Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Katrina Merkies, Yuliia Sudarenko, Abigail J. Hodder
Summary: This study found that ponies are able to distinguish facial expressions presented by live actors. They prefer to look at angry expressions and tend to use their left eye when facing anger, while they use their right eye when facing joy. Ponies with more experience in lessons have lower heart rates and lower head carriage, but also exhibit more oral behaviors.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Anna Wisniewska, Iwona Janczarek, Izabela Wilk, Ewelina Tkaczyk, Martyna Mierzicka, Christina R. Stanley, Aleksandra Gorecka-Bruzda
Summary: This study found that horses lacking exposure to cattle show fearful responses when confronted with cows, potentially due to neophobia and heterospecific interactions. The horses avoided the proximity of all stimuli, with one cow provoking the strongest response. The cows also elicited stronger cardiac responses than an inanimate object, indicating a potential role of fear and communication in the horses' reactions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Claude Tomberg, Maxime Petagna, Lucy-Anne de Selliers de Moranville
Summary: Using the Equine Facial action coding system, researchers found that horses can express facial micro-expressions in a social context. These micro-expressions may be related to attention and are different from standard facial expressions, potentially serving as social signals between humans and horses.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarah Treby, Samantha P. Grover
Summary: Feral horse populations in the Australian Alps can degrade peatlands, leading to carbon loss and water quality problems. Excluding horses may help reduce carbon loss and improve the overall condition of peatland areas.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Giovanna Marliani, Irene Vannucchi, Irini Kiumurgis, Pier Attilio Accorsi
Summary: This research aimed to evaluate the limitations of applying a spatial judgment bias test in assessing affective states in horses, considering the influence of stress level, personality traits, and the test structure itself. Results showed that personality traits can partially influence horses' cognitive processes, and the spatial nature of the test may not be suitable for horses.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Aleksandra Gorecka-Bruzda, Joanna Jaworska, Christina R. Stanley
Summary: Free-living stallions fulfill their purpose of reproduction and engage in social interactions with other horses. However, only stallions with special characteristics enabling harem formation and long tenure can sire a large number of offspring. The harem leader role is challenging and the welfare of free-living stallions can be compromised by various factors. Understanding the evolutionary pressures that shape stallion behavior highlights the importance of the social environment for captive stallions.
Article
Virology
Livia De Paolis, Chiara Grazia De Ciucis, Simone Peletto, Katia Cappelli, Samanta Mecocci, Tiziana Nervo, Lisa Guardone, Maria Ines Crescio, Daniele Pietrucci, Floriana Fruscione, Federica Gabbianelli, Silvia Turco, Katia Varello, Gian Guido Donato, Cristiana Maurella, Paola Modesto, Maria Grazia Maniaci, Giovanni Chillemi, Alessandro Ghelardi, Elisabetta Razzuoli
Summary: This study reports the presence of Equus caballus Papillomavirus Type 9 (EcPV9) in asymptomatic Italian horses for the first time, contributing to the description of the prevalence of EcPVs in the horse population in Italy.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Victoria Condon, Bethany Wilson, Peter J. S. Fleming, Brooke P. A. Kennedy, Tamara Keeley, Jamie Barwick, Paul McGreevy
Summary: Feral horses in Australia, also known as brumbies, are managed by human intervention. Rehoming of suitable feral horses following passive trapping is widely accepted, but their numbers in the horse market are minimal compared to other cohorts. Further research is needed to determine appropriate target markets and improve the sustainability of rehoming as a management tool.
Article
Fisheries
Peter Raymond Scanes, Adam McSorley, Adrian Dickson
Summary: Feral horses preferentially use aquatic landscape elements, potentially degrading water quality and affecting aquatic ecosystems. Their interactions with streams can lead to increased turbidity, posing a risk to aquatic diversity and ecosystem function, with even low levels of horse presence impacting subalpine waterways.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Virology
Silvia Turco, Federica Gabbianelli, Carla N. Mavian, Daniele Pietrucci, Livia De Paolis, Rodolfo Gialletti, Luca Mechelli, Chiara Grazia De Ciucis, Katia Cappelli, Filippo Dell'Anno, Samanta Mecocci, Gian Guido Donato, Tiziana Nervo, Floriana Fruscione, Maria Ines Crescio, Alessandro Ghelardi, Giovanni Chillemi, Elisabetta Razzuoli
Summary: A novel Equus caballus papillomavirus (EcPV10) was identified during a survey on the fertility status of a mare using Next Generation Sequencing. The virus was confirmed through genome-walking PCR and Sanger sequencing. Preliminary studies suggest a lower incidence of EcPV10 compared to EcPV2 and EcPV9 in the same horse population.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kristin Delank, Sven Reese, Michael Erhard, Anna-Caroline Woehr
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the midterm effects of weaning on foals' welfare by evaluating their behavioral changes and fecal cortisol metabolite levels. Ten foals were observed for three weeks after weaning, and it was found that they displayed a hormonal stress response with increased cortisol metabolite levels. Their body posture distribution also shifted from mainly moving to mainly standing. The foals showed an expected behavioral development and cortisol metabolite changes throughout the study, but it took at least three weeks for them to acclimate to the new situation.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sonali, Anuradha Bhardwaj, Unnati Unnati, Varij Nayan, Ram Avatar Legha, Tarun Kumar Bhattacharya, Yash Pal, Shiv Kumar Giri
Summary: The aim of this study was to identify and characterize novel polymorphisms or SNPs in the DMRT3 gene in Indian horse and donkey breeds. The DMRT3 gene was sequenced and characterized in 72 Indian horses and 33 Indian donkeys, revealing a SNP at position 878 in horses and identical SNPs at positions 878 and 942 in donkeys. These mutations have a major impact on gaitedness in horses and are present at a high frequency in gaited breeds and horses bred for harness racing.
ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Megan Elizabeth Corgan, Temple Grandin, Sarah Matlock
Summary: Horses, as prey animals, exhibit behaviors such as spooking to adapt and survive in their environment. These reactions can be dangerous for both horses and handlers, especially when a horse suddenly startles. Changing the orientation of familiar objects may cause horses to react differently, potentially leading to accidents.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Chantal M. Kapteijn, Thibault Frippiat, Cees van Beckhoven, Hein A. A. van Lith, Nienke Endenburg, Eric Vermetten, T. Bas Rodenburg
Summary: Heart rate monitors can accurately measure heart rate and heart rate variability in horses during groundwork. This study found that the results from the heart rate monitor were comparable to those from electrocardiograms, indicating its usefulness in assessing stress levels during groundwork exercises.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Maggie M. Jones, Cassandra M. Nunez
Summary: Stress levels in male feral horses were investigated under increased social instability caused by female group changes. Surprisingly, the study found that increased social instability did not significantly affect male stress levels, as indicated by cortisol metabolite concentrations in their fecal samples. The findings suggest that feral horses may have some adaptive abilities to cope with such stress.
Article
Plant Sciences
Duarte Mendonca, Sara Luna, Silvia Bettencourt, Maria Susana Lopes, Lisandra Monteiro, Joao Drumonde Neves, Paulo Monjardino, Artur da Camara Machado
ACTA PHYSIOLOGIAE PLANTARUM
(2015)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvia Xavier Bettencourt, Duarte Mendonca, Maria Susana Lopes, Sara Rocha, Paulo Monjardino, Lisandra Monteiro, Artur da Camara Machado
BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMATICS AND ECOLOGY
(2015)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Maria S. Lopes, Duarte Mendonca, Horst Rojer, Veronica Cabral, Silvia X. Bettencourt, Artur da Camara Machado
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2015)
Article
Microbiology
Catarina Drumonde Melo, Sara Luna, Claudia Kruger, Christopher Walker, Duarte Mendonca, Henrique M. A. C. Fonseca, Maria Jaizme-Vega, Artur Camara Machado
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Catarina Drumonde Melo, Christopher Walker, Claudia Kruger, Paulo A. V. Borges, Sara Luna, Duarte Mendonca, Henrique M. A. C. Fonseca, Artur Camara Machado
ANNALS OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Maria Susana Lopes, Ana Rita Azevedo, Duarte Mendonca, Horst Rojer, Veronica Cabral, Franco Ceraolo, Carlos Canto Brum, Bruno Mendes, Artur da Camara Machado
Summary: The Graciosa donkey has been a crucial part of Graciosa Island's agriculture and social activities, but their population has significantly declined. These donkeys are small, strong, and gentle, fully integrated into the island's ecosystem. This study aimed to define their morphotype and assess genetic diversity using microsatellite markers. Despite being polymorphic, low levels of genetic diversity were found. The information obtained from this study will be valuable for conservation and management efforts as the popularity of the Graciosa donkey increases.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
S. Luna, M. S. Lopes, E. Dias, D. Pereira, P. Monjardino, A. da Camara Machado, D. Mendonca
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Robert J Schaefer, Mikkel K Schubert, Ernest K Bailey, Danika L Bannasch, Eric P Barrey, Gila Kahila Bar-Gal, Gottfried J Brem, Samantha A Brooks, Ottmar K Distl, Ruedi K Fries, Carrie J Finno, Vinzenz K Gerber, Bianca K Haase, Vidhya K Jagannathan, Ted K Kalbfleisch, Tosso K Leeb, Gabriella K Lindgren, Maria Susana Lopes, Nuria K Mach, Artur daCamara Machado, James N MacLeod, Annette K McCoy, Julia K Metzger, Cecilia K Penedo, Sagi K Polani, Stefan K Rieder, Imke K Tammen, Jens K Tetens, Georg P Thaller, Andrea P Verini-Supplizi, Claire M Wade, Barbara T Wallner, Ludovic S Orlando, James R Mickelson, Molly E McCue
Article
Ecology
Catarina Drumonde Melo, Sara Luna, Claudia Kruger, Christopher Walker, Duarte Mendonca, Henrique M. A. C. Fonseca, Maria Jaizme-Vega, Artur da Camara Machado
ACTA OECOLOGICA-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2017)
