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animal production > horse > Flashcards

horse Flashcards

1
Q

what is a horse?

A
  • Equus ferus caballus
  • Odd-toed ungulate
  • Lifespan 25-30+ years
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2
Q

Draft Horse/ Heavy
Horses

A
  • Breeds include: Clydesdale, Belgian, Percheron, Suffolk Punch,
    Shire
  • Tall, muscular, broad back, feathered distal limbs
  • 16-19 HH
  • Bred to pull
  • Farming, logging, carts, wagons, sleigh, showing
  • Also used for riding in a variety of sports
  • Harness horses may be used as a single or in a team
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3
Q

Warmblood/
Medium
Weight Horses

A
  • Breeds include: Hanoverian,
    Trakehner, Oldenburg, Dutch WB,
    Canadian WB
  • More refined features than draft
    horses without feathering
  • 15 - 18 HH
  • Many registries have “open
    studbooks”
  • Do not require 2 pure blood
    parents
  • Accept animals of similar
    phenotypes to improve the
    breed
  • Bred to excel at competitive English
    riding such as dressage and jumping
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4
Q

light horse

A
  • Breeds include: Arabian, Quarter
    Horse, Thoroughbred, Paint Horse,
    Morgan
  • Greater than 14.2 HH
  • Each breed has specific
    characteristics, generally
    smaller/lighter build
  • Often bred for a specific sport or
    used for pleasure
  • Track racing, endurance racing,
    cow horse/western sports.
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5
Q

ponies

A
  • Breeds include: Shetland, Connemara
    Pony, Hackney, Pony of the Americas
    (POA), Welsh Pony
  • Shorter than 14.2hh
  • Phenotypically distinct:
  • Thicker coat, mane, and tail
  • Short/stocky legs
  • Wider barrels
  • Shorter/thicker neck
  • Broad forehead
  • Used for riding, sport, pulling carts, sure-
    footedness
    -some registries have high requirements for papers, vets will measure
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6
Q

miniature horse

A
  • Breeds include American
    Miniature Horses, Falabella,
    Dutch miniature
  • <8.2HH (34 inches)
  • Legs longer than the body is
    deep, more refined structure than some small ponies
  • Used as companion animals, harness, in-hand sport
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7
Q

donkeys

A
  • Donkeys (Equus africanus asinus)
    and mules make up 2/3 of the
    world’s equid population
  • Working animals
  • 3 common sizes
  • Miniature
  • Standard (small and large
    varieties)
  • Mammoth
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8
Q

mules

A
  • Offspring of a male donkey and female
    horse
  • Donkey: 62 chromosomes
  • Horse: 64 chromosomes
  • Mule: 63 chromosomes -> infertile
  • Highly versatile animals
  • Strength, endurance, and
    surefootedness of a donkey
  • Athletic ability and speed of a horse
  • Used for both work and sport
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9
Q

donkey and mule terminology

A
  • Drove / herd/ pace: group of donkeys
  • Jack: male donkey
  • Jenny: female donkey
  • Mule: horse dam /donkey sire
  • Hinny: donkey dam /horse sire
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10
Q

wild equids

A

-Feral horses:
* Multiple populations in Canada
* Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, Sable Island
- Mustangs:
* Free roaming horses (feral) in Western US, descended from
Spanish Horses
* Managed by the Bureau of Land Management

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11
Q

breed registries

A
  • Closed stud book: 2 pure bred parents, no outside bloodlines
    accepted (Thoroughbreds, Trakenhner)
  • Open stud book: animals may be registered even if parents were not
  • Most warmbloods
  • Semi open for Quarter Horses
    (will include TB and Paints)
    Certain breeds have genetic,
    conformational, or height requirements
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12
Q

Genetic Testing for Breed Specific Disorders

A

-Connemara Pony Hoof Wall Separation disease
* Equine Familial Isolated
Hypoparathyroidism (Thoroughbreds)
* Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa( Belgians)
* Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome Type 1

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13
Q

Colour Genetics

A
  • Testing used for breeding purposes if a specific colour is desired
  • Some colours or colour patterns are linked
    to genetic diseases
  • Overo Lethal White Syndrome:
    homozygous for the overo coat colour pattern gene
  • Silver dilution associated with Multiple Congenital Ocular Anomalies (MCOA)
  • Gray gene associated with an
    increased risk of melanoma
  • Leopard complex causing congenital stationary night blindness in
    appaloosas
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14
Q

different gaits in horses

A

-Walk: 4 beat gait with each foot hitting the ground independently
- Trot: 2 beat diagonal gait with contralateral limbs moving
synchronously
-Canter: 3 beat gait
* Left lead: RH, LH + RF, LF
- Gallop: 3-4 beat gait
* Same as the canter except the diagonal hind foot hits the ground slightly before the front foot

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15
Q

Pregnant Mare’s Urine

A

-Used as the estrogen source in the drug Premarin (Pfizer)
* Hormone replacement
therapy for post- menopausal women
* Draft horses once commonly
used
* Industry byproduct (foals)
had little use
* Most PMU operations now
raise QH foals
* Sold as weanlings
* Performance and ranch
horse prospect

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16
Q

horses in the economics of canda

A

Contributed $8.69 billion to Canada’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP)
* Canadians spent > $8.3 billion on equine
keeping
* Large equine sport venues serve as
economic drivers
* Provided $894 million in provincial and federal
taxes
* Contributed 70,997 full time equivalent jobs
* > 155,000 acres of land across Canada are used
for equine facilities,

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17
Q

cost of equine care

A

-feed
-bedding
-housing (boarding fees or costs to maintain property)
-veterinary
-farrier (every 5-8 wks)
-tack
-others: competition fees, training.

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18
Q

perceptions regarding equine welfare issues

A
  • Individual animal welfare issues
  • Denied access to important psychological resources (companionship/ social interaction)
  • Inappropriate drug use
  • Denied access to physical requirements
  • Lack of proper professional care
  • Industry level welfare issues:
  • Ignorance /lack of knowledge
  • Overpopulation of horses
    -Lack of regulation at the industry level
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19
Q

equine welfare requirements

A
  • Methods to address equine welfare at the individual
    level:
  • Allow access to physical requirements
  • Make proper horse care the primary goal
  • Consistent routine care
  • Strengthen and enforce animal welfare legislation
  • Education
  • Methods to address equine welfare at the industry level:
  • Education for all people dealing with horses
  • Better understanding of equine behaviour and learning theory
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20
Q

Certifications in
Equine Practice

A

-Chiropractic
* Acupuncture
* ISELP (International Society of
Equine Locomotor Pathology)
* Fear-Free Certification
* CE programs and conferences

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21
Q

farrier

A
  • Care for the hoof of the horse by trimming the hoof and applying shoes.
  • Training courses 5 days to 1 year in length
  • Requirements to become a journeyman, but no regulation around claiming to be a farrier
  • Mentorship from an experienced farrier important
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22
Q

Equine Massage
and Alternative
Therapies

A
  • Massage therapy
  • Vertebral realignment therapy (someone who is not a vet but takes course says they are this, you should be a vet and take a course to be chiropractor)
  • Therapeutic laser
  • Pulsed electromagnetic field
    therapy
  • Physiotherapy
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23
Q

horse thermo neutral zone

A

 5-20oC
◦ No energy expended to maintain normal body temperature
 Shiver when cold
◦ Especially if damp
◦ Produces heat
◦ Horse is not comfortable when shivering
 Heat stroke
◦ Weak
◦ Disoriented
◦ Muscle tremors
◦ Shallow/rapid breathing
-healthy, good BCS horses dont NEED a blanket but skinny ect horses should have one. if blanketed you need to check routinley.

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24
Q

horse indoor housing requirements

A

 Flooring should be non-slip, level and well-drained
 Bedding used to provide comfort, warmth, dryness, traction and
protection from injury
◦ Straw
◦ Wood shavings/other wood products
◦ Shredded paper
◦ Peat moss
 Horses need a comfortable place (bedded or otherwise) to lie down and properly rest
◦ Sleep (REM) about 1h/d
◦ Necessary for health and well-being
-dust free: can lead to resp diseases

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25
Q

indoor air quality

A

 Major factor in the development and propagation of airway disease
 Proper management of facilities and bedding helps maintain air
quality
 Excessive ammonia poses a health threat
◦ Should be <10ppm
◦ Must not exceed 25ppm
◦ If you can detect ammonia (smell or eye irritation) likely >20ppm
 Good ventilation is key to air quality and airway health

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26
Q

signs that management is poor

A

 Infectious disease outbreaks
 Horses thin, Horses overweight
 Excessive rate of injuries
 Increased incidence of equine asthma
 Excess numbers of horses
 Stereotypical behaviours

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27
Q

feeding behavior

A

-grazing species (12 h day)
-should be fed 2 meals a day, ideal free choice
-basic needs forage, water, salt

28
Q

forage

A

-good quality
-2% of its BW in dry feed per day
* Quality dependent on:
* Stage of growth
* Leaf:stem ratio
* Degree of cure at time of cutting and baling
-if on pasture 2 acres/horse
-salt needed provides electrolytes to maintain homeostasis.

29
Q

water

A
  • Minimum daily requirement of water
    for horses is 5L/100kg of BW
  • Thermo-neutral temperatures
  • Minimum of 25L for the average sized horse per day
  • Should contain:
  • <5000ppm TDS
  • <500ppm sulfates
  • <100ppm nitrates
30
Q

when to add more feed

A

When To Add More
* Maintenance: 2% BW in dry feed
* Basic needs change with increased metabolic demand
* Nutritional deficits: Trace minerals missing from hay or soil

31
Q

extra feed diets

A
  • Complete feed: used when forage quantity or quality is low or when forage cannot be fed
  • Supplemental feeds: high fat, starch, or protein feeds to add calories
    -Protein supplements: Soybean or milk based, given with ration
32
Q

supplements

A

Minerals:
* Blocks
* Salt
* Salt and iodine
* Mixed mineral:Powders
Vitamins:
* Powders, liquids and pastes
* B complex, C and E

33
Q

fibre

A
  • May be used when traditional
    forages are scarce or as a base
    for feeding powdered
    supplements
  • Beet Pulp
  • Bran
  • Grain hulls
  • Extruded Fibre Supplements
34
Q

feeding mares and foals

A
  • Add 0.5-0.75% BW concentrates to
    mare’s diet in last trimester of gestation and during early lactation
  • Dam’s milk sufficient for the foal during first 6-8 weeks of life
  • Creep feed offered at 0.5-1% foal’s BW/day (max 5 lbs)
35
Q

Feeding Growing Horses

A
  • Usually consume 3% of BW/day
  • Free choice hay is best
  • Weanlings can be feed creep feed at 1% BW/day
  • Feed horses under 2 years
    separately from the rest of the herd
36
Q

feeding geriatric horses

A

-poor dentition: slow intake
-poor appetite: * Iatrogenic: pergolide
* Pain: arthritis, loose teeth, EOTRH
* Increased nutrient requirements
* Good quality soft feed

37
Q

feeding for weight loss

A
  • Avoid all concentrates, treats
  • Weighed meals:
  • No free choice hay
  • Gradual reduction in feed offered
  • Start at 2% BW/day
  • Reduce gradually to 1.5% BW/ day
  • Reductions should occur over 2-3
    weeks
38
Q

feeding following starvation

A
  • Refeeding needs to be slow and gradual
  • Initially restrict NSC to <20%
  • Diet should be primarily hay and a supplement
  • Grass or alfalfa hay (~15% NSC)
  • Aggressive refeeding may result in refeeding syndrome
  • Potentially fatal shift in fluids and electrolytes
39
Q

body condition score

A
  • Monitor subcutaneous fat
    deposits to determine changes in
    health and feeding
    -1-10 5 is moderate.
40
Q

herd health visits

A

-1-2x per year
* Typically include:
* Vaccines
* Parasite control
* Physical exam
* Oral exam and dental float
* Sheath clean
* Coggins test for EIA
* Routine blood work

41
Q

disease prevention core vaccines

A
  • Tetanus
  • Eastern encephalitis
  • Western encephalitis
  • West Nile Virus
  • Rabies
42
Q

risk based vaccines

A
  • Equine Influenza
  • Equine Herpes Virus -1, -EHV-4
  • Streptococcus equi equi (Strangles)
43
Q

internal parasite management mature horses

A

-older horses +3 yrs= FEC treat high shedders 3-4x year. low shedders 1-2x year.
-treat with ML (ivermectin, moxidectin)

44
Q

internal parasite management young horses

A
  • Immature Horses <3yo:
  • Ascarids
  • Treat with anthelmintic @ 2-3 months of age, and every 2 months thereafter until 12 months old
  • Fenbendazole, pyrantel pamoate, macrocyclic
    lactones
  • FEC to establish small strongyle burden @ 10-
    12months of age
  • FECs 2-3x/year from 1yr to 3yr to help establish low vs high shedder and what tx currently required
  • Tx 2-4x/year from 1yr to 3yr
45
Q

Coggins Test for Equine
Infectious Anemia

A
  • EIA reportable disease in Canada
  • Western Canada has the highest prevalence of the disease world wide
  • Many barns and competitions require a negative test to board or participate
46
Q

routine blood work

A

CBC and Chemistry
* Important for horses treated with long
term NSAIDs
* PrevEquine: firocoxib

  • Testing for resting insulin and ACTH
  • EMS and PPID diagnosis and
    monitoring
47
Q

benefits of turnout and exercise

A

benefits of turnout
* Increased bone density
* More social
* Easier to train/handle
* Fewer undesirable behaviours
* Maintain level of fitness

Exercise
* If turnout not possible (or in
addition to!)
* Increases level of fitness
* Improves behaviour
Photo courtesy of Jim Westin

48
Q

stereotypies

A
  • “Abnormal behaviour that serves no apparent function and is performed in
    a repetitive, invariant way”
  • Prevention more effective than treatment
  • Stereotypies can have negative effects on health
  • Dental problems and certain types of colic associated with cribbing and wind-sucking
  • Stereotypies do not equate to welfare issues
    -head tossing, cribbing
49
Q

owner first aid kit

A
  • Chlorhexadine
  • Bandage material
  • Non-stick pads
  • Gauze
  • vet wrap
  • Tape
  • Pillows and polo wraps
  • Poultice material
  • Sugar and iodine
  • Animalintex pads
  • Scissors
  • Duct tape
50
Q

biosecurity on farm prevention of disease

A
  • Decrease exposure to pathogens
  • Separation of new arrivals
  • Separation of potentially higher risk horses: visibly ill,
    exposed to disease
  • Separation of susceptible horses: young, pregnant, old
  • Hand hygiene
  • PPE
  • Access control: limit public access
  • Traffic flow: direct and indirect contact between
    people, horses, and surfaces
  • Pest management
  • Pasture management
51
Q

notifiable diseases

A
  • Strangles (Streptococcus Equi Equi)
  • West Nile Virus
  • EHV myeloencepalopath
    -anthrax
    -equine infectious anemia EIA
    -rabies
    -trichinellosis
52
Q

Euthanasia

A

-To be humane, euthanasia method must cause immediate unconsciousness
* Can occur under general anesthesia
* Horse must not regain consciousness
* Signs of consciousness:
* Vocalization
* Attempts to rise
* Lifting head
* Blinking
* Response to painful stimulus
* Reflex movements may occur
* Death may take several minutes to occur

53
Q

methods of euthanasia

A
  • Euthanasia should:
  • Be quick
  • Cause minimal pain/stress
  • Cause immediate unconsciousness
  • Methods of euthanasia:
  • Lethal injection (overdose of
    pentobarbital, KCl, MgCl, MgSO4)
  • Intrathecal lidocaine injection
  • Captive bolt (penetrating or followed by pithing)
  • Gun shot
54
Q

pentobarbital

A
  • Barbiturate acting on the CNS
  • binds GABA receptors -> CNS depression
    -inhibits glutamate
    -* Loss of respiration, then
    brain dead in 73-261
    seconds, heartbeat
    stops, brainstem
    reflexes stop, ECG
    activity last to go
  • Controlled substance
  • Toxic to scavengers
  • Use in horses
  • Catheter, 2 long extension sets
  • Sedate
  • Dose: 70-150mg/kg
  • Stand back!
  • Rapid injection
  • Unpredictable reflexes
  • Agonal breaths
  • Caution in compromised horses
55
Q

Potassium Chloride and Magnesium
Salts

A
  • Animal needs to be anesthetized prior to
    injection
  • Not considered humane if administered in a
    conscious animal
  • Powder is dissolved in warm water and rapidly
    injected IV
  • Not a controlled substance, not environmentally toxic
  • KCl: cardiotoxic, colonic spasms
  • 75-150 mg/kg
  • MgCl, MgSO4: suppression of neural activity
  • 2ml/kg saturated solution MgSO4
56
Q

Intrathecal Lidocaine

A
  • 2% lidocaine hydrochloride administered at the atlanto-occipital space under general
    anesthesia
  • Direct anesthetic effect on neural structures
  • Halts brainstem function: breathing stops immediately
  • Loss of brain electrical activity in up to 226 seconds
  • Heart stops in ~10 minutes
  • Lidocaine:
  • Inexpensive
  • readily available
  • drug residues in meat are not toxic to scavengers

steps
* Anesthetize the horse
* AO tap with 18 g spinal needle or catheter stylet
* 30-60 ml of CSF removed prior to injection
* Reduces pressure for ease of injection
* Administer 30-90 ml 2% lidocaine

56
Q

gunshot or captive bolt placement

A
  • Site: just above the point of
    intersection of the lines drawn from
    the medial canthus of the eye to the
    middle of the opposite ear
57
Q

disposal

A

-Burial, landfill, rendering,
cremation, chemical digestion
* Pentobarbitol:
* Carcass is toxic, may not be accepted at rendering facilities
* minimum 6 feet deep burial
* Moving the carcass:
* Towing companies will often

57
Q

confirmation of death

A
  • Death must be confirmed before you can move or leave the horse
  • Absence of movement
  • Absence of auscultable heartbeat and pulse
  • Absence of respiration
  • Fixed and dilated pupil
  • Lack of corneal blink reflex
58
Q

puberty in the mare

A

-starts at 1st ovulation at 12-24 months
-most can become pregnant at 2
-seasonally polyestrous

59
Q

pregnancy in mare

A

-normal gestation: avg 340 days (320-365)
-must become pregnant within 20-30 days to be able to maintain yearly production.
 Singletons (Twins = “Disease”)
 Per cycle conception rates: 60 – 70 %
 Per season pregnancy rates: 80 – 90 %*

60
Q

parturition in the mare

A

 Parturition: Rapid, Very Forceful
 Stage 1: uterine Contraction, Cervical Relaxation
 Stage 2: Fetal Expulsion
 Stage 3: Fetal Membrane Expulsion

61
Q

why horses are used for meat

A

-religious and cultural reasons
-asia and europe have largest market for canadian exports.
-sweet, tender. lean meat. more proein and less fat, cholesterol and sodium than beef.
-more tender in older horses

62
Q

production of horse meat

A

-slaughtered similarly to cattle, under CFIA
-highly regulated
-vet inspects dailey
-registered establishments. 2 in canada

63
Q

saftey of canadian horse meat

A

-tested for drug residues, enviro contaminants and pesticides.
-phenylbutazone is used as euthanasia and there are concerns in meat, causes aplastic anemia in people.

64
Q

export of horse meat

A

-come from feedlots, shipped in and intermediate buyers
-european market: light horse types
-asian markets: draft horse types. off the hoof.
-horse meat has no spongiform encephalopathies.

animal production (7 decks)

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