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Initial evidence of behavioural paedomorphosis in horses

Initial evidence of behavioural paedomorphosis in horses
Initial evidence of behavioural paedomorphosis in horses
Paedomorphosis is the retention of juvenile morphology at maturity. It can contribute to the generation of evolutionary change. In dogs, behavioural paedomorphosis accompanies morphological paedomorphosis and can have implications for management and welfare of breeds. The current work explores the possibility of the same occurring in horses. When behaviour of three morphologically diverse breeds of horse was compared during controlled trials, social interactions and foraging behaviour showed interesting differences.
Three single breed groups of familiar adult mares (n=4 or n=5 mares in each group) were observed for a minimum of 2 hours (for n=4) under the following seven conditions, according to a Latin Square design: 1. Open Field test; 2. Owner grooming interaction; 3. Unfamiliar person grooming interaction; 4. Introduction of novel object; 5. Foraging behaviour with access to a familiar forage; 6. Foraging behaviour with access to an unfamiliar forage; 7. Presentation of a familiar gelding of the same breed.
In this preliminary trial, the frequency and total number of visual signals varied among the breeds. Arabians, the most morphologically paedomorphic breed identified in a previous report (Goodwin et al. 2008), were observed to exhibit the least visual signals during social and foraging behaviour (n=12). The least morphologically paedomorphic breeds in the current study (Shetland Ponies and Haflingers) exhibited more visual signals during social and foraging behaviour (respectively n=13 and n=14).
The results of this initial investigation suggest that behavioural paedomorphosis accompanies physical paedomorphosis in horses, as has been previously reported in 10 breeds of dog in comparison with the wolf (Goodwin et al. 1997). This may help to inform breed-specific management and training strategies. Comparison with the ancestral horse is confounded by its extinction.
12pp
Mostard, Kelly
00bd3601-a652-4cfa-8f02-5e011e619179
Goodwin, Deborah
6a44fe30-189a-493d-8dcc-3eb8199a12ab
McGreevy, Paul
dd4be87a-9414-41b7-909e-90b8931f4459
Levine, Marsha
2bc45c5f-52f7-45b1-b117-1c904fad6e57
Wendelaar Bonga, S.
66de3344-aa64-4909-bd57-baeca0d2e4b6
Mostard, Kelly
00bd3601-a652-4cfa-8f02-5e011e619179
Goodwin, Deborah
6a44fe30-189a-493d-8dcc-3eb8199a12ab
McGreevy, Paul
dd4be87a-9414-41b7-909e-90b8931f4459
Levine, Marsha
2bc45c5f-52f7-45b1-b117-1c904fad6e57
Wendelaar Bonga, S.
66de3344-aa64-4909-bd57-baeca0d2e4b6

Mostard, Kelly, Goodwin, Deborah, McGreevy, Paul, Levine, Marsha and Wendelaar Bonga, S. (2009) Initial evidence of behavioural paedomorphosis in horses. Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) International Symposium 2009: Darwinian Selection, Selective Breeding and the Welfare of Animals, Bristol, UK. 21 - 22 Jun 2009. 12pp .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Paedomorphosis is the retention of juvenile morphology at maturity. It can contribute to the generation of evolutionary change. In dogs, behavioural paedomorphosis accompanies morphological paedomorphosis and can have implications for management and welfare of breeds. The current work explores the possibility of the same occurring in horses. When behaviour of three morphologically diverse breeds of horse was compared during controlled trials, social interactions and foraging behaviour showed interesting differences.
Three single breed groups of familiar adult mares (n=4 or n=5 mares in each group) were observed for a minimum of 2 hours (for n=4) under the following seven conditions, according to a Latin Square design: 1. Open Field test; 2. Owner grooming interaction; 3. Unfamiliar person grooming interaction; 4. Introduction of novel object; 5. Foraging behaviour with access to a familiar forage; 6. Foraging behaviour with access to an unfamiliar forage; 7. Presentation of a familiar gelding of the same breed.
In this preliminary trial, the frequency and total number of visual signals varied among the breeds. Arabians, the most morphologically paedomorphic breed identified in a previous report (Goodwin et al. 2008), were observed to exhibit the least visual signals during social and foraging behaviour (n=12). The least morphologically paedomorphic breeds in the current study (Shetland Ponies and Haflingers) exhibited more visual signals during social and foraging behaviour (respectively n=13 and n=14).
The results of this initial investigation suggest that behavioural paedomorphosis accompanies physical paedomorphosis in horses, as has been previously reported in 10 breeds of dog in comparison with the wolf (Goodwin et al. 1997). This may help to inform breed-specific management and training strategies. Comparison with the ancestral horse is confounded by its extinction.

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More information

Published date: June 2009
Venue - Dates: Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) International Symposium 2009: Darwinian Selection, Selective Breeding and the Welfare of Animals, Bristol, UK, 2009-06-21 - 2009-06-22

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 67192
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/67192
PURE UUID: cd3f785f-6d48-4205-8bc6-0981b9a5a57a

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 06 Aug 2009
Last modified: 10 Dec 2021 16:14

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Contributors

Author: Kelly Mostard
Author: Deborah Goodwin
Author: Paul McGreevy
Author: Marsha Levine
Author: S. Wendelaar Bonga

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