Acknowledgements Book of abstracts - Publicaties - Vlaanderen.be

Becky Whay presents Poster 54 during the poster sessions in the Aula.
Session theme 5: Development and improvement of welfare assessment protocols
126
Poster 54
INDICATORS OF PAIN IN WORKING DONKEYS: EVALUATING
BEHAVIOURAL REPERTOIRE AND CONSISTENCY OF BEHAVIOURS
OVER TIME
F.H. Regan (nee Ashley), A.E. Waterman-Pearson, H.R. Whay
Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford House, North Somerset, BS40
5DU, UK
Donkeys in the Developing World work long hours in harsh conditions and many aspects of their
welfare are routinely compromised. The high prevalence of serious welfare problems indicates
these animals are likely to experience considerable pain. However, signs of pain in donkeys are not
well defined and go largely unrecognized by clinicians and owners.
A behavioural ethogram was developed as the first step in identifying behaviours that may be
indicative of either pain or absence of pain in working donkeys. Step two, as described here, was to
identify which of these behaviours were influenced by gender; time of day; or differed between
days. Future steps include validation through administration of analgesics and association between
observed behaviours and clinical examination.
The frequency and consistency of postural and event behaviours were measured in 21 adult working
donkeys normally used for pulling carts (12 females; 9 males). While held in an observation pen
direct focal sampling measured postural, maintenance, resting, feeding and investigative behaviours
at hourly intervals for ten hours on two consecutive days. A modified avoidance test was used to
score fear behaviour and heart and respiratory rates were also recorded.
Donkeys were consistent in many of the behaviours observed over time both within and between
days. Standing, lying, and rolling behaviours were affected by time of day (p