Journal of
Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health

  • Abbreviation: J. Vet. Med. Anim. Health
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2529
  • DOI: 10.5897/JVMAH
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 413

Article in Press

WELFARE ASSESSMENT AND RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS OF WORKING EQUINES IN KAMBA WOREDA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Mandefot Meaza, Dereje Debalke and Tadele Gashaw

  •  Received: 06 July 2018
  •  Accepted: 15 October 2018
A cross-sectional type of study was conducted from November 2016 to April 2017 with the objectives to assess welfare issues and associated risk factors compromising welfare concerns of equines health in Kamba Woreda, Southern Ethiopia. The study implemented both direct (animal based) and indirect (owner interview) assessment methods for welfare assessment. Out of 386 equines examined in the study16.6%, 16.6%, and 88.8% were suffering with different type of respiratory problems, digestive problems, and musculo-skeletal problems, respectively, whereas about 28% animals showed abnormal behavior such as depression and odd sign of alertness. In this study equines used for pack purpose experienced higher prevalence of wound than those used for other purpose. Among the respondents interviewed for this survey, 63.1% of persons rearing on equines were in adult age group (age of 20-45). Among the respondents of the study area, 69% had knowledge and information on welfare animals and majority separately provide care for their sick animal out of which 93.1% of respondents took their animals to nearby veterinary clinic, 1.1% provide owner medication, 5.1% gave traditional medications, and remaining 0.7% even did not know whether treatment is necessary or not to equines. Several risk factors were considered for study of wound prevalence including work type, body condition score, age, harness were considered and all had statistically significant association (p<0.5) with presence of wound on the body of the animal. Comprehensive equines health, management and welfare promotion and intervention programs are essential to minimize effect of welfare problems in the study area in particular and in the country at large.

Keywords: Equine, Equine Health, Ethiopia, Welfare Problem, Wound.