Physiological responses in horses, donkeys and mules sold at livestock markets

Peer review under responsibility of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University.

Figures & data

Table 1 Carbon dioxide concentration (pCO₂ mmHg) in different equine groups evaluated during 1 and 5 h of holding in a livestock market.

Equids groups	Reference value (RV) Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 1 h Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 5 h Mean ± SE	P-value
Mules (n = 176)	48.67 ± 0.0005^a,1	38.60 ± 0.57^b,5	30.02 ± 0.39^c,4	<0.0001
Donkeys (n = 244)	43.40 ± 0.0008^a,3	40.77 ± 0.36^b,4	33.70 ± 0.91^c,3	<0.0001
Cull horses (n = 466)	41.15 ± 0.0001^b,4	42.14 ± 0.26^a,3	41.02 ± 0.56^b,2	0.0006
Charreria horses (n = 246)	46.52 ± 0.50^b,2	48.35 ± 0.26^a,1	43.53 ± 0.88^c,1	<0.0001
Foals (n = 158)	37.35 ± 0.79^b,5	42.38 ± 0.57^a,3	43.07 ± 0.82^a,1	<0.0001
Ponies (n = 148)	43.35 ± 0.94^a,3	44.88 ± 0.51^a,2	45.00 ± 0.69^a,1	0.2106

^a,b,cLetters in the same row indicate differences among treatments in the same species.

^1,2,3,4Numbers in the same column indicate differences among species in the same treatment. Tukey test (P < 0.05); n, number of animals; SE, standard error. The same animals were sampled at one and five hours.

Table 2 Oxygen concentration (pO₂ mmHg) in different equine groups evaluated during 1 and 5 h of holding in a livestock market.

Equids groups	Reference value (RV) Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 1 h Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 5 h Mean ± SE	P-value
Mules (n = 176)	38.0 ± 0.000b,4	43.42 ± 1.11a,1	42.28 ± 1.04a,1	<0.0001
Donkeys (n = 244)	36.66 ± 0.0004a,5	38.18 ± 1.19a,2	30.97 ± 0.86b,3	<0.0001
Cull horses (n = 466)	39.40 ± 0.001a,2,3	36.59 ± 0.56b,2	36.38 ± 0.92b,2	<0.0001
Charreria horses (n = 246)	40.06 ± 1.19a,2	36.97 ± 0.49b,2	37.60 ± 0.90b,2	0.0168
Foals (n = 158)	44.65 ± 0.81a,1	36.10 ± 1.01b,2	34.82 ± 1.22b,2	<0.0001
Ponies (n = 148)	38.40 ± 1.16a,3,4	35.88 ± 1.20a,2	35.95 ± 1.62a,2	0.3604

^a,b,cLetters in the same row indicate differences among treatments in the same species.

^1,2,3,4Numbers in the same column indicate differences among species in the same treatment. Tukey test (P < 0.05); n, number of animals; SE, standard error. The same animals were sampled at one and five hours.

Table 3 Concentration of blood pH in different equine groups evaluated during 1 and 5 h of holding in a livestock market.

Equids groups	Reference value (RV) Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 1 h Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 5 h Mean ± SE	P-value
Mules (n = 176)	7.32 ± 0.0005^c,4	7.42 ± 0.01^a,1	7.38 ± 0.008^b,1,2	<0.0001
Donkeys (n = 244)	7.38 ± 0.003^a,3	7.38 ± 0.004^a,2	7.35 ± 0.006^b,4	0.0531
Cull horses (n = 466)	7.47 ± 0.0001^a,1	7.43 ± 0.002^b,1	7.40 ± 0.008^c,1	<0.0001
Charreria horses (n = 246)	7.42 ± 0.004^a,2	7.36 ± 0.003^b,3	7.32 ± 0.01^c,5	<0.0001
Foals (n = 158)	7.46 ± 0.014^a,1	7.36 ± 0.008^b,3	7.34 ± 0.011^b,4,5	<0.0001
Ponies (n = 148)	7.41 ± 0.013^a,2	7.37 ± 0.005^b,2,3	7.36 ± 0.007^b,2,3	0.0007

^a,b,cLetters in the same row indicate differences among treatments in the same species.

^1,2,3,4Numbers in the same column indicate differences among species in the same treatment. Tukey test (P < 0.05); n, number of animals; SE, standard error. The same animals were sampled at one and five hours.

Table 4 Bicarbonate concentration (HCO₃⁻) in different equine groups evaluated during 1 and 5 h of holding in a livestock market.

Equids groups	Reference value (RV) Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 1 h Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 5 h Mean ± SE	P-value
Mules (n = 176)	30.10 ± 0.0005^a,2	27.27 ± 0.45^b,4	26.46 ± 0.71^b,2	<0.0001
Donkeys (n = 244)	25.80 ± 0.0001^c,4	27.07 ± 0.37^b,4	28.42 ± 0.74^a,1	<0.0001
Cull horses (n = 466)	22.20 ± 0.0006^b,5	28.19 ± 0.22^a,2,3	22.03 ± 00.42^a,1,2	<0.0001
Charreria horses (n = 246)	30.90 ± 0.28^b,1	31.59 ± 0.16^a,1	27.67 ± 0.46^c,1,2	<0.0001
Foals (n = 158)	26.31 ± 0.64^a,4	27.46 ± 0.49^a,3,4	24.40 ± 0.61^b,3	0.0010
Ponies (n = 148)	27.61 ± 0.65^a,3	28.84 ± 0.41^a,2	24.54 ± 0.58^b,3	<0.0001

^a,b,cLetters in the same row indicate differences among treatments in the same species.

^1,2,3,4Numbers in the same column indicate differences among species in the same treatment. Tukey test (P < 0.05); n, number of animals; SE, standard error.

Table 5 Blood glucose concentration (mg/dL) in different equine groups evaluated during 1 and 5 h of holding in a livestock market.

Equids groups	Reference value (RV) Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 1 h Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 5 h Mean ± SE	P-value
Mules (n = 176)	81.33 ± 0.0005^c,3	123.84 ± 2.48^a,1	104.23 ± 3.53^b,2	<0.0001
Donkeys (n = 244)	68.2 ± 0.0001^c,4	110.59 ± 2.59^b,2	141.40 ± 4.10^a,1	<0.0001
Cull horses (n = 466)	82.48 ± 0.0002^c,3	96.24 ± 1.44^b,3	103.51 ± 2.99^a,2	<0.0001
Charreria horses (n = 246)	92.70 ± 1.49^a,1	91.73 ± 0.94^a,3	78.925 ± 1.40^b,4	<0.0001
Foals (n = 158)	85.27 ± 2.30^b,2	94.75 ± 2.80^a,3	90.15 ± 3.15 ^ab,3	0.0737
Ponies (n = 148)	87.00 ± 1.32 ^ab,2	84.72 ± 1.97^b,4	92.80 ± 1.93^a,3	<0.0001

^a,b,cLetters in the same row indicate differences among treatments in the same species.

^1,2,3,4Numbers in the same column indicate differences among species in the same treatment. Tukey test (P < 0.05); n, number of animals; SE, standard error.

Table 6 Blood lactate concentration (mg/dL in different equine groups evaluated during 1 and 5 h of holding in a livestock market.

Equids groups	Reference value (RV) Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 1 h Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 5 h Mean ± SE	P-value
Mules (n = 176)	4.33 ± 0.0007^c,6	22.01 ± 1.24^b,1	34.05 ± 1.05^a,1	<0.0001
Donkeys (n = 244)	12.90 ± 0.0008^a,3	12.35 ± 0.84^a,3	12.64 ± 0.71^a,4	0.7999
Cull horses (n = 466)	11.25 ± 0.0000^c,4	13.45 ± 0.78^b,3	21.74 ± 2.28^a,3	<0.0001
Charreria horses (n = 246)	6.14 ± 0.89^b,5	7.00 ± 0.32^b,4	10.92 ± 0.93^a,4	0.0001
Foals (n = 158)	16.02 ± 1.00^c,2	24.82 ± 1.17^b,2	29.40 ± 1.39^a,2	<0.0001
Ponies (n = 148)	22.40 ± 1.28^b,1	23.94 ± 0.95^b,2	28.80 ± 1.40^a,2	0.0015

^a,b,cLetters in the same row indicate differences among treatments in the same species.

^1,2,3,4Numbers in the same column indicate differences among species in the same treatment. Tukey test (P < 0.05); n, number of animals; SE, standard error.

Table 7 Percentage of hematocrit in different equine groups evaluated during 1 and 5 h of holding in a livestock market.

Equids groups	Reference value (RV) Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 1 h Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 5 h Mean ± SE	P-value
Mules (n = 176)	32.30 ± 0.0008^b,3	45.54 ± 1.12^a,1	46.20 ± 1.11^a,1	<0.0001
Donkeys (n = 244)	29.50 ± 0.000^a,4	34.0 ± 0.87^a,3	32.23 ± 0.45^a,3	<0.0001
Cull horses (n = 466)	38.17 ± 0.0003^a,1	33.67 ± 0.081^b,3	39.05 ± 0.07^a,2	<0.0001
Charreria horses (n = 246)	36.41 ± 0.77^b,2	44.83 ± 0.84^a,1	44.95 ± 0.91^a,1	<0.0001
Foals (n = 158)	34.70 ± 0.69^b,3	34.28 ± 0.49^b,3	38.15 ± 0.69^a,2	<0.0001
Ponies (n = 148)	36.33 ± 1.34^a,2	38.30 ± 1.02^a,2	37.92 ± 1.33^a,2	0.4950

^a,b,cLetters in the same row indicate differences among treatments in the same species.

^1,2,3,4Numbers in the same column indicate differences among species in the same treatment. Tukey test (P < 0.05); n, number of animals; SE, standard error.

Table 8 Calcium concentration (mmol/L) in different equine groups evaluated during 1 and 5 h of holding in a livestock market.

Equids groups	Reference value (RV) Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 1 h Mean ± SE	Time of remaining 5 h Mean ± SE	P-value
Mules (n = 176)	1.54 ± 0.002^a,3	1.50 ± 0.01^b,1	1.66 ± 0.03^a,1	0.0185
Donkeys (n = 244)	2.78 ± 0.001^a,1	1.48 ± 0.01^b,1	1.46 ± 0.02^b,3	<0.0001
Cull horses (n = 466)	1.29 ± 0.006^b,4	1.41 ± 0.008^a,2	1.57 ± 0.02^a,2	<0.0001
Charreria horses (n = 246)	1.56 ± 0.01^a,2	1.41 ± 0.006^b,2	1.67 ± 0.03^a,1	<0.0001
Foals (n = 158)	1.21 ± 0.02^b,4	1.37 ± 0.01^a,3	1.38 ± 0.02^a,4	<0.0001
Ponies (n = 148)	1.21 ± 0.01^b,4	1.35 ± 0.09^a,3	1.35 ± 0.10^a,4	<0.0001

^a,b,cLetters in the same row indicate differences among treatments in the same species.

^1,2,3,4Numbers in the same column indicate differences among species in the same treatment. Tukey test (P < 0.05); n, number of animals; SE, standard error.