Health and Welfare of Working Equids

Working equids comprising of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules play a vital role in global context and are particularly sustaining livelihoods in low and middle income countries of global south. Welfare and health of these species is usually compromised due to the absence of preventative care through vaccination, deworming and hoof care, improper saddlery, lack of balanced feed and fodder, inadequate watering and resting time. The overall population of working equids is gradually decreasing due to rapid urbanization and industrialization leading to increased road network and mechanized means of transport of goods and slaughtering of equids especially donkeys for preparation of traditional medicines. Other emerging issues such as the donkey skin trade industry has decreased populations of working donkeys and presented new challenges for replacing donkeys lost to this cause as well as increasing human work load to replace lost donkeys. Contemporary research, reviews and epidemiological work is required to reassess the health and welfare of equines in global as well as regional contexts along with measuring the pressure of emerging issues from infectious disease to donkey skin trade industry. Other pressures that may be reported include the lack of training or opportunity for veterinary students to practice or learn about working equids specifically species differences and needs (e.g. donkeys vs horses, mules vs donkeys). Also, awareness about the pressure of lack of veterinary supplies and medications may affect how health care is delivered and may be addressed. The awareness created through this work will inform veterinary health professionals, scientists, NGOs, welfare activists, policy makers, politicians and the general public worldwide. This endeavor might ensue improved funding, awareness and policy decisions through cooperation and collaboration of stakeholders for improvement of these animals that are vital for livelihood sustenance globally.Heath and welfare of working equids is to be explored in the contemporary scenario in face of their declining population worldwide and their export for slaughter for preparation of traditional medicines and changing trends in equine meat consumption in different parts of the world. Assessment of reasons for declining populations need scientific evidence. Use of donkey skin for preparation of traditional medicines needs exploration of the extent of donkey numbers exported and slaughtered annually and scientific rebuttal of usefulness for claimed healing efficacy. Working equids in the global south are vital cogs in livelihood sustenance. The scientific assessment of their health and welfare and the associated challenges need scientific documentation. Global studies on working equines shall inform decisions for the improvement of their health and welfare at research, development and policy interventions.This Research Topic will cover working equids all over the world. Epidemiological studies, welfare and health assessments, systematic reviews, and narrative reviews are invited. The following specific themes are listed for reference, however papers related to the broad topic will also be considered.• Welfare of working equids in Global South;• Health and welfare of welfare equids;• Welfare and health assessment protocols for working equids;• Epidemiology of various diseases of working equids;• Human-Working equids relationship;• Equids and tourism;• Management of working equids;• Socio-economics of working equids;• Impact of donkey skin trade industry on working equid populations;• Availability of education and resources (e.g. medications) for health care workers;• Working equid ethology - the missing link. Topic editors: Arvind Sharma, Amy Katherine McLean, Francisco Javier Navas González Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83715/health-and-welfare-of-working-equids