) than in the summer (BCS-WAT: 1.58 ± 0.61; BCS-H: 5.63 ± 1.01). Our study confirmed the feasibility of utilising most of the WAT and IFCE/INRAE welfare indicators in semi-feral horses. Some adaptations, such as considering validation of scales, positive welfare indicators and animals’ free-choice of conditions, have been suggested for future in-field application.

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

General Veterinary,Animal Science and Zoology

Link

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/1/8/pdf

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