CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE CARE AND HANDLING OF EQUINES: REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON PRIORITY ISSUES July 2012 Equine Code of Practice Scientists’ Committee Camie Heleski M.S., Ph.D. (Chair) Michigan State University Dany Cinq-Mars M.Sc., Ph.D. Université Laval Patricia Dowling D.V.M., M.Sc., D.A.C.V.I.M. (L.A.I.M.), D.A.C.V.C.P. Western College of Veterinary Medicine University of Saskatchewan Katrina Merkies M.Sc., Ph.D. University of Guelph Henry Stämpfli, D.V.M., Dr. Med. Vet, D.A.C.V.I.M. Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph Stephanie Yue Cottee M.Sc., Ph.D. (Research Writer) Jack de Wit Equine Code Development Committee Chair (ex officio) Equine Canada Code of Practice for the care and handling of equines: Review of Scientific Research on Priority Issues July 2012 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Scientists' Committee would like to thank the Equine Code Development Committee and Caroline Ramsay for their contributions to this report. In particular, we wish to thank Jack de Wit and Dr. Katharina L. Lohmann, MedVet, Ph.D., D.A.C.V.I.M. Thank you to the following for your very valuable comments on the final draft: Dr. Carolyn L. Stull, M.S., Ph.D, Dr. Bob Wright, D.V.M., and others who served as peer reviewers. Codes of Practice updates initiated from 2010 to 2013 are part of the project: Addressing Domestic and International Market Expectations Relative to Farm Animal Welfare. Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) through the Agricultural Flexibility Fund, as part of the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan (EAP). The EAP focuses on strengthening the economy and securing Canada's economic future. For more information on AgriFlexibility and Canada's Economic Action Plan, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/agriflexibility and www.actionplan.gc.ca. Opinions expressed in this document are those of the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and not necessarily those of AAFC or the Government of Canada. ii Code of Practice for the care and handling of equines: Review of Scientific Research on Priority Issues July 2012 Excerpt from Scientists’ Committee Terms of Reference Background It is widely accepted that animal welfare codes, guidelines, standards or legislation should take advantage of the best available knowledge. This knowledge is often generated from the scientific literature, hence the term “science-based”. In re-establishing a Code of Practice development process, NFACC recognized the need for a more formal means of integrating scientific input into the Code of Practice process. A Scientists’ Committee review of priority animal welfare issues for the species being addressed will provide valuable information to the Code Development Committee in developing or revising a Code of Practice. As the Scientists’ Committee report is publicly available, the transparency and credibility of the Code process and the recommendations within are enhanced. For each Code of Practice being developed or revised, NFACC will identify a Scientists’ Committee. This committee will consist of 4-6 scientists familiar with research on the care and management of the animals under consideration. NFACC will request one or two nominations from each of 1) Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, 2) Canadian Society of Animal Science, and 3) Canadian Chapter of the International Society for Applied Ethology. Purpose & Goals The Scientists’ Committee will develop a report synthesizing the results of research relating to key animal welfare issues, as identified by the Scientists’ Committee and the Code Development Committee. The report will be used by the Code Development Committee in drafting a Code of Practice for the species in question. The full Terms of Reference for the Scientists’ Committee can be found within the NFACC Development Process for Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals, available at www.nfacc.ca/code-development-process#appendixc. iii CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE CARE AND HANDLING OF EQUINES: REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON PRIORITY ISSUES Equine Code of Practice Scientists Committee July 2012 1. FACILITY DESIGN AND HOUSING .................................................................................... 2 SHELTER AND SHADE ................................................................................................................... 2 FORAGING BEHAVIOUR ............................................................................................................... 4 TURNOUT, EXERCISE AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES ........................................................... 7 VENTILATION, BEDDING AND BOX SIZE ............................................................................... 10 STEREOTYPIC BEHAVIOUR ....................................................................................................... 15 2. HEALTH AND WELFARE ................................................................................................. 21 PAINFUL PRACTICES ................................................................................................................... 21 LAMINITIS AND PAIN MANAGEMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS ........................................... 28 HOOF CARE .................................................................................................................................... 31 DEWORMING AND VACCINATIONS ......................................................................................... 35 3. FEEDING AND DRINKING BEHAVIOUR ......................................................................... 38 FEEDING ......................................................................................................................................... 38 DRINKING ....................................................................................................................................... 42 OBESITY AND LAMINITIS – COMPONENTS OF EQUINE METABOLIC SYNDROME ...... 45 THERMAL IMPACTS ON NUTRITIONAL AND ENERGY NEEDS ......................................... 49 4. FEEDLOT HORSES .......................................................................................................... 52 STOCKING DENSITY .................................................................................................................... 52 MUD SCORING ............................................................................................................................... 54 5. HANDLING AND TRAINING ............................................................................................. 56 LEARNING THEORY AND TRAINING PSYCHOLOGY ........................................................... 56 HYPERFLEXION ............................................................................................................................ 63 HEADSHAKING ............................................................................................................................. 66 Code of Practice for the care and handling of equines: Review of Scientific Research on Priority Issues July 2012 1. FACILITY DESIGN AND HOUSING SHELTER AND SHADE Conclusions: 1. Horses are highly adaptable to many weather conditions; however, they benefit from from having access to a windbreak, shade or shelter especially during extremely hot or cold weather conditions, and particularly when it is windy. 2. Under particular weather conditions, horses will seek shelter or shade; therefore, having a shade/shelter/windbreak area that is large enough to accommodate all animals in a given turnout area is ideal. Horses can adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions, in part because they have the ability to adjust their behaviour to achieve more comfortable states during unfavorable conditions (Keiper & Berger, 1982). Domestic and feral horses, donkeys and zebras have been described to stand with their backs to natural windbreaks of vegetation or terrain. Similarly, they have been noted to stand or graze with their hindquarters oriented into the wind during heavy rain or wind (McDonnell, 2003). All outdoor environments are suggested to provide shade and windbreak, in addition to providing for the other biological needs of horses (e.g. feed and water, exercise, ability to avoid direct contact with excreta). In temperate climates, horses may be kept in paddocks without shelter other than that provided by the natural landscape, wind fences, or sunshades (Federation of Animal Science Societies [FASS], 2010). However, in extremely hot, cold, or wet environments, shelter has been recommended (FASS, 2010). It is estimated that horses’ thermoneutral zone1 lies between the lower critical temperature of 5°C (41°F) and the upper critical temperature of 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F) (Morgan, 1998). Autio and Heiskanen (2005) observed the effect of weather conditions (temperature, humidity and wind speed) on the daily time budget and behaviour of foals. The foals spent 43% of the time in the sleeping hall (an insulated building with a deep-litter bed), 51% in the open paddock and 5% in the shelter (a two-sided, roofed shelter in front of the sleeping hall). In addition, the behaviour of the foals did not significantly change as the temperature dropped from 0 to -20˚C. The time spent in the sleeping hall did not significantly increase, nor did the time spent eating, resting or huddling. Based on the behaviour, the authors concluded that the cold weather did not negatively affect the horses’ welfare. In Przewalski’s horses, it has been said that a windbreak is often sufficient shelter in bad