TOWARDS EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDELINES: AN INVESTIGATION OF RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRESS OF INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT AND IMPLICATIONS FOR HORSE HEALTH AND WELFARE Barbara Padalino 1,2 and Filip Vande Cappelle 3 1 Department of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Bari, Italy; 2 College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, HKSAR 3 European Horse Services, Belgium 44th Annual Conference Sharing Knowledge to Prepare for the Future April 8-11, 2018
Background Last year in Hong Kong
Reasons for a study Few studies of the effects of air transportation on horse & welfare Many knowledge gaps Large increase in number of air shipments Concern about the welfare of the transported horses
Who is involved so far..
Hypothesis Air transport is a mental and physical stressor of horses, resulting in behavioral and health problems during or after travelling by plane; there may be an association between the transport management and these problems. Horses with different temperaments and/or with less transport experience or training will have a higher incidence of transport related health problems. This complex relationship may be influenced by different travel conditions
Aims The primary objective of this study is to collect journey, air cargo configuration, and animal level data associated with the air transport of horses. The second aim of the study is to quantify the incidence of death, injury, illness and behavioural problems when horses are transported by air and identity factors (e.g. animal signalment, transport training and experience, flight conditions, journey details) that may increase or decrease the risk of these occurring.
Survey or Prospective study? This study is a cross sectional survey because retrospective information on the horse (temperament, history, past travel experience) will be asked of the owner/caretaker This is a prospective study because data will be collected from before departure to 5 days after arrival for each horse
How?? Owners, take carers, shippers, fly groomers, vets, academics will work together! The survey has been digitized using Qualtrics Qualtrics is accessible using the internet Qualtrics generates an exel speadhsheet that will be easier & faster to analyse
Where? Only designated routes with enough equine traffic and under supervision & collaboration of known partners o Amsterdam to Tokyo o Auckland to Hong Kong o Calgary to Luxemburg o South Africa (Mauritius) to Liège, B o
The survey is online https://massey.au1. qualtrics.com/jfe/for m/sv_9gjbfn6pcu 4o23z It can be accessed using phones, tablets & PC
Example of report StartDate EndDate IPAddress Progress Duration Finished 3/4/2018 3/4/2018 81.82.211 1:48 1:54.166 100 345 TRUE 3/4/2018 3/4/2018 81.82.211 1:55 1:57.166 100 131 TRUE 3/4/2018 3/4/2018 81.82.211 1:57 2:01.166 100 209 TRUE 3/4/2018 2:01 3/4/2018 2:10 3/4/2018 81.82.211 2:09.166 100 475 TRUE 3/4/2018 81.82.211 2:12.166 100 146 TRUE Recorded Date LocationL atitude LocationL ongitude Name of the horse Q1 Q1 Q2 3/4/2018 Shipping agent of the horse 1:54 50.85001 4.350006 1ZORRO TEST before departure 3/4/2018 Owner or authorised agent (i.e. 1:57 50.85001 4.350006 1ZORRO TEST trainer) before departure 3/4/2018 Air groom or veterinarian at 2:01 50.85001 4.350006 1ZORRO TEST departure airport before take off Air groom or veterinarian at the 3/4/2018 end of the journey (1 hour 2:09 50.85001 4.350006 1ZORRO TEST before landing at destination) 3/4/2018 2:12 50.85001 4.350006 1ZORRO TEST Quarantine officer/veterinarian or owner 24 hours after the journey The data needs to be combined: the name of the horse is CRUCIAL!
Before starting: Pilot Study We will pilot the survey (Amsterdam to Tokyo) Based on the results of the pilot study we may amend/cut/add the questions
Before starting: Ethics approval Animal ethics Human ethics estimation of the population and calculation of the sample size If about 30000 horses are shipped over two years we should need about 2200
First challenge: different set of questions More people are involved in the collection of the data Owner or authorised agent (before departure) Shipping agent before departure Air groom or veterinarian o at departure airport o during the journey o at arrival airport Quarantine officer, veterinarian or owner 1 day after Quarantine officer, veterinarian or owner 5 days after
Second challenge: collection of the same data by different people Health check Body condition score (BCS) Behavioural observations
Solution? Team work! Training of the people involved in the data collection Shipping agents will select horses of owners that are keen to collaborate
Problem! 137.000 US$ (approx)
Partners? Current sponsors: New Zealand Bloodstock; European Horse Services; World Horse Welfare; Hong Kong Jockey Club & Hobday Equestrian Enterprises from South Africa. We need more funding. Please!
Why? Our 4-legged friends and the people that care for them will be grateful to you! We all care for the horses and their welfare! Welfare, health and performance are intercorrelated! Everybody in the equine industry will benefit This model might be used for similar surveys on other species in the future
Questions? Feedback?
Thank you for listening! Email: barbara.padalino@cityu.edu.au Email: barbara.padalino@uniba.it filip@ehs.be