Management of Stereotypic behaviour in horses: a welfare concern
Hina Ashraf Waiz *1 and Lokesh Gautam 2
1Assistant Professor ,Livestock Production Management, College of veterinary & Animal Science, Udaipur, Rajasthan University of Veterinary & Animal Science, Bikaner, 334001, India
2Assistant Professor ,Animal Genetics and Breeding , College of veterinary & Animal Science, Udaipur, Rajasthan University of Veterinary & Animal Science, Bikaner, 334001, India
*Corresponding Author: drhinavet@gmail.com ,
Abstract
Stereotypical behaviour can be caused by biological and environmental factors in both people and animals. Although abnormal, repeated behaviour in farm animals is frequently related to maintenance in a harsh environment, it may also have a genetic or epigenetic basis. Stereotypes are seen to be a sign of inadequate welfare. They might manifest as an animal’s coping mechanism in instances of on-going stress. When cattle, pigs, and horses are housed apart, stereotypes are frequently observed. When an animal cannot satiate its inherent requirements, it typically exhibits this type of behaviour. The environmental improvement has emerged as a significant issue in light of the current rise in concern over maintaining suitable husbandry conditions, particularly in intensive breeding systems. The objective of this article is to present the characteristic of stereotypies in horses and to show corrective measures of reducing this behaviour.
Keywords: horses, stereotype, animal welfare
Introduction
Adverse circumstances may alter the animal’s mental state, which manifests as the emergence of different types of behaviour. There could be biological and environmental influences. Stereotypical behaviour is one of the behavioural indicators, and it is generally recognized that such actions are connected to poor welfare and are more likely to occur in unfavorable environments (Peter et al. 2017). These alterations can take on pathological forms and deviate from typical, species- and sex-specific behaviours, which are thought of as model behaviours (i.e., deliberate behaviours that are required in order for an animal to operate normally both as an individual and as a member of a herd).
Stereotypies are characterized as repeating actions without an apparent purpose or function. Considering that they are present in more than 15% of farm horses but have never been seen in wild horses, they are known as ‘’disease of domestication’’ .The welfare of farm animals is a subject that is receiving more and more attention now a days According to the perspectives of those who buy products derived from animals, enriched animal housing that really is spacious and cage-free is essential. According to the perspectives of those who buy products derived from animals, enriched animal housing that really is spacious and cage-free is essential (Spain et al. 2018). A significant contributor to physiological and behavioural issues in farm animals is improper breeding practices. The emergence of stereotypical behaviour is one of the effects of keeping animals under poor welfare conditions. Stereotypies, according to one definition of this pathology, are repetitive behaviour caused by irritation, persistent coping mechanisms, and/or central nervous system malfunction. It is important to emphasize that these ritualized or repetitive movements do not serve any clear purpose and don’t satisfy physiological demands. Animal species differ in their propensity to engage in specific stereotypies (such as locomotive or oral stereotypes). According on the species, biological, or environmental circumstances and the genesis of certain behaviour may also change (Ventura et al. 2013).
Causes
The several stereotypically associated equine behaviour issues are not seen in wild horses or in horses that live their entire lives in social groups on large pastures, which is how this species naturally lives. Only horses and ponies raised under settings of rigorous domestic management, such as stalls and social isolation for part or most of their life, experience stereotypically linked behavioural issues. Maintaining horses as much as possible in stable social groups on spacious, complex pastures where they may wander freely and feed in a style that closely resembles that of their wild ancestors is the greatest method to prevent stereotypical behaviour in horse
Different forms of stereotypes
Oral stereotypies (crib-biting, wood-chewing, wind-sucking)
Locomotors stereotypies (box-walking, stepping from one foot to the next, neck-bending, weaving, self-mutilation)
The above mentioned stereotypes are most frequently observed in domestic horses.
Oral stereotypies
- Crib-biting: One of the most common stereotypical behaviours in horses is crib biting. It is defined as pulling back while grasping a fixed horizontal object (e.g., fence, stall, or building structures) with the incisor teeth and tightening the ventral neck muscles. Horses may or may not (depending on the horse) draw air into the upper oesophagus.
- Wood-chewing: Wood-chewing is the practise of breaking apart wooden stall beams or wall components and either spitting them out or chewing and eating them. Depending on the circumstances, wood-chewing is considered as stereotype or an effort to meet nutritional requirements.
- Wind –Sucking: A stereotype known as “wind-sucking” depicts a horse bending its neck and tensing its muscles while sucking air into its oesophagus through an open mouth. It occasionally goes along with crib-biting. However, it can only happen if the horse can lean on a sturdy object to support its incisors, such as a fence pole.
Locomotors stereotypies
- Weaving: A locomotors stereotype known as weaving involves a horse swinging or shaking its head from side to side while shifting its weight un-movingly from one front foot to the other. Circling becomes stereotypical when it is prolonged and repetitive. While being fed, when another horse is taken outside, or in the stall, many horses exhibit a spontaneous circling behaviour at the gate. With no interest in what goes on outside the stall, horses with this stereotypy can circle endlessly in both directions.
- Self-biting/kicking: Self-biting, kicking or deliberate pushing at the stall structures, when prolonged, it causes skin damage, hard-to-heal wounds and a general decline in body condition.
- Self-mutilation: There are three distinct forms of self-mutilation.
- First type: It is a reaction to on-going physical pain
- Second type: It is seen in stallions and is linked to self-directed inter-male aggression.
- Third type: It involves methodical behavioural sequences of a stereotypy that end in injury, such as nipping at various body parts or kicking against an object.
Regular and frequent weight distribution from one leg to the other may result in uneven hoof wear or damage to joints and tendons, making the horse unsuitable for breeding or competition. The prevalence of stereotypy makes controlling and using horses much more challenging. It also serves as a measure of animal welfare, which is linked to both inadequate management practises and failing to meet the mental demands of the animals (Malamed et al. 2010).
Prevention of stereotypical behaviour
Different techniques have been employed to avoid and terminate stereotypical behaviours since they are viewed as undesirable and troublesome. Horse owners frequently worry about stereotypical behaviours due to the animal’s decreasing performance, clinical repercussions, and diminished market value. Various methods that can be used to prevent such behaviour are as under:
- Physical means
Physical preventions are likely the most common method of treatment for many equine stereotypies. (Cooper and Mason, 1998). While physically preventing horses from engaging in oral stereotypies is common (e.g., use of a cribbing collar, which mechanically prevents cribbing and windsucking). This method is seen as being contrary to animal welfare ethics.
2.Surgical means
The capacity of a horse to engage in stereotypies has been hampered by a number of surgeries, such as buccostomy, severing the ventral branch of the accessory nerve, and myectomy, however these procedures do not address the fundamental reason of the stereotypic behaviour.
3.Environmental improvement
Environmental enrichment has been proposed by several researchers as a successful method for enhancing domestic horses’ living conditions in captivity (Henderson, 2001). Instead than physically restraining a person to stop them from acting out, it’s critical to address the underlying causes of behavioural issues. For some stereotypical locomotor behaviour, using mirrors in the stable appears to be a more effective treatment than any physical intervention.
4.Management improvement
- Allow horses more time to explore the barn.
- To keep horses engaged, offer toys or exercise.
- Any kind of animal companionship can be beneficial.
- To extend meal times, increase their roughage intake and employ slow feeders.
Conclusion
Animal behaviour serves as one of the markers of poor animal welfare. Unfavorable environmental conditions may exacerbate challenges related to the animal’s adaptability. Long-term stress may cause an adaptive mechanism to evolve, which in some circumstances results in the occurrence of stereotypical behaviour. Stereotypies are primarily associated with social isolation and a life in a barren environment, as various studies on farm animals have demonstrated. Stereotypies in horses can be caused by a variety of factors, including a lack of available space, a deficiency in nearby roughage, and early separation from the dam. In order to spot, address, and avoid these abnormalities, it is the responsibility of the breeder or producer to keep a close eye on the animals. Providing animals a high-fiber diet, different types of “toys” in their environment, or less stressful management techniques may have a significant positive impact on their welfare.
References
Cooper J.J., Mason G.J.(1998). The identification of abnormal behaviour and behaviour problems in stabled horses and their relationship to horse welfare: a comparative review.Equine Veterinary Journal. 27: 5-9.
Henderson J.V. and Waran, N.K. (2001) .Reducing equine stereotypies using an Equiball. Animal Welfare. 10: 73-80.
Péter Z., Oliphant M.E., Fernandez T.V. (2017).Motor Stereotypies: A Pathophysiological Review. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 11: 171.
Spain C.V., Freund, D., Mohan-Gibbons H., Meadow R.G. and Beacham L.( 2018).Are They Buying It? United States Consumers’ Changing Attitudes toward More Humanely Raised Meat, Eggs, and Dairy. Animals. 8: 128.
Ventura B.A., Von Keyserlingk M.A., Schuppli C.A. and Weary D.M. (2013).Views on contentious practices in dairy farming: the case of early cow-calf separation. Journal of Dairy Science. 96:6105-16.
