Cross-Sectional Questionnaire of Donkey Owners and Farriers Regarding Farriery Practices in the Faisalabad Region of Pakistan

Khan, Raja Zabeeh Ullah; Rosanowski, Sarah M.; Saleem, Waqar; Parkes, Rebecca S. V.

doi:10.3390/ani12060709

Cited by 7 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(45 reference statements)

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“…However, a more (26). A recent study of working donkeys pulling carts in the Faisalabad region of Pakistan found that 96% of donkeys were lame when examined by a veterinarian, despite examination being conducted while the donkey was still in harness (6). Owners in our survey reported less lameness as compared to previous reports from Pakistan; this could be due to differences in areas within Pakistan or may be due to donkey owner abilities to identify lameness.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 58%

“…Donkeys have played an essential role in developing human civilizations (1). There are approximately 50.5 million donkeys globally (2), benefiting around 600 million people and playing a vital role in the livelihood of poor and vulnerable communities in lower-middle income countries (LMICs) (1,(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). The importance of working donkeys for their owner's livelihoods and the economies of developing countries is well known (3,5,7); for example, in Senegal, draft donkeys contribute 74% of their driver's annual income (8).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Welfare Concerns for Mounted Load Carrying by Working Donkeys in Pakistan

Bukhari

Rosanowski²,

McElligott

et al. 2022

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Working donkeys (Equus asinus) are vital to people's livelihoods. They are essential for carrying goods, however, globally, overloading is one of the primary welfare concerns for working donkeys. We studied mounted load carrying by donkeys and associated factors in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study of donkey owners (n = 332) was conducted, and interviews were undertaken based on a questionnaire. Owners estimated that the median weight of their donkeys was 110 kg [interquartile range (IQR) 100–120 kg], and that they carried a median mounted load of 81.5 kg (IQR 63–99 kg). We found that 87.4% of donkeys carried a load above 50% of their bodyweight ratio (BWR), the median BWR carried was 77.1% (IQR 54.5–90.7%), and 25.3% of donkeys carried above 90% BWR. Donkeys that were loaded at more than 50% BWR were more likely to adopt sternal recumbency compared to donkeys loaded with less weight (P = 0.01). Donkeys carrying construction material were more likely to carry more than the median BWR, when compared to domestic loads (P < 0.001). Younger donkeys aged between one and 5 years carried more than the median BWR compared to those aged over 15 years (P = 0.03). For the models with donkeys carrying median BWR and above 90% BWR, those working in peri-urban and urban areas were more likely to carry a greater BWR than donkeys working in rural areas (P < 0.001; P < 0.001, respectively). For donkeys carrying more than 90% BWR, mixed breed donkeys carried higher loads compared to other breeds of donkeys (P < 0.001). Overloading based on current recommendations (50% BWR) was common, with the majority (87.4%) of donkeys reported to carry more than the recommended 50% limit. This survey provides evidence of on-the-ground working practices and factors associated with mounted load carrying, which is critical for developing evidence-based recommendations for loading, in order to improve the welfare of working donkeys.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 58%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare Concerns for Mounted Load Carrying by Working Donkeys in Pakistan

Bukhari

Rosanowski²,

McElligott

et al. 2022

Front. Vet. Sci.

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“…This assumption is based on surveys of horses, which have repeatedly demonstrated that owners report a lower prevalence of lameness and gait asymmetry than experts (41,42). However, donkey owners have suggested work overload as a potential cause for lameness in Ethiopia (43) and Pakistan (40), and mule owners also recognize this issue (20). However, lameness is one of the main welfare issues reported in working equids globally (5,7,17,25,35,40,43,44) and this is an area for important future targeted owner education.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In comparison, visual signs of lameness were observed in 15% of working equids by experts in Mexico (24), while gait abnormalities in working equids reported by experts in a wide range of countries range from 17.1% to 99.2% (25). A recent study of working donkeys pulling carts in the Faisalabad region of Pakistan found that 96% of donkeys were lame when examined by a veterinarian, despite examination being conducted while the donkey was still in harness (40). Owners in our survey reported less lameness previous reports from Pakistan; this could be due to differences in areas within Pakistan or may be due to donkey owner abilities to identify lameness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, donkey owners have suggested work overload as a potential cause for lameness in Ethiopia (43) and Pakistan (40), and mule owners also recognize this issue (20). However, lameness is one of the main welfare issues reported in working equids globally (5,7,17,25,35,40,43,44) and this is an area for important future targeted owner education.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Welfare concerns for mounted load carrying by working donkeys in Pakistan

Bukhari

Rosanowski²,

McElligott

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Working donkeys (Equus asinus) are vital to peoples livelihoods. They are essential for carrying goods, however globally, overloading is one of the primary welfare concerns of working donkeys. We studied mounted load carrying by donkeys and associated factors in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study of donkey owners (n = 332) was conducted, and interviews were undertaken based on a questionnaire. Owners estimated that the median weight of their donkeys was 110kg (interquartile range (IQR) 100-120kg), and that they carried a median mounted load of 81.5kg (IQR 63-99kg). We found that 87.4% of donkeys carried a load above 50% of their bodyweight ratio (BWR), the median BWR carried was 77.1% (IQR 54.5-90.7%), and 25.3% of donkeys carried above 90% BWR. Donkeys that were loaded at more than 50% BWR were more likely to sit, compared to donkeys loaded with less weight (p=0.01). Donkeys working in peri-urban and urban areas were more likely to carry a greater BWR than donkeys working in rural areas (P<0.001), as were those carrying construction materials or bricks, compared to agricultural materials (p=0.004). Age (p=0.03) and breed (p=0.01) were also associated with carrying a higher weight. Overloading based on current recommendations (50% BWR) was common, with the majority (87.4%) of donkeys reported to carry more than the recommended 50% limit. This survey provides evidence of on-the-ground working practices and factors associated with mounted load carrying, which is critical for developing evidence-based recommendations for loading, in order to improve the welfare of working donkeys.

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Hoof morphometry in a population of lame and nonlame working donkeys in Pakistan

Rosanowski

Parkes

Khan

2022

Equine Veterinary Journal

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Background: Hoof morphometry, conformation and shoeing practices have all been associated with lameness in horses. Hoof morphometry in working donkeys in Pakistan has not been objectively measured.Objectives: To quantitatively assess hoof morphology in donkeys, to identify factors underlying hoof morphology, and interrelationships between conformation, lameness, and shoeing status.Study design: Cross-sectional study.Methods: Donkeys were assessed in-harness using a modified five-point lameness scale by two veterinarians and digital photographs of front hooves taken alongside a grid. Factor analysis was used to examine the interrelationships among morphometric data. Associations between conformation, shoeing, age and lameness were assessed.Results: Sixty-one donkeys were examined; 28 were unshod. There were significant left-right hoof asymmetries between heel height (0.27, SD 0.92 cm; p = 0.02), toe-heel angle (2.97 , SD 8.85 ; p = 0.03) and medio-lateral symmetry (0.5, SD 1.75 cm; p = 0.05). Ten percent of donkeys (n = 6) were sound and 64% donkeys (n = 39) were consistently lame. Conformational defects were seen in 41% (n = 25) of donkeys. Eleven factors were extracted, accounting for 83% of the variance encountered in the original variables. Shoeing, and asymmetry between or within feet were not associated with lameness in donkeys; older donkeys were more likely to be lame (p = 0.02).Main limitations: As a convenience sample of draught donkeys, most of which were lame, the study may not reflect nonpathological hoof morphology in working donkeys. There are no validated objective lameness measures for donkeys and donkeys were in harness when assessed. Conclusion:This study represents a snapshot of hoof morphology and lameness in a single population and under various limitations. Further work should use larger datasets and more homogenous samples to discriminate between 'normal' and 'abnormal' feet and how these might contribute to lameness. Factor analysis highlighted

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Cross-Sectional Questionnaire of Donkey Owners and Farriers Regarding Farriery Practices in the Faisalabad Region of Pakistan

Cited by 7 publications

References 31 publications

Welfare Concerns for Mounted Load Carrying by Working Donkeys in Pakistan

Welfare Concerns for Mounted Load Carrying by Working Donkeys in Pakistan

Welfare concerns for mounted load carrying by working donkeys in Pakistan

Hoof morphometry in a population of lame and nonlame working donkeys in Pakistan

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