Health and Welfare Assessment of Working Equine in and Around Nekemte Town, East Wollega Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Across all species, 79.3% of animals had a poor body condition score of less than 2; whereas 48.3% of horses and 29.2% of donkeys were in poor body condition. Skin lesions were observed and compared within species, age group, work type and body condition. Few handlers were known to provide water (10.5%) and feed (20 %) at market or working sites, but no one provided shelter at working sites. 40% of the respondents provided feed for horses once daily while 25%, 24.7% and 10.3% of the respondents provided feed, two, three, or four times daily, respectively. In the current study, we have revealed that equine have an important place and act as multipurpose animal in the rural and urban society. However, management constraints like feed shortage, traditional health care, lameness, wound, overworking, overloading, housing problems and different cruelties on the animal together with the occurrence of trypanosomosis, parasitism, pneumonia, physical injuries, neglect and general maltreatment were prevalent. 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.