Application of a wearable GPS unit for examining interindividual distances in a herd of Thoroughbred dams and their foals
نویسندگان
چکیده
Global positioning system (GPS) units are now lightweight and compact. They have proven useful for analyzing the behavioral characteristics of horses in pastures. Because the GPS records data in latitude and longitude, it may be feasible to calculate the distance between GPS units. The present study aimed to confirm the applicability of GPS units in behavioral studies on horses. For this, we analyzed the accuracy of the distances calculated from GPS units using Hubeny's distance formula and of the monthly changes in interindividual distances obtained from GPS units worn by Thoroughbred dams and their foals in a pasture until weaning. The calculated inter-GPS distances were highly accurate. The regression line was linear, and the squared correlation coefficient (r2) was 0.9998. During the first month of age, the interindividual dam-dam and foal-foal distances were significantly greater than the dam-foal distance. During the second month of age, the dam-foal distance increased once and gradually decreased up to the fifth month of age. During the sixth month of age, the dam-foal distance was significantly greater than the foal-foal distance. The GPS distances calculated using Hubeny's distance formula were useful for analyzing changes in interindividual distances in a herd of Thoroughbred dams and their foals. Most likely, calculation of the distance between GPS units worn on equine head collars is likely to become a very useful tool as an objective index for quantifying equine behavioral observations.
منابع مشابه
Growth Rate of Thoroughbred Horses during First Six Months of Life
The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of sex, season and year of birth on growth rate of biometric measurements and body weight gain of Thoroughbred foals during first six months of life. 103 Thoroughbred foals (53 colts and 50 fillies) from Golejewko Stud born between 2006 and 2008, were used in this study. Thoroughbred foals born in winter months were characterized by significantly ...
متن کاملWhite muscle disease in foals: focus on selenium soil content. A case series
BACKGROUND White muscle disease (WMD) is a nutritional myopathy caused by selenium (Se) deficiency. In most soils, Se is present in low concentrations, sometimes even below 0.2 mg/kg, a trend which is seen in many countries. Apart from total soil Se concentrations, soil conditions may be such that the bio-availability of Se is so low that it causes very low uptake in plants which can ultimately...
متن کاملMonitoring distances travelled by horses using GPS tracking collars.
OBJECTIVE The aims of this work were to (1) develop a low-cost equine movement tracking collar based on readily available components, (2) conduct preliminary studies assessing the effects of both paddock size and internal fence design on the movements of domestic horses, with and without foals at foot, and (3) describe distances moved by mares and their foals. Additional monitoring of free-rang...
متن کاملHeritability parameters for some body measurements in Turkish Arabian foals
The aim of the present study was to estimate genetic parameters of body measurements in TurkishArabian foals. Records of wither height, front cannon circumference, heart girth, and body length were usedfor body measurements at birth, 6 months of age, 1-year-old and 2-year-old. Heritability of bodymeasurements of Turkish Arabian foals was estimated by using records of foals sired by stallions wh...
متن کاملThe Investigation and Analysis of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of Wearable Electronic Technologies: A Systematic Review
Introduction: Wearable electronic devices, which are based on Internet of Things (IoT) and big data computing, are able to continuously collect and process the physiological and environmental data and exchange them with other tools, users, and internet networks. Therefore, despite their potential benefits in health monitoring, they can pose serious risks, especially in breach of privacy. Hence...
متن کامل