Assessment on The Welfare Problem and Other Management Constraints of Equines in Debre Birhan Town, Central Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was done from November 2018 to April 2019 in Debre Birhan town, North Shoa zone, central Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to assess the welfare problem and other management constraints of working equine in the study area. A total of 120 working equine were observed for the presence of lesions, lameness, age and body condition score direct from the animal and 130 equine owners were interviewed to get information about feed type, workload and time and type of work. Most equine owners, 74.6%, were fed mixtures of concentrate, cereal, straw and hay. Proportion of working time in a week 43.8% & 35.4% were grouped 3-4 days and 5-7 days respectively and 65.4% work 6-10 hours per day. The body condition score of working equines in the present study area were poor, moderate and good with a percentage of 34.2%, 48% & 25.8%, respectively. The owners practice vaccination (12.3%), deworming (5.4%) & (43.1%) both for prevention and control of equine diseases however 30% of respondents did not practice disease prevention measures. Among the observed equine 54.2%, 25%, and 20.8% were used for pack, draught and ridding respectively. Proportion of working type between donkey (69%), horse (26.3%), and mule (4.6%) were used to pack and donkey and horse used for draught type of work with proportion of 13.3% and 86.7% respectively. On the other hand, according to obtained data horse (28%) and mule (72%) were used to riding type of work whereas donkey was not used to riding purpose in this study area. The common body lesion prevalent in the present study area 17.5%, 15%, 11.5%, and 34.2% at tail base, lip, back sore and lacrimation respectively and 12.5% of equine were lameness (66.7%), 86%, and 83%, Tail base lesions, of back sore, ribs/flank were more associated to work type of pack animal respectively. Draught type of work is likely to induce lip and mouth lesion (50%), and lameness (73.3%). In this study equine had an important value and act as multipurpose animal in the rural and urban society. However, management constraints like feed shortage, lameness, wound, over time working and overloading were found the main challenges hindering the health and welfare of equines. Therefore, further studies and necessary measures should be considered on the diseases and welfare constraints hindering efficient use of equine in the area of paramount importance.