A comparison of unheated loose housing with stables on the respiratory health of weaned-foals in cold winter conditions : an observational field-study
| Autor: | Anna Mykkänen, Heli Simojoki, Satu Sankari, Minna-Liisa Heiskanen, Reija Junkkari, Riitta-Mari Tulamo, Sinikka Pelkonen |
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| Přispěvatelé: | Departments of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Production Animal Medicine, Satu Marja Sankari / Principal Investigator, Equine and Small Animal Medicine |
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
Male
Veterinary medicine AMYLOID-A SAA AIRWAY INFLAMMATION 040301 veterinary sciences VIRUSES Weanling Condition score 413 Veterinary science DISEASE SERUM 0403 veterinary science Animal science Lower body Cold-winter loose-housing Body condition score FIBRINOGEN CONCENTRATIONS Cold winter Animals Medicine Horses YOUNG HORSES Respiratory health Respiratory disease Stables ENVIRONMENT lcsh:Veterinary medicine General Veterinary business.industry Research 0402 animal and dairy science 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences General Medicine Housing Animal 040201 dairy & animal science Cold Temperature Breathing lcsh:SF600-1100 Female Observational study business Weaned-foals THOROUGHBRED RACEHORSES BEHAVIOR |
| Zdroj: | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, Vol 59, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2017) |
| Popis: | Background: Newly weaned horses in Finland are often moved to unheated loose housing systems in which the weanlings have free access to a paddock and a shelter. This practice is considered to be good for the development of young horses. The daily temperatures can stay below -20 degrees C in Finland for several consecutive weeks during the winter season. However, the effect of unheated housing in a cold climatic environment on the respiratory health of weanlings under field conditions has not been studied before. This investigation was an observational field-study comprising 60 weanlings among 11 different voluntary participant rearing farms in Finland. Weanlings were either kept in unheated loose housing systems (n = 36) or in stables (n = 24) and were clinically examined on two separate occasions 58 days apart in cold winter conditions. Results: The odds of clinical respiratory disease were lower in the older foals(log(e) days); OR = 0.009, P = 0.044). The plasma fibrinogen concentration was higher when the available space (m(2)/weanling) in the sleeping hall was smaller (P = 0.014) and it was lower when the sleeping hall was not insulated (P = 0.010). The plasma fibrinogen concentrations at the second examination were lower with a body condition score above 3 (P = 0.070). Standardbreds kept in loose housing systems had a lower body condition score than Finnhorses or Standardbreds kept in stables at both examinations (P = 0.026 and P = 0.007, respectively). Haemoglobin level was lower in weanlings in loose housing systems compared to their counterparts at the first examination (P = 0.037). Finnhorses had higher white blood cell count than Standardbreds at first (P = 0.002) and at the second examination (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Keeping weanling horses in cold loose housing systems does not seem to increase the occurrence of respiratory disease, but special attention should be focused on ventilation, air quality and feeding-practices. Our field study data suggest it might be advantageous to keep Standardbred foals born late in the season in a stable over the Finnish winter. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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