Monitoraggio del comportamento e del benessere di asine in Attività e Terapie Assistite con gli Animali (TAA/AAA) simulate

The purpose of this study was (i) to monitor thebehaviour in donkeys, at baseline and after administrationof external stimuli, (ii) to develop a protocolfor the identification and the choice of animalsinvolved in the animal-assisted therapy andactivity (AAT/AAA) and simultaneously (iii) to assesstheir welfare through the determination offaecal cortisol concentrations.The behaviour of 10 female donkeys splitted up inthree groups (A - small sized 5-9 years; B - small size1.5 to 3 years and C - big size 4-15 years) was registeredat baseline and after administration of externalstimuli. The following characteristics were assessed:approach scores 0-5 related to the time betweenadministration and response, exploration, block,attack and escape indicating yes/not the occurrenceof each stimulus. The results were expressed as %frequency. In order to correlate the activities to theanimal welfare, faecal cortisol concentrations beforeeach stimulus and for the next seven days wasdetermined using a RIA kit validated for the horse.The behavioural analysis showed significant responsescorrelated to the most appropriate choiceof animals. Differences in faecal cortisol concentrationbefore and after the administration ofexternal stimuli were statistically significant.The careful assessment and selection of donkeysin according to their specific characteristics arenecessary to develop a protocol assuring the welfareof the animals and allowing them to becomeco-therapists. It also requires the presence of skilledpersonnel as the ‘Animal Welfare Operators’(AWO) which in association with the veterinarian,can help in the choice of animals to employ in assistedactivities and therapies.[...]