DEVELOPING A SIMPLE METHOD FOR ASSESSING STRESS IN HORSES
Professor Cliff Irvine
Lincoln University
Animal welfare has become increasingly important as a matter of public concern. While everyone agrees that "suffering" or stress should be minimised for horses, finding a single measure for measuring and quantifying it, and thus devising methods for controlling it, has proved to be challenging. This project is in the nature of a pilot trial to determine whether measuring faecal corticosterone (a non-invasive procedure), is a satisfactory approach to assessing the stress status in a horse.
THE INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT PASTURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ON PARASITISM
Dr Kevin Stafford
Massey University
Drench resistance is becoming more prevalent in the parasites that affect New Zealand horses and hence, the development of alternative methods of parasite control other using drenches, is becoming more important. The project will compare the effects of three pasture faeces management systems (faeces removal, harrowing, and leaving faeces where they are deposited) on faecal worm egg output and pasture larval contamination. The study will also test the proposition that coprophobia (aversion to eating dung) results in reduced parasite infection in the horse.
A STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL USE OF A HORMONE ANTAGONIST TO REPRODUCTION IN THE HORSE
Dr Margaret Evans
Canterbury Health
GnRH (gonadotrophin releasing hormone) is a key hormone produced by the pituitary gland that assists in the control of reproductive function in both mares and stallions. Earlier experiments have demonstrated that an antagonist to GnRH will block its major known effects bth in laboratory studies and when administered to mares that are not cycling. In the entire horse the practical administration of sufficient antagonist to produce the desired effect has yet to be worked out. This current project is aimed at manufacturing the antagonist in a cost effective way and administering it to cycling mares to determine whether an effective response can be obtained. If the results are supportive of earlier findings this antagonist could prove extremely useful in reproductive management in horses eg: for breeding and embryo transfer programmes, for lwoering (in a reversible way) testosterone in colts in training, and in feral horse population control.
A STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN Ph OF FAECES, THE AMOUNT AND TYPE OF GRAIN FED AND SUBCLINICAL LAMINITIS IN NEW ZEALAND HORSES.
Dr Chris Rogers
Massey University
Evidence has been advanced that diet has a significant influence on faecal pH and in some circumstances it is suggested that this may be related to subclinical laminitis and poor performance in the horse. Initial trials will be aimed at determining whether faecal pH measurements can be used as a reliable method of assessing the pH status of the hindgut in the horse. If successful the study will be extended to look at the influence of feeding regimes within New Zealand horse management systems on hindgut pH, assessing whether there is a relationship with subclinical laminitis and finally defining strategies for control.
A PILOT STUDY TO DETERMINE WHICH OCCURS FIRST; BONE DAMAGE OR CARTILAGE DAMAGE IN THE FETLOCK WHEN INJURIES OCCUR AS A RESULT OF FAST REPEATED GALLOPING?
Dr Susan Dykgraaf
Massey University
That lameness is a significant cause of wastage in all breeds of horses is well established. Furthermore there is considerable evidence indicating that injury, particularly to the lower limb joints, often occurs during repeated episodes of fast galloping. A question that needs answering is whether the bone beneath the cartilage lining the joint stiffens and causes the cartilage to sustain higher impact loads leading to damage during galloping, or whether the cartilage itself thins ans exposes the bone underneath it damage. This project is planned to determine whether special cell staining techniques can be applied to the joints of thoroughbred racehorses that have been euthanased for othyer reasons to determine whether joint cartilage cells are affected by galloping exercise. If successful the study will be extended in an attempt to answer the question that has been posed.