Abstract
The effect of horse density and trough placement on aphics. latency to drink and the amount of time spent drinking water on-board a semi-trailer were determined. Three experiments using 19, 20, and 24 slaughter-type horses, ranging in body condition scores from 2 to 6, were conducted in hot weather. The horses were deprived of access to feed and water for 4 h prior to and for 8 h during transportation. Transport in a commercial 16-m long, single-deck, open-topped semi-trailer commenced at 1200 h and lasted until 2000 h, followed by a 1 h watering period. In Exp. 1 and 2, the trailer was divided into four 2.4 x 3.6 m compartments into each of which two steel water troughs (25 x 90 cm) were hooked on the inside of the trailer during the watering period. Each compartment contained 4 to 6 horses. The troughs were placed along one side of the trailer in Exp. 1 and placed on opposite corners of each compartment in Exp. 2. In Exp. 3, the trailer was divided into two 2.4 x 7.2 m compartments each containing 12 horses. Two troughs were staggered on the opposite wails of each compartment (four troughs per compartment). Three of the 19 horses were blocked from drinking in Exp. 1, 5 of the 20 horses were blocked from drinking in Exp. 2, and all horses drank in Exp. 3. All horses that drank initiated their first drink within 15 min of water entering the troughs in Exp. 1 and 2 and within 25 min for Exp. 3. Total serum protein, Na, and Cl were not significantly different between Exp. 1 and 2 (p>.52) or between densities (.p>.16). Total serum protein and electrolytes indicated that horses that did drink were not dehydrated following the water period. The larger compartment (2.4 x 7.2 m) and group size (12 horses) in Exp. 3 provided adequate maneuvering room so that all of the horses could get access to water when the water troughs were placed on both sides of a compartment at the rate of .8 m of trough per 2.4 m of wall.
Gibbs, Amy Elizabeth (1999). Effect of animal density and trough placement on drinking behavior and dehydration in slaughter horses. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1999 -THESIS -G53.