Theses and Dissertations

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Browsing Theses and Dissertations by Department "Agribusiness & Agriscience"
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    Evaluation of the Welfare of the Lesson Horse used for Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2016-05-01) Nobbe, Holly ; Spooner, Holly ; Spooner, Holly ; Hoffman, Rhonda ; Brzezicki, Anne ; Agribusiness & Agriscience
    The welfare of horses used in Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) has long been debated due to a lack of agreement in interpreting horse behavior, specifically in response to stress factors. This study was constructed to analyze changes in heart rate to determine if horses experienced identifiable stress responses when used in an EAAT lesson program. Eight healthy, regularly working therapeutic riding horses were randomly selected and monitored on two testing days. Both “stressful” and “relaxed” behavioral observations were recorded during lessons for each subject. Neither stress responses nor relaxed responses were affected by the number of lessons (P > 0.30) or the age of horses (P > 0.38) when horses participated in two lessons in a given day. Horses managed with proper care and well-being practices are well suited to participate in at least two EAAT lessons daily, as minimal stress responses were observed.
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    Exploring Horse Reactivity and Habituation Across Work Types
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2017-04-05) Wires, Chloe Cousineau ; Hoffman, Dr. Rhonda ; Brzezicki, Anne ; Haffner, Dr. John ; Agribusiness & Agriscience
    Previous research indicates horse behavior is affected by level of training, within the same type of work. The purpose of this research was to identify patterns of behavior in horses trained for different types of work. Eighteen adult horses trained for mounted patrol, equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT), or show, were evenly selected into three groups respective to type of work. All horses were individually turned loose in an 18 m diameter round pen and exposed to one of three novel stimuli (fog machine, 5.2 m tall air dancer, paintball gun) having visual and auditory components. For reactivity assessment, each horse was fitted with a heart rate (HR) monitor and Fitbit. Each horse was given a 30 s adjustment period to the round pen. Following the adjustment period, baseline reactivity was measured over an additional 30 s. Exposure to each stimulus was temporarily ceased for 60 s. Exposure to each stimulus resumed and habituation was measured. Heart rate was recorded every 10 s and the Fitbit step count was recorded immediately prior to entering and after exiting the round pen. A mixed model with repeated measures (SAS) was used to analyze effects of work type on heart rate, habituation, and steps. No difference in HR was reported when exposed to the air dancer (P > 0.45). Patrol HR was greater than EAAT (P = 0.023) and Show (P = 0.012) with no difference between EAAT and Show (P = 0.77) when exposed to fog. Patrol HR was greater than EAAT (P = 0.046) and Show (P = 0.027) with no difference between EAAT and Show (P = 0.79) when exposed to the gun. No difference in habituation was reported between work types when exposed to fog (P > 0.43) or gun (P > 0.82). EAAT habituation tended to be greater than Show (P = 0.073) when exposed to the air dancer. No difference in steps was reported when exposed to the air dancer (P > 0.76) or gun (P > 0.77). Patrol steps were greater than EAAT (P = 0.017) and Show (P = 0.014) with no difference between EAAT and Show (P = 0.93) when exposed to fog. These results agree with previous studies while also showing that type of work affects reactivity when exposed to novel stimuli. This study documented reactivity of horses that may be applicable when selecting horses for certain jobs.
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    Influence of long-term furosemide use on bone mineral content, bone metabolism markers, and weight loss in horses
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2016-04-07) Pritchard, Abby ; Spooner, Holly ; Hoffman, Rhonda ; Haffner, John ; Agribusiness & Agriscience
    Furosemide is a diuretic commonly used to reduce the incidence of exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in racehorses. Previous research suggests furosemide negatively influences calcium balance and may have long-term implications for bone health. In this study, furosemide use was evaluated over 56d for effect on bone mineral content (BMC), bone metabolism markers osteocalcin (OC) and pyridinoline cross-links (PYD) and weight loss post administration. No treatment effects were observed for BMC, but there was a period effect across all bone cortices (p<0.0001). OC showed no difference between groups (P=0.26) or days (P=0.25). PYD tended to be lower in FUR (P=0.0584) and exhibited a day effect (P<0.0001). Body weight change indicated day by time (P=0.0001), treatment by time (P<0.0001), and day by treatment (P<0.0001) interactions. While there was no treatment effect on BMC, the trend toward lower PYD in FUR may warrant further investigation with different times and imaging techniques.
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    Spermatogonial stem cell transfer to a mule
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2015-11-01) Smith, Emily Ann ; Haffner, John ; Hoffman, Rhonda ; Spooner, Holly ; Agribusiness & Agriscience
    Spermatogonial stem cell transfer has been studied in various species and suggested potential for success. Bull, stallion, donkey, mule, boar, dog and cat testicles were examined using various injection techniques to determine distribution patterns of injected material most favorable for stem cell transfer. Spermatogonial stem cells were recovered from freshly harvested stallion testicles using enzymatic digestion and filtration and placed in suspension for transplantation. An 18 mo old sexually intact male mule was anesthetized and the stem cell suspension was injected into both testicles in the area below the head of the epididymis. Semen collected from the mule four months post-transplantation contained no spermatozoa. The stem cell transfer was unsuccessful in this case, however further research is needed to determine recipient age of injection to optimize donor cell development.
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    THE EFFECT OF WHOLE BODY VIBRATION ON BONE DENSITY AND OTHER PARAMETERS IN THE EXERCISING HORSE
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2016-05-08) Maher, Kayleigh ; Spooner, Holly ; Hoffman, Rhonda ; Haffner, John ; Agribusiness & Agriscience
    Maintenance of bone density has implications in preventing catastrophic bone failure in the horse, while whole body vibration (WBV) may have an osteogenic effect. It was hypothesized WBV would increase bone density in the exercising horse, with similar changes in markers of bone metabolism. Radiographs of the third metacarpal were taken of a control group (CON, n = 5), and a treatment group that received WBV (VIB, n = 6) to determine bone mineral content (BMC) via radiographic bone aluminum equivalence over a 28 d treatment period, while serum pyridinoline crosslinks (PYD) and plasma osteocalcin (OC) were analyzed throughout. No differences were observed in BMC due to treatment in the medial (P = 0.99), dorsal (P = 0.48), lateral (P = 0.38) or palmar (P = 0.45) cortices nor in PYD (P = 0.95) or OC (P = 0.70). These results suggest WBV had little impact on BMC or bone markers in the exercising horse.