15th August 2005
A scientific study by the Brooke Hospital for Animals and the University of Bristol Veterinary School in the United Kingdom has revealed that the world’s working horses, donkeys and mules are suffering malnutrition on an appalling scale*. The study’s results are so alarming that the Brooke is now launching a major appeal to help tackle malnutrition.
The study, the largest ever conducted among equine animals, was carried out in five countries, and found that 70% of working equines were either ‘thin’ or ‘very thin’ with horses falling more often into the ‘very thin’ category.
There are an estimated 90 million working equine animals in the developing world**, and with Brooke’s work showing that an average of six people are dependent on each working animal, action to improve nutrition will not only prevent untold animal suffering but will also safeguard the future of millions of people who are dependent on these animals for their livelihoods.
Bill Swann, Brooke’s head of international development and one of the UK's leading vets, said: "Brooke vets are used to seeing working horses and donkeys reduced to skin and bone, so weak that they can barely walk but this study has now revealed the huge scale of the problem. Worryingly, the study also confirmed that thin animals have more skin lesions and wounds, possibly because they have less natural padding to protect them from pressure and friction from their harnesses."
Most owners in the developing world care about their animals and feed their animals but all too often the food lacks the essential mix of nutrients needed for a balanced diet.
The Brooke is tackling the root causes of malnutrition through education, including running animal management training courses where owners can learn more about the best ways to look after their animals. Brooke vets and community workers advise owners to combine three foods, such as barley, maize and bran, with green fodder. They also advise owners to feed their animals from a container or feedbag, instead of the ground, which is not only wasteful but risks contamination from dirt or worm eggs. Such work is already bearing fruit - in Mwea in Kenya, Brooke staff have recently spotted donkey owners carrying ‘packed lunches’ for their donkeys.
Malnourished animals are also treated in Brooke’s clinics and by its mobile veterinary teams. They are given multi-vitamin injections, nutritional and mineral supplements and, if necessary, are cared for in Brooke’s field clinics until they are fit to return to work.
Abdul Matin, a tonga cart driver with a family of ten to support took his horse to the Brooke’s clinic Peshawar, Pakistan, when it became too weak to work. He says: "My horse remained in the clinic for more than one and half months, and was given a whole range of good food. I didn’t think my horse was going to recover, but while it was at the clinic I saw that its health was improving day by day. I pay a big thanks to the Brooke who saved my horse."
Editors Notes:
Malnutrition Appeal - A donation of £16 will buy greed fodder to feed an animal for two months. £22 will pay for a four week course of mineral supplements to strengthen five animals. £40 helps cover the cost of a community animal health worker for more than a month. £50 funds a mobile team for a day. £100 covers the cost of an animal management training group to educate owners on correct care and feeding.
* The research by the Brooke and the University of Bristol Veterinary School has been published: "Pritchard et al 2005, Assessment of the welfare of working horses, mules and donkeys, using health and behavioural parameters. Preventive Veterinary Medicine Vol 69 265-283
** FAO 2003. FAO Statistical Database Website. Food and Agriculture Organisation, Rome, Italy (FAOSTATS: http://apps.fao.org)
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