Progressive habituation to separation alleviates the negative effects of weaning in the mother and foal

Psychoneuroendocrinology
Léa LansadeMarie-Pierre Moisan

Abstract

Early and definitive separation between offspring and their mothers has negative consequences on behavioral and physiological responses. This study compared sudden and definitive weaning (Sudd group, N = 16) and weaning involving progressive habituation to separation using a fence line during the month preceding definitive separation (Prog group, N = 18). The impact of these two methods was assessed in both foals and their mothers through behavioral and biological parameters, including salivary cortisol, telomere length and blood transcriptomes. On the day of definitive separation, Prog foals neighed and trotted less and presented lower cortisol levels than Sudd foals. The weaning type also acted on the foals' personality development; Prog foals became more curious, less fearful and less gregarious than Sudd foals, and the effects remained visible for at least 3 months. In principal component analysis, the Sudd and Prog groups were well separated along a factor where fear, reactivity and gregariousness correlated with high cortisol levels, but curiosity was associated with an increased telomere length and higher expression of genes involved in mitochondrial functions. Progressive weaning was also beneficial in mares. Principal ...Continue Reading

Citations

Aug 31, 2019·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Alice RuetLéa Lansade
Jun 14, 2019·Frontiers in Veterinary Science·Lisa SchanzSara Hintze
Feb 28, 2020·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Séverine HenryMartine Hausberger
Oct 21, 2020·Journal of Equine Veterinary Science·Alice RuetLéa Lansade

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