Krcal Carina, Licka Theresia
Equine University Clinic, Large Animal Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH 259 RG, UK.
Animals (Basel). 2025 Sep 7;15(17):2623. doi: 10.3390/ani15172623.
Besides oral temperature, meteorological parameters are expected to be relevant for mouthpiece temperature, potentially influenced by the material, surface area and weight of the bit. This study measured the temperature of the mouthpieces at the corner of the mouth while they were in use on 58 carriage horses during the four 2024 seasons. Stainless steel, copper, and copper-steel bits were tested in three shapes: Butterfly Liverpool, Liverpool, and Loose Ring Snaffle with four rings. Additionally, surface temperatures of inner thighs, the ground, and buildings were measured using infrared thermography as well as meteorological parameters. Mouthpieces of copper bits reached the highest median temperatures of all materials over all months (31.9 °C) and in August (34.5 °C). In February, the air temperature (median 12.45 °C) was cooler than mouthpiece temperatures (steel median 21.8 °C, copper median 26.4 °C). Mouthpieces of copper-steel Liverpool bits were significantly warmer than those of steel Liverpool bits (+1.1 °C, < 0.026) at wet bulb globe temperatures > 25 °C. Maximum mouthpiece temperatures of steel Butterfly Liverpool bits showed a weaker correlation (Spearman Rho 0.8) with wet bulb globe temperature categories than both steel Liverpool bits and steel Loose Ring Snaffle bits, which demonstrated a full correlation (Spearman Rho 1). Concerning mouthpiece temperatures, bit material, shape, and weather conditions should be considered when selecting bits to ascertain impacts on equine welfare.
除口腔温度外,气象参数预计也与口衔温度相关,口衔温度可能受衔铁的材料、表面积和重量影响。本研究在2024年的四个季节中,对58匹挽马在使用口衔时嘴角处的口衔温度进行了测量。对不锈钢、铜和铜钢衔铁进行了三种形状的测试:蝶形利物浦衔铁、利物浦衔铁和四环活结 snaffle 衔铁。此外,还使用红外热成像技术测量了马大腿内侧、地面和建筑物的表面温度以及气象参数。在所有月份中,铜衔铁的口衔温度中位数最高(31.9℃),8月份最高(34.5℃)。2月份,气温(中位数12.45℃)低于口衔温度(钢质中位数21.8℃,铜质中位数26.4℃)。在湿球黑球温度>25℃时,铜钢利物浦衔铁的口衔温度明显高于钢质利物浦衔铁(高1.1℃,<0.026)。钢质蝶形利物浦衔铁的口衔最高温度与湿球黑球温度类别之间的相关性(斯皮尔曼等级相关系数0.8)比钢质利物浦衔铁和钢质活结 snaffle 衔铁都弱,后两者呈现完全相关性(斯皮尔曼等级相关系数1)。关于口衔温度,在选择衔铁时应考虑衔铁材料、形状和天气条件,以确定对马匹福利的影响。