Evaluation of oxidative stress parameters of horses housed with goats in individual boxes

Abstract

Horses are animals that are affected very quickly by the warnings coming from the environment. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate oxidative stress parameters of horses obtained from saliva analysis related to animal welfare as a result of keeping horses together with goats. While the research was being prepared, three groups were developed based on the time spent sheltering goats and horses. The horses were housed alone in the first and last 15-day groups, and along with the goats in the second 15-day group. In these stages, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) level in saliva were examined. Results showed that MDA and IMA levels decreased, but CAT, GPx, and SOD activities increased. It was concluded that goats had a positive effect on horses according to the oxidative stress parameters examined in terms of animal welfare. However, there is still a need for research that will house horses with various animals in acceptable animal welfare circumstances, analyse their stress metrics, and maintain a high level of welfare.