Popescu Silvana, Diugan Eva A
Department of Animal Hygiene and Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Manastur Street, no. 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Department for Horse Breeding, Exploitation and Amelioration, Beclean Studfarm, The National Forest Administration Romsilva, Petricani Street, no. 9A, 023841 Bucuresti, Romania.
Res Vet Sci. 2017 Dec;115:442-450. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.07.028. Epub 2017 Jul 26.
The aim of this observational study was to investigate if a relationship exists between the calculated overall individual welfare score (as an indicator of the welfare quality) and the neutrophil:lymphocyte (N:L) ratio (as a stress indicator) in working (draught) and reproduction horses (breeding stallions and broodmares), in two different seasons. The welfare of the horses was assessed by a protocol which included health and behavioural parameters. An individual welfare score was computed, the total and differential WBC count was established and the N:L ratio was calculated for each of the 1482 assessed horses. Using all these parameters, comparisons were made between the horse categories (working horses, breeding stallions, broodmares) in two assessment seasons. Finally, the relationship between the individual welfare score and the N:L ratio was studied in light of the significant correlations found. The highest frequency of health problems was recorded in working horses. The human-animal relationship did not present significant differences between the horse categories. The individual welfare scores were significantly lower (P<0.05) in the working than in the breeding animals, in both assessment seasons. The N:L ratio was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the working horses than in those kept for reproduction. The season had no significant influence (P>0.05) on the investigated parameters. All the significant correlations found between the N:L ratio and the individual welfare score were negative. The results obtained indicate poor welfare in the working horses, comparing with the breeding animals. The findings of our study confirmed that the N:L ratio increases in horses with a poor welfare state. The multiple correlations of the N:L ratio with the individual welfare scores of the assessed horses emphasised the efficiency of this parameter in identifying the acute and chronic stress conditions in the living environment of the animals.
本观察性研究的目的是调查在两个不同季节中，工作用马（役用马）和繁殖用马（种公马和母马）的计算得出的总体个体福利评分（作为福利质量的指标）与中性粒细胞：淋巴细胞（N:L）比率（作为应激指标）之间是否存在关联。通过包含健康和行为参数的方案对马匹的福利进行评估。计算个体福利评分，确定白细胞总数和分类计数，并为1482匹被评估的马匹计算N:L比率。利用所有这些参数，在两个评估季节对不同类别马匹（役用马、种公马、母马）进行比较。最后，根据发现的显著相关性研究个体福利评分与N:L比率之间的关系。健康问题发生率最高的是役用马。不同类别马匹之间的人-动物关系没有显著差异。在两个评估季节中，役用马的个体福利评分均显著低于繁殖用马（P<0.05）。役用马的N:L比率显著高于用于繁殖的马匹（P<0.05）。季节对所研究的参数没有显著影响（P>0.05）。N:L比率与个体福利评分之间发现的所有显著相关性均为负相关。与繁殖用马相比，所得结果表明役用马的福利状况较差。我们的研究结果证实，福利状况差的马匹N:L比率会升高。N:L比率与被评估马匹个体福利评分的多重相关性强调了该参数在识别动物生活环境中的急性和慢性应激状况方面的有效性。
