Górecka-Bruzda Aleksandra, Siemieniuch Marta, Lansade Léa, Stanley Christina R
Department of Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland.
The Research Station of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Popielno, 12-222 Ruciane-Nida, Poland.
Animals (Basel). 2023 Dec 19;14(1):8. doi: 10.3390/ani14010008.
Scientifically validated and standardised methods for the evaluation of the welfare of free-living horses are urgently needed by both the owners and managers of these populations and those responsible for implementing national welfare legislation. The aim of the study was to test the feasibility and usefulness of two welfare protocols that could be applied to semi-feral populations: a prototype of welfare assessment template (WAT) for Carneddau semi-feral ponies and the IFCE/INRAE Horse Welfare Protocol. Additionally, the body condition scale designed by Henneke (BCS-H) was employed. The study took place in July/August 2022 and April 2023 to evaluate the welfare of a pilot population of nineteen semi-feral Konik polski horses. The horses scored high or satisfactory under indicators across both protocols; only body condition scores were significantly lower in early spring (BCS-WAT: 1.11 ± 0.57; BCS-H: 3.84 ± 1.17) than in the summer (BCS-WAT: 1.58 ± 0.61; BCS-H: 5.63 ± 1.01). Our study confirmed the feasibility of utilising most of the WAT and IFCE/INRAE welfare indicators in semi-feral horses. Some adaptations, such as considering validation of scales, positive welfare indicators and animals' free-choice of conditions, have been suggested for future in-field application.
这些马群的所有者和管理者以及负责实施国家福利立法的人员都迫切需要经过科学验证和标准化的方法来评估自由生活马匹的福利。本研究的目的是测试两种可应用于半野生马群的福利协议的可行性和实用性：卡内多半野生矮种马福利评估模板（WAT）原型和IFCE/INRAE马匹福利协议。此外，还采用了由亨内克设计的体况评分量表（BCS-H）。该研究于2022年7月/8月和2023年4月进行，以评估19匹半野生波兰柯尼克马试点马群的福利。在两种协议的各项指标下，这些马的得分都很高或令人满意；只有早春时的体况评分显著低于夏季（BCS-WAT：1.11±0.57；BCS-H：3.84±1.17）（BCS-WAT：1.58±0.61；BCS-H：5.63±1.01）。我们的研究证实了在半野生马中使用大多数WAT和IFCE/INRAE福利指标的可行性。对于未来的实地应用，已建议进行一些调整，例如考虑量表的验证、积极的福利指标以及动物对条件的自由选择。
