Living the "Best Life' or "One Size Fits All'Stakeholder Perceptions of Racehorse Welfare
Living the "Best Life' or "One Size Fits All'Stakeholder Perceptions of Racehorse Welfare
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DOI：
10.3390/ani9040134
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发表时间：
2019-04-01
期刊：
影响因子：
3
通讯作者：
Mullan, Siobhan
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Butler, Deborah;Valenchon, Mathilde;Mullan, Siobhan
英国赛马业利益相关者被要求讨论他们对赛马福利的看法。从与利益攸关方的讨论中，确定了将对福利产生影响的八个不同领域，其中健康是最重要的。有两条线穿过了所有八个确定的区域。这些都是与健康相关的因素和马与人的关系。在他们看来，为了尽可能过上最好的生活，训练中的马应该被视为个人，而一刀切的方法最适合有最低福利标准的生活。与会者强调了赛马在福利方面面临的一些挑战，以及他们看到的任何创新或不寻常的做法。健康被视为福利方面最重要的挑战，也是最具创新性的挑战，例如，专业兽医治疗的持续增长。本研究结果可与实际动物福利证据相结合，产生首个英国赛马福利评估工具。摘要本研究旨在探讨英国赛马业利益相关者对影响赛马福利因素的认知。在英国各地举行了10个焦点小组，共有42名利益相关者参加，他们来自赛马护理领域的各种角色，包括驯马师、马厩工作人员和兽医。参与者参加了三个练习。首先，为了描述最好生活的情景，以及一匹在训练中的马可能遵循的最低福利标准。第二，找出赛马福利面临的主要挑战；第三，回顾他们亲眼目睹的任何改善福利的创新或不寻常做法。利用专题分析，第一次练习产生了八个主题。有助于保持健康和马与人的关系的两个因素贯穿了所有八个主题。在所有主题中，在最低福利标准下生活最好的马被视为个体，而不是一刀切的生活的一部分。健康既被认为是福利的主要挑战，也是对改进兽医治疗等创新做法持开放态度的挑战。在经验丰富的利益相关者的知识和专业知识的指导下，所获得的数据将与实际的动物福利科学相结合，将被用于制定第一个英国赛马福利评估协议。
Simple Summary British horseracing industry stakeholders were asked to discuss their perceptions of racehorse welfare. From the discussions held with stakeholders eight different areas that would have an effect on welfare were pinpointed, with health as the most important. Two strands ran through all eight identified areas. These were health-related factors and the horse-human relationship. In their view, to live the best life' possible a horse in training should be treated as an individual whereas a one size fits all' approach best fitted a life lived where minimum welfare standards were in place. Participants highlighted some of the challenges racehorses face in terms of welfare together with any innovative or uncommon practices they had seen used. Health was seen as the most important challenge to welfare as well as being the most innovative, for instance, the continued growth in specialised veterinary treatments. The results from this study can be combined with practical animal welfare evidence to produce the first British racehorse welfare assessment tool.Abstract The purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions held by British racing industry stakeholders of factors influencing racehorse welfare. Ten focus groups were held across the UK with a total of 42 stakeholders from a range of roles within racehorse care including trainers, stable staff and veterinarians. Participants took part in three exercises. Firstly, to describe the scenarios of a best life' and the minimum welfare standards a horse in training could be living under. Secondly, to identify the main challenges for racehorse welfare and thirdly, to recall any innovative or uncommon practices to improve welfare they had witnessed. Using thematic analysis, eight themes emerged from the first exercise. Two strands, factors that contribute to maintaining health and the horse-human relationship ran through all eight themes. Across all themes horses living the best life' were perceived as being treated as individuals rather than being part of a one size fits all' life when kept under minimum welfare standards. Health was both perceived as the main challenge to welfare as well as one open to innovative practices such as improved veterinary treatments. Data obtained, informed by the knowledge and expertise of experienced stakeholders, combined with practical animal welfare science will be used to develop the first British racehorse welfare assessment protocol.