Rodrigues João B, Garrett Chris, Norris Stuart L, Albuquerque Francisco, Queijo Luis, Cooke Fiona, Judge Andrew
The Donkey Sanctuary, Research and Operational Support, Sidmouth, UK.
Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, School of Technology and Management, Bragança, Portugal.
Vet Rec. 2021 Oct;189(8):e772. doi: 10.1002/vetr.772. Epub 2021 Aug 5.
Working donkeys represent an important source of energy worldwide. Poor working conditions and equipment affect their ability to work. Poorly designed, ill-fitted harness causes inefficient transfer of power and leads to health and welfare issues. Using technology to assess different types of collars provides a better understanding of those that are most efficient for working donkeys.
Seven different collars were tested using pressure pads. Contact area, median, maximum and peak pressures were obtained for the whole collar and critical points. Eight donkeys pulled 20% and 40% of their body weight, using each collar, under controlled conditions.
Contact area and pressures vary between collars and effort, with design and expansion capacity of the collars playing a major role. Simple collars designed specifically for donkeys performed well, with full collars designed for horses also having good results. Due to reduced expansion capacity and contact in the critical points, the breast collars were the least effective.
Design, appropriate padding and manufacturing materials and adjustment capacity are key features for good collars, and such parameters are of paramount importance in terms of health and welfare for working donkeys.
在全球范围内，役用驴是重要的能量来源。恶劣的工作条件和设备会影响它们的工作能力。设计不佳、尺寸不合适的挽具会导致能量传递效率低下，并引发健康和福利问题。利用技术评估不同类型的颈圈能更好地了解哪些颈圈对役用驴最为高效。
使用压力垫对七种不同的颈圈进行测试。获取整个颈圈及关键点的接触面积、中位数、最大值和峰值压力。八头驴在受控条件下使用每种颈圈拉动其体重20%和40%的重物。
颈圈之间以及用力程度不同时，接触面积和压力会有所变化，颈圈的设计和扩张能力起主要作用。专门为驴设计的简单颈圈表现良好，为马设计的全颈圈也有不错的效果。由于关键部位的扩张能力降低和接触不良，胸带颈圈效果最差。
设计、合适的衬垫、制造材料和调节能力是优质颈圈的关键特性，这些参数对于役用驴的健康和福利至关重要。
