While the welfare effects of weaning are well documented for foals and young from many species, the impact on mares are understudied. Here, we look at whether mare life history (e.g. number of previous foals) and degree of attachment to their foals help explain the varying responses of mares when they are separated from their foals, in order to improve their welfare at weaning

Challenge

Little is known about the potential negative effects of foal separation on mares - important due to the cumulative effects that repeated acute stress can have on mare long-term health and welfare.

Solution

Here, we aim to: 1) to collect pilot data on factors associated with high variation in mare response to weaning (e.g. mare's parity); and, 2) test the hypotheses that differential attachment levels at foaling will modulate maternal responses at weaning. We build on a previous longitudinal study of foal development on Thoroughbreds mares at a Newmarket stud. We use a mix of retrospective (stud records) and prospective (mare and foal behaviour) data collection pre-weaning to calculate an 'attachment index' for each individual mare, to correlate with mare behaviour (e.g. vocalizations, restlessness) at weaning. 

Impact

Our long-term goal is to use this information to propose and evaluate general and bespoke strategies to reduce mare distress at weaning (e.g. weaning mode, foal age at weaning, social support provision for mares). This is important due to potential chronic effects of cumulative stress on mare welfare. This study will increase understanding of factors affecting behavioural variation in mare responses during and after artificial weaning, as well as increase knowledge on the importance of maternal behaviour, and highlight potential effects of mare abnormal repetitive behaviour on the formation of mare-foal attachment. Therefore it'll be of interest to the scientific community (not just equine scientists), equine veterinarians, and equine stakeholders (particularly within the Thoroughbred industry). Also, because of the topic - equine welfare - it will be of interest to the general public.

Partners

Funders: Morris Animal Foundation, Universities Federation for Animal Welfare
co-Investigator: Janne Winther Christensen, Aarhus University