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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Positive Reinforcement-Based Training for Self-Loading of Meat Horses Reduces Loading Time and Stress-Related Behavior
Frontiers in veterinary science, Vol.6, pp.1-6
10/10/2019
PMCID: PMC6802606
PMID: 31681807
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Abstract
The present work aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a self-loading training using positive reinforcement on stress-related behaviors shown by meat horses during loading procedures into a truck. Thirty-two meat horses (M = 18; F = 14; 6 month-old) were included in the study. All horses had limited interactions with the farmer and were not used to be restrained nor lead by halter. Horses were divided in two groups: Control Group (C; N = 14) and Training Group (T; N = 18). T horses were trained to self-load: in order to teach the horses to enter into the truck, a targeting training technique throughout a shaping process was applied. Training sessions were performed three times a week, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., for 6 weeks; training was then repeated once a week to maintain the memory until the transport toward a slaughterhouse. The loading phase was video-recorded and loading time was directly recorded using a stopwatch. All horses were transported to the same slaughterhouse in 14 different days using the same truck. Behavior was subsequently analyzed with a focal animal continuous recording method. Loading time was shorter in T horses (mean ± SD = 44.44 ± 47.58 s) than in C horses (mean ± SD = 463.09 ± 918.19 s) (T-test; p = 0.019). T horses showed more forward locomotion toward the truck than C horses (T-test; p = 0.029). Our preliminary findings suggest that self-loading training may be useful to mitigate loading-related stress in meat horses, minimally socialized with humans.
Details
- Title
- Positive Reinforcement-Based Training for Self-Loading of Meat Horses Reduces Loading Time and Stress-Related Behavior
- Creators
- Francesca Dai - University of MilanAlessandro Dalla Costa - Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VenezieLebana Bonfanti - Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VenezieClaudia Caucci - Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VenezieGuido Di Martino - Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VenezieRoberta Lucarelli - Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VenezieBarbara Padalino - University of BolognaMichela Minero - University of Milan
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in veterinary science, Vol.6, pp.1-6
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Grant note
- B22F17000370001 / Ministero della Salute
- Identifiers
- 991013293350202368
- Copyright
- © 2019 Dai, Dalla Costa, Bonfanti, Caucci, Di Martino, Lucarelli, Padalino and Minero. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Veterinary Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article