Animal Behaviour - Stereotypies in Horses
Wood chewing – Horses gnaw on wooden surfaces, often due to boredom or lack of forage; it can develop into crib-biting. Crib-biting – The horse grasps a fixed object with its teeth, flexes its neck, and sucks in air, often linked to stress or confinement.
Give examples of stereotypic behaviour in horses
Key Terms
Give examples of stereotypic behaviour in horses
Wood chewing
-> Leading to Crib-Biting
Wind sucking
How did crib biting used to be treated?
Surgical intervention - cutting the muscles and nerves of the neck
What are the proposed reasons for crib biting?
Alleviates boredom - no evidence
Alleviates stress - no evidence
What is the difficulty with cross sectional studies of crib biting?
mature populations -> population bias - culling!
Sample size means studies usually look at abnormal behaviour not specifically crib biting...
What is an odds ratio?
The ratio of odds in one group compared to a baseline/control group
Odds are probability that an event occurs : cf probability that it will n...
What are the links between feeding and abnormal behaviours in horses? Give studies.
McGreevy 1995, Redbo 1998, Bachmann 2003 - AB associated with Low forage ration, high concentrate ration, non straw bedding
- Thousands of ho...
Related Flashcard Decks
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Give examples of stereotypic behaviour in horses | Wood chewing -> Leading to Crib-Biting Wind sucking |
How did crib biting used to be treated? | Surgical intervention - cutting the muscles and nerves of the neck |
What are the proposed reasons for crib biting? | Alleviates boredom - no evidence Alleviates stress - no evidence |
What is the difficulty with cross sectional studies of crib biting? | mature populations -> population bias - culling! Sample size means studies usually look at abnormal behaviour not specifically crib biting Any measurements taken to potentially look at cause/effect -> Have these factors caused the problem or have the yards responded by implementing changes? Impossible to work out cause and effect |
What is an odds ratio? | The ratio of odds in one group compared to a baseline/control group Odds are probability that an event occurs : cf probability that it will not Quantifies an extent to which a factor is associated with increased/decreased risk |
What are the links between feeding and abnormal behaviours in horses? Give studies. | McGreevy 1995, Redbo 1998, Bachmann 2003 - AB associated with Low forage ration, high concentrate ration, non straw bedding - Thousands of horses in each study |
What are crib biting horses at higher risk of developing? | Entrapment of the SI in the epiploic foramen - Archer et al. Colonic obstruction and distension - Hillyer 2001 NOT at higher risk of ALL types of colic |
What is the relationship between oroceacal transit time and crib biting? | OCTT ^ than normal when CB horses are prevented from crib biting OCTT is the same as normal when allowed to crib bite |
What is the relationship between gastric ulcers and crib biting in foals? Study? | Mucosal lining of CB foals significantly more enfaced, dry and ulcerated than normal foals - Nicol 2002 |
Does crib biting show rebound? | YES - therefore an adaptive behaviour? Definitely one some horses are motivated to perform |
How does adding antacid to the diet effect crib biting? | Pioneered by Willard - reduces crib biting Dose related effect found |
What is the potential causal link between crib biting and physiological factors? | An adaptive attempt to reduce gut acidity or speed gut transit time? Biting -> ^ saliva outflow Houpt showde that crib biting -> release of small amounts of saliva |
Outline a study by Nicol on crib biting | CB and normal foals < 1 year No other attempts had been made to stop the behaviour 3 months on standard diet or antacid supplement Gastroscoped Stomach of antacid horses improved, CB tended to decrease - foals that CB excessively (2000s/hour) were not as affected by the diet treatment |
What is the average age of onset of crib biting? | 20 weeks (Badnell-Waters et al.) |
Can foals start to crib bite before weaning? | Yes |
What did Waters discover as potential causal factors for CB? | Dominant mother Stressful weaning method NOT age at weaning Feeding concentrates after weaning |
What did Nicol 2005 discover from looking at Badnell Waters data? | Foals that did not CB pre-weaning but did go on to develop the vice spent more time suckling, peri-suckling behaviour and much fewer vocalisations |
Give a study looking at weaving | Cooper 2000 - different stable design Weaving and nodding appears to be higher when only 1 window is open onto the courtyard (as opposed to having contact with neighbours and seeing fields) |
Give a study looking at the effect of mirrors | McAfee 2002 Mirror and no mirror - mirror significantly decreased weaving |
How may weaving be prevented | Avoid stressful weaning Allow for as much social contact as possible in the yard |