Research Journal of Veterinary Sciences1819-19082151-786xScience International10.3923/rjvs.2013.1.10BekeleMihreteab GebremichaelBashahun TeshomeMulualem ZelekeWondimu GoshuDesta MengeshaTigist TesfayAlemneh MesfinDaniel 1201361A cross sectional survey was undertaken from March-July, 2011, to evaluate
the general awareness and to assess the most common malpractices towards the
sick horses as part of welfare problem as well as to identify the prospect of
the possible attitudinal change of the community on welfare aspect of their
animals in Jimma town, south west Ethiopia. Semi-structured questionnaire was
developed, pre-tested and administered to one hundred cart-horse owners of various
age, educational status and experiences of keeping horses. Out of the cart horse
owners interviewed, 62% did not have awareness about animal welfare at all whereas
only 38% had the awareness albeit not practicing it appropriately. Keeping sick
animals with the healthy ones, using sick horses for the cart, hot iron branding
as a means of traditional treatment and abandoning the severely sick, were prominent
among the most common delinquencies towards the sick horses. Statistically significant
difference (p<0.05) was observed in the awareness regarding animal welfare
among the diverse educational status as well as between the age groups of the
respondents but not (p>0.05) among those having various experiences of keeping
horses. After the notion of animal welfare has been briefly enlightened to them,
virtually all of the participants supported the idea and displayed their inclination
to practice it. In, conclusion, the study disclosed that there was paucity of
information among the community about animal welfare in general. Hence, education
of the population with regard to awareness creation and application of the principles
of animal welfare in the area is strongly recommended to ameliorate the status
quo.]]>Becerril-Herrera, M., D. Mota-Rojas, I. Guerrero-Legarreta, M. Gonzalez-Lozano and P. Sanchez-Aparicio et al.,2007711121120Biffa, D. and M. Woldemeskel,2006417Bracke, M.B.M.,20092009Bulmer, E. and D. Gil,20087880883Cross, L.,20082008pp: 46-48pp: 46-48CSA.,20102010Dennis, R.L. and H.W. Cheng,20109716719FAO,20092009Fraser, D.,2008113330339Hazard, H.,20082008pp: 17-22pp: 17-22Kay, G.,200729108111Lawrence, A.B., J. Muldoon, N. Lakestani, C.E. Currie and J. Williams,20102010pp: 1015Mekuria, S. and R. Abebe,20102010Messer, N.T.,20082008pp: 2-5pp: 2-5Mota-Rojas, D., H. Orozco-Gregorio, M. Gonzalez-Lozano, P. Roldan-Santiago, R. Martinez-Rodriguez, M. Sanchez-Hernandez and M.E. Trujillo-Ortega,20117568578Mshelia, W.P., Y.J. Atuman, I.I. Onoja and N.D.G. Ibrahim,20103194198Muldoon, J., J. Williams, A. Lawrence, N. Lakestani and C. Currie,20092009OIE,2008Vol. 2, 17th Edn.,pp: 235-319pp: 235-319OIE,20102010OIE,20112011Pritchard, J.C., A.R.S. Barr and H.R. Whay,200638433438Roldan-Santiago, P., M. Gonzalez-Lozano, S.C. Flores-Peinado, D. Camacho-Morfin and M. Concepcion-Mendez et al.,2011612561263Sejian, V., J. Lakritz, T. Ezeji and R. Lal,20116301315Singh, B.R., M. Chauhan, R.K. Sindhu, B.R. Gulati and S.K. Khurana et al.,20105143153Swann, W.J.,2006100148151Umpapol, H., T. Jitrajak, C. Songvicha, P. Tantisirin, R. Hanmontree, J. Sripandon and S. Umpapol,201110229232Unwanted Horses Coalition,20092009Williams, J.M., J. Muldoon and A. Lawrence,2010281215Wilson, R.T.,2003972137