Impact of maintenance systems on the Hucul mares’ reproductive rates

Topczewska, Jadwiga; Krupa, Wanda

doi:10.7482/0003-9438-56-024

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(11 reference statements)

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“…Regular de-worming and hoof correction, freedom of movement, space, as well as proper exploitation contributed to the herd's high level of health. Such a system of maintenance enhances the attainment of excellent reproductive rates (Topczewska & Krupa 2013). It is emphasized that the most important indicator of high level of welfare is behaviour that is consistent with the specie-pattern as well as human-animal relationships (Boissy et al 2007, Parker et al 2008, Grandgeorge & Hausberger 2011.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

An attempt to assess the welfare of horses maintained in herd systems

Topczewska

2014

Arch. Anim. Breed.

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The aim of the study was to assess the welfare, using the Welfare Quality criteria, of horses maintained in natural conditions. The study material was a herd of Hucul horses, consisting of 14 mares with offsprings and a stallion, maintained in a herd system on pastures. The research was conducted in the months of March, July and November in 2010 and 2012. Nutrition assessment was based on access to feedstuff, water, including their state. Analysis of levels of maintenance involved evaluating prevailing weather conditions, stocking rate as well as horses' freedom of movement in the delineated land area. Assessment of the herd's health condition was based on interviews with the supervising veterinarian. Horses' behaviour was assessed through observations that relied on their social, affiliative and agonistic behaviours. The condition of the horses was influenced by the period of year, with the best being in November (P≤0.01). Maintenance conditions and exploitation affected the herd's state of health, with no illnesses or injuries being reported over the analysed period. Seasons of the year had impacts on the horses' behaviour (P≤0.01). In summer, grazing took place in the late evenings and early mornings, with animals kept under sheds. Intensified feeding was observed in November. No stereotypical behaviours were observed. Heart rate measurements were a pointer to the animals' emotional balance and attitudes towards people. The observed high level of horses' welfare suggested that a natural herd system of management ought to be preferred and propagated.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

An attempt to assess the welfare of horses maintained in herd systems

Topczewska

2014

Arch. Anim. Breed.

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“…While some breeds of domestic horses are reproductively handicapped (e.g., the Thoroughbred horses [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]), the reproduction of horses in feral conditions is so effective that it often poses the reverse problem, the overproduction of foals. Even in pasture breeding, when mares are kept in free-moving groups with a stallion during the reproductive season, reproductive performance was found to be 10% higher than when using “in-hand” breeding in Hucul and Islandic horses [ 20 , 21 ]. This evidences that in an environment devoid of human management, equine reproduction is more efficient.…”

Section: Feralisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Social and Reproductive Challenges Faced by Free-Roaming Horse (Equus caballus) Stallions

Górecka-Bruzda

Jaworska

Stanley

2023

Animals

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In captivity, intact male horses, due to their sexual drive, are usually socially isolated from other horses. This lifestyle strongly contrasts with that experienced by horses living in free-roaming, feral, or semi-feral conditions, where adult stallions have several roles in their social group, with successful reproduction being their primary drive. Reproductive skew in wild populations is high; many stallions will fail to reproduce at all, while others achieve high levels of reproductive success, siring a large number of foals. Successful stallions are those with particular characteristics and abilities that facilitate harem formation and tenure, allowing them to successfully take over a harem or establish a new one, protect mares from rival stallions, employ appropriate social behaviour to maintain group cohesion, and avoid kin-mating, for example through kin recognition mechanisms. Whilst the life of free-living stallions is far from stress-free, they retain ancestral adaptations to selection pressures (such as predation and competition) exhibited by their natural environment over thousands of years. Here, we discuss the challenges faced by free-living horse stallions, the roles they play in social groups, and their resulting social needs. By understanding these pressures and how stallions react to them, we highlighted the importance of the social environment for the stallion. It is hoped that a better understanding of wild stallions’ lives will lead to their needs being more clearly met in captivity, reducing stereotypical behaviour and improving welfare.

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“…Reports, where many of its advantages were emphasized, date back to 1874. These primitive horses are characterized by remarkable resilience and strength, not being picky in terms of feed and feed use, high fertility, and longevity [17,18]. These features have made Hucul horses very popular, not only in mountain tourism, but also in hippotherapy, therapeutic riding, and recreation, which has significantly enhanced their maintenance in places dramatically different from their natural habitats [19,20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forecasting the Utility Value of Hucul Horses by Means of Artificial Intelligence

Topczewska

Kwater

2020

Sustainability

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The paper suggests the application of artificial neural networks (ANN) for the analysis of variables that significantly impact on the results of Hucul horses that participate at the National Breeding and Utility Championships for Hucul horses. The study exploits the results obtained during 2009–2015. The research material collected enabled the creation of a set of input data (for the artificial neural network), out of which independent learning and testing sets were isolated. The neural classification system in form of a multi-layered artificial neural network suggested in this paper was implemented in the programming environment Matlab, the 8.1.0.604 version. Each horse was described using features in three models. Experimental simulations were carried out separately for each model, conducting the learning and testing simulation process 10 times. In accepting the division of the evaluated group of horses into 10 classes for the analysis of the issue both the expert and network designated the classes, not without reservations due to imprecision of demarcations. The increase in class numbers would result in increased accuracy of selection (allocation to varied classes) of individuals. The average for 10 network responses which was 77% suggest an identical or a very similar horse class when compared with the expert’s value. Preliminary results of the application of artificial neural networks in predicting the utility value of Hucul horses, relying on a specific set of features seem promising.

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Impact of maintenance systems on the Hucul mares’ reproductive rates

Cited by 3 publications

References 8 publications

An attempt to assess the welfare of horses maintained in herd systems

An attempt to assess the welfare of horses maintained in herd systems

The Social and Reproductive Challenges Faced by Free-Roaming Horse (Equus caballus) Stallions

Forecasting the Utility Value of Hucul Horses by Means of Artificial Intelligence

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