Optimised environments for horse health and wellbeing: the use of alternative grazing

Despite the role of the horse having changed from working and sporting toward leisure, types of management have remained similar for the past century, with horses still being kept in small stables and paddocks which were predominantly designed for rest and recuperation after hard work. Many of the UK's major equine welfare challenges, such as stress and obesity, can now be traced towards management that does not fit well with horses' ethological needs. Some UK horse owners are now using creative strategies to manage their horses' welfare in a domestic setting, by structuring their turnout areas in ways that are designed around the horses' three key needs of ‘forage, friends and freedom’. Owners suggest that these management systems can be particularly useful for managing some of the most common equine health and wellbeing challenges, including equine metabolic syndrome, laminitis, stress or behavioural issues and arthritis. A better understanding of these systems could therefore be particularly useful to veterinary professionals who commonly need to assist owners in managing those conditions. This article describes the most frequently used alternative grazing systems, and the common advantages and pitfalls of each.

The Effect of Ryegrass Silage Feeding on Equine Fecal Microbiota and Blood Metabolite Profile

Silage is fed to horses in China and other areas in the world, however, knowledge about the impact of feeding silage on horse health is still limited. In the current study, 12 horses were assigned into two groups and fed ryegrass silage and ryegrass hay, respectively, for 8 weeks. High-throughput sequencing was applied to analyze fecal microbiota, while liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) based metabolomics technique was used for blood metabolite profile to investigate the influence of feeding ryegrass silage (group S) compared to feeding ryegrass hay (group H) on equine intestinal and systemic health. Horses in group S had significantly different fecal microbiota and blood metabolomes from horses in group H. The results showed that Verrucomicrobia was significantly less abundant which plays important role in maintaining the mucus layer of the hindgut. Rikenellaceae and Christensenellaceae were markedly more abundant in group S and Rikenellaceae may be associated with some gut diseases and obesity. The metabolomics analysis demonstrated that ryegrass silage feeding significantly affected lipid metabolism and insulin resistance in horses, which might be associated with metabolic dysfunction. Furthermore, Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed some correlations between bacterial taxa and blood metabolites, which added more evidence to diet-fecal microbiota-health relationship. Overall, ryegrass silage feeding impacted systemic metabolic pathways in horses, especially lipid metabolism. This study provides evidence of effects of feeding ryegrass silage on horses, which may affect fat metabolism and potentially increase risk of insulin resistance. Further investigation will be promoted to provide insight into the relationship of a silage-based diet and equine health.

COVID-19: Impact on United Kingdom Horse Owners

COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic on 11 March 2020; the United Kingdom (UK) implemented quarantine measures shortly afterward, resulting in rapid changes in how owners managed and interacted with their horses. This study provides a rapid analysis of the initial impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the management of UK leisure and competition horses. A 17 question online survey was distributed via equestrian social media sites to ascertain the impact of COVID-19 on horse and yard management and on human–horse interactions. Frequency analysis combined with Chi-squared and thematic analyses identified the impact of COVID-19 on UK horse owners. Major changes within horse management and horse–human interactions were reported for the majority of horse owners (>65%), regardless of the establishment type or region. Social distancing and visiting restrictions were implemented at most yards, but nearly half were not providing hand sanitization or disinfection protocols for the shared areas/equipment to prevent cross-contamination between users. The financial impact of the pandemic combined with restricted access to veterinary professionals resulted in owners expressing concerns that horse health and welfare may be compromised as a result. Horse owners also felt that the reduced opportunities for horse–human interactions were negatively affecting their mental health and wellbeing.

P1842THE HISTORY OF VETERINARY RENAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NOSOLOGY IN ANCIENT AND MIDDLE AGES GREEK TEXTS

ackground and Aims Background and Aims: To present the ideas of Ancient and Byzantine Greek authors about the renal anatomy, physiology and nosology of mammals, birds, insects and fishes. Method Method: We searched for the appropriate passages in the works of Aristotle, Aristophanes Byzantius, Galen, Cladius Aelianus, Alexander Aphrodisiensis, Basilius Caesariensis, Gregorius Nyssensus, Nemesius Emesenus, Hippiatrica Berolinensia, Hippiatrica Parisiana, Hippiatrica Cantabergiensia, Michael Ephesius and Michael Glycas. These texts extended from the 4th cent. BC until the 12th cent. AD. Results Aristotle elaborates on the varied number of kidneys in several animals and on the abundance of perirenal fat. The last tissue is essential for protecting and warming the animal but, in excess, it may be lethal, as in the case of sheep. He then describes the multilubular kidneys of some animals and the supposed lack of a bladder in birds and marine animals, with the exception of the sea turtle. Aristophanes adds the issue of the deer’s ectopic kidneys and their number in canines. Basilius and Gregorius elaborate on the minute details of some animals’ organs, like the kidneys and feathers of flying ants and the moral rationale of all these. Nemesius discusses the possibility of some animals surviving without kidneys. The monumental work “Hippiatrica” deals exclusively with horse health and refers, inter alia, to kidney afflictions. It describes the clinical signs of what it calls “nephritis”, with oedema and predominating neurological symptoms. For treatment it recommends several methods of causing renal hyperaemia, like massaging, ointments, warm rooms, heated irons, but also bloodletting. Michael Ephesius returns on the absence of proper kidneys in birds and their substitution with kidney-like organs called “nephroids”. Glycas “justifies” the lack of bladder and kidneys in birds as useless because they secrete their excess water via the feathers, a long flying time and watery stools. Conclusion The Ancient and Byzantine Greek authors had understood well several topics of the anatomy, physiology and nosology of the veterinary renal system but they also made some very great mistakes. We will present the above conclusions in length.

PROFIL MANAJEMEN KESEHATAN TERNAK KUDA DI DESA PINABETENGAN KECAMATAN TOMPASO KABUPATEN MINAHASA

HORSE LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT PROFILE IN THE VILLAGE OF PINABETENGAN KECAMATAN TOMPASO MINAHASA REGENCY. This study aims to determine the horse health management of Pinabetengan Village, Tompaso District of Minahasa Regency. The survey method was used in research in August to September 2018. Data collection was carried out through interviews and questionnaires for 56 horse breeders. Variables consist of horse breeders profiles, horse farm management profiles,and livestock health management profiles. Data analysis using descriptive statistics. The results showed that Management profile livestock health consists of 71.43% of farmers having vaccinated, 54.55% of parasite prevention. Diseases that attack livestock are 45.45% of worm parasitic diseases, 31.82% of runny nose, 14.55% of scabies, and 8.15% of digestive tract (colic and diarrhea). 63.36% of farmers self-medicated sick animals, 35.09% used medical services, and 1.75% did not handle. Farmers have not implemented biosecurity, but 98.21% have done routine sanitation. 94.75% of farmers do not know about infectious diseases of horses to human. 35.71% of farmers have suffered from diarrhea, 14.29% inflammation of the skin/ scabies/selakarang. It can be concluded that the implementation health management for horse in Pinabetengan village of Minahasa Regency is limited due to lack of farmers knowledge and education. Keywords: Management, health, horse cattle.

Effects of Transport Conditions on Behavioural and Physiological Responses of Horses

The regulations for minimal space and direction of travel for land transport in horses vary worldwide and there is currently no definitive guidance to promote equine health and welfare. This study evaluated the effects of bay size and direction of travel (forwards/backwards) in horses by comparing the behavioural, physiological, laboratory and gastroscopy parameters between transported and confined horses. A total of twenty-six mares took part in the study; 12 horses were confined for 12 h, and all mares underwent 12 hours’ transportation, travelling in single (n = 18) or wide bays (n = 8), and forward (n = 10) or rear (n = 16) facing. Behaviour was recorded during confinement/transportation and analysed using a behaviour sampling ethogram. Clinical examination, blood samples and gastroscopy were conducted before and after confinement/transportation. The frequency of behaviours relating to stress and balance increased during transport, and horses transported in a rear-facing position and in a wider bay size showed fewer balance-related behaviours. Balance behaviours, particularly loss of balance, were positively associated with the severity of gastric ulceration after transportation and elevated muscle enzymes, while increased stress behaviours correlated with decreased gastrointestinal sounds. Heart rate and rectal temperature after transportation were positively associated with balance and stress behaviours, and with squamous gastric ulcer scores. Transportation was associated with expected increases in cortisol and muscle enzymes, but positioning and space allowance had minimal effects on these analytes. Findings suggest that transportation in a rear-facing position and in wider bays might reduce the impact of transport on horse health and welfare, and monitoring behaviour in transit and physiological measurements after transportation should be recommended. Behavioural and physiological parameters were more sensitive than haematological, biochemical or endocrine analytes to identify horses suffering from transport stress.

Isolation, cultivation and immunofluorescence characterization of lamellar keratinocytes from equine hoof by using explants

ABSTRACT: The importance of the hoof to the horse health is clear, and the current knowledge regarding the cellular aspects of hoof keratinocytes is poor. Studies on equine keratinocyte culture are scarce. Developing keratinocyte cultures in vitro is a condition for studies on molecular biology, cell growth and differentiation. Some methods have already been established, such as those for skin keratinocyte culture. However, few methodologies are found for lamellar keratinocytes. The objective of this study was to standardize the equine hoof keratinocyte isolation and cultivation, and then characterize the cell immunophenotype. For this, the primary culture method used was through explants obtained from three regions of the equine hoof (medial dorsal, dorsal, and lateral dorsal). After the cell isolation and cultivation, the cell culture and its explants were stained with anti-pan cytokeratin (pan-CK) (AE1/AE3), vimentin (V9), p63 (4A4), and Ki-67 (MIB-1) antibodies. Cells were grown to third passage, were positive for pan-CK, p63 and Ki-67, and few cells had vimentin positive expression. As for the explants, the epidermal laminae were not stained for vimentin or Ki-67. However, some cells presented positive pan-CK and p63 expression. This study demonstrated the viability of lamellar explants of equine hooves as a form of isolating keratinocytes in primary cultures, as well as characterized the proliferation ability of such keratinocytes in monolayers.