- Email: [email protected]
The welfare of working equids in Mexico
Applied Animal Behaviour Science 59 Ž1998. 19–29
The welfare of working equids in Mexico Aline S. de Aluja
)
International Donkey Protection Trust (IDPT), International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH), UniÕersidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), CP 04510 Mexico, D.F., Mexico
Abstract Horses, mules and donkeys are widely used for many activities by the poor peasants of Mexico. This paper describes working conditions of their equidae. They pull carts and ploughs and carry loads, and people. They are often abused, insufficiently fed and in general neglected. Harnesses and agricultural implements are improvised making efficient work impossible and producing nasty wounds. Measures to improve these conditions are suggested. q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Horses; Mules and donkeys; Mexican subsistence agriculture
1. Introduction Mexico is a country of 1 967 183 km2 with 90 million inhabitants ŽInstituto Nacional de Estadistica, Geografia e Informatica, 1994. and it is expected that by the end of the century there will be 100 million inhabitants. It is estimated that 39 million of the inhabitants live in poverty, 11% are illiterate and a considerable number have not finished primary school. Half of the population does not have access to social security, 40% are malnourished and 10% do not receive regular health care. The distribution of wealth is unequal. In 1992, 54% of the national income was in the hands of 20% of the population while 20% of the poorest citizens only received 4% ŽZedillo, 1995.. Seventyfive percent of the poor people live in rural areas where they own small plots of nonirrigated Žrain fed. land which barely produces the corn the family needs, hence 51% of them live in extreme poverty, whilst rich landowners possess large extensions of fertile and irrigated land ŽCruz, 1994.. )
Departamento de Patologia, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Circuito Exterior srn, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, CP 04510, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. Tel.:rfax: q52-5-622-5958. 0168-1591r98r$19.00 q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII S 0 1 6 8 - 1 5 9 1 Ž 9 8 . 0 0 1 1 7 - 8
20
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
After the Mexican revolution land was distributed among the peasants and communal systems were created Ž‘ejidos’., which in the majority of cases did not turn out to be entirely successful. The big landowners and a few ejidos own machines to work the land. The poor peasant cannot afford these and may use animals for agricultural work if their financial possibilities and the inclination of their plots permit. Many of them however, tend their fields by hand as they used to do before the conquest. Seventyeight percent of the total arable land in Mexico is owned by 82.3% of production units which use animal traction, bullocks, horses and mules ŽCruz, 1994.. Reliable figures on the number of equidae used in agriculture in Mexico are difficult to find and are contradictory. The most recent data published by the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture ŽSecretaria de Agricultura y Recursos Hidraulicos: Direccion General de Economia Agricola, 1981. indicate that 6 134 056 horses, 3 129 438 mules and 3 182 429 donkeys are used. It is not clear, however, whether these numbers refer only to equids used in agriculture or whether they also include others, like all those used for sport, racing, recreation and breeding. The Food and Agricultural Organization published very similar figures in 1993 ŽFood and Agricultural Organization, 1993., probably based on the Ministry of Agricultures information of 1981. These data do not coincide with the much smaller figures recently published by another Mexican government agency ŽInstituto Nacional de Estadistica, Geografia e Informatica, 1994. and which probably have not taken into account all sectors of the population that use or own equids. This paper describes the prevailing conditions of work and the welfare of donkeys, mules and horses owned by the low income sector of the Mexican population.
2. Work and care Horses and mules are generally owned by those peasants who cannot afford machines or must work land which is too difficult for bullocks. The great majority of donkeys are
Fig. 1. A peasant family with their donkeys on the way to a wood market.
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
21
Fig. 2. A loaded cart, pulled by a horse, two mules and a donkey.
owned by peasants who practice what is known as subsistence agriculture ŽAluja and Lopez, 1991; Fig. 1.. If peasants own horses, mules and donkeys, the latter commonly carry the tools to the field, trotting behind the mule or horse. Donkeys can also be seen pulling a plow or a cart together with a horse or mule, which naturally diminishes the efficiency of traction ŽFig. 2.. Other chores equids perform include pulling carts or logs, thrashing and carrying loads and people ŽFigs. 3 and 4.. In cities carts pulled by horses, mules or donkeys are used to transport garbage, old iron, mattresses etc. to be taken to large rubbish dumps or gathering centres ŽFig. 5.. The loads they have to carry or to pull are generally excessive and working hours too long. ŽTables 1 and 2.. Horses and donkeys in Mexico weigh less than their European counterparts ŽTables 1 and 2.. Most of the animals are put to work too young; donkeys frequently start at the age of 18 to 24
Fig. 3. Horse and donkey loaded with wood arriving at the market.
22
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
Fig. 4. Donkey carrying a gas tank.
months to carry loads and horses are already pulling heavy carts and carrying loads at the age of 3 years ŽTable 2.. In rural areas some peasants provide shelter for their animals, others just tie them to a tree or hobble them so that they can only move with difficulty when attempting to find some food. The animals that are used in cities usually are crowded in makeshift stalls inside the house of the owner under very unsanitary conditions. There are of course exceptions and some animals are looked after reasonably well. The food animals receive varies according to the area where they work and depends on the attitude of their owners. In rural areas, during the rainy season they can find enough grass and their condition seems acceptable. During the dry months however, they often look extremely thin. Most owners feed only corn stalk, which has minimal nutritional value, others supplement with grain, mostly corn, especially when the work
Fig. 5. Transport of old iron in Mexico City.
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
23
Table 1 Age and weight of donkeys and loads they carry Age Žyears.
Weight Žkg.
Load Žkg.
Age Žyears.
Weight Žkg.
LoadŽkg.
1.5 1.5 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0
80 171 138 140 134 170 126 120 146 130 130 120 110 140 130 150 100 120 95 154 114 120 140 140 100 46 118
140 100 150 90 100 120 90 186 98 110 110 100 107 55 120 110 121 130 130 110 110 70 110 130 117 80 120
7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 10 11 12 12 12 13 14 16 16 16
136 137 120 126 110 147 160 170 110 116 120 120 160 160 140 126 196 114 155 130 160 116 140 126 130 126 120
110 140 40 126 90 110 140 60 120 140 186 180 80 80 94 90 130 110 140 90 90 90 120 130 110 130 140
Lopez, F. Sex of the animals and duration the loads carried were not determined.
to be performed is heavy. Those around the rubbish dump are let loose after work and will be seen searching for some edibles among the garbage ŽFig. 6.. In general, horses and mules are given better care and food than donkeys.
3. Welfare Federal laws for animal protection do not exist. Twelve of the 32 states of the Republic have issued state laws, but they are mostly not enforced, the excuse being lack of funds to employ personnel for this purpose. For the last 2 years the Ministry of Agriculture together with experts in the different fields have worked on rules and regulations for humane slaughter methods, transport, markets and fairs, etc. some having already been published, but again, as long as there is no official supervision, they only exist on paper. Consequently, at present, very little can be done to prevent abuse and cruelty towards animals. It is often argued that where there is such extreme poverty and
24
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
Table 2 Age, sex and weight of horses and loads they carry Age
Sex
Weight Žkg.
Loads Žkg.
Hrs
3 3 4 4 1r2 5 5 5 5 6 7 8 8 9 9 12 13 15
ŽS. ŽS. ŽS. ŽC. ŽS. ŽM. ŽM. ŽM. ŽC. ŽC. ŽM. ŽM. ŽS. ŽS. ŽC. ŽC. ŽM.
200 250 220 320 250 300 200 300 300 250 300 250 300 300 320 320 250
130 121 120 150 160 72 71 160 167 180 150 148 72 160 169 130 172
1.45 1.30 1.30 2.30 2.00 2.00 1.30 1.30 2.00 2.00 1.30 2.00 2.00 1.30 1.30 1.30 2.00
M s mare; Ssstallion; C s castrated. Weights weight of the animals. Loads weight of the load. Hrss hours they carry the load.
suffering among human beings, one cannot expect people to show interest in the well-being of their animals. In fact, when trying to explain to a poor peasant that he should not abuse his animal the answer may be: ‘these animals came here to suffer, just
Fig. 6. Horses and pigs finding food at the garbage dump near Mexico City.
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
25
as us’. In general, however, most peasants are more considerate to their animals than town people, and do appreciate that without them life would be more difficult. The concept of Animal Welfare is not generally accepted by most of those who produce animals for food or consider them a machine with which to make money. Owners who use them as working force don’t give much thought to the fact that they have needs except to provide a minimum of food. The loads their animals have to carry are excessive ŽTables 1 and 2., the working hours too long, the food insufficient and due to ignorance or negligence, the structure of carts, ploughs and the type of harnesses often make efficient work impossible. Wire, pieces of cloth or cords are used for repairs ŽFig. 7. and in consequence one sees lesions, abrasions, ulcers and abscesses ŽFig. 8., that could quite easily be avoided if the proper implements were used. This is certainly not a question of money, but rather a lack of education, since local materials are often available and could be used to mend halters or girth straps if people were taught how to use them. One of the most upsetting experiences is to watch the transport of equids to slaughter. Old, sick and severely injured animals are acquired by unscrupulous dealers from owners who cannot use them any more. These people travel from village to village and the animals are jammed together into inadequate vehicles and transported for up to 2 or 3 days to markets, where they are unloaded and sold. No food or water is offered to them during transport or while they remain at the market. Ramps do not exist and they are forced to jump out or into the vehicle, even with broken legs ŽFigs. 9 and 10.. To encourage them to do so, they are often severely beaten. They are then finally taken to a slaughter house, a trip that again may take more than a day. Thanks to the insistence of the International Donkey Protection Trust ŽIDPT. and the International League for the Protection of Horses ŽILPH. together with an influential TV commentator one of the worst of these markets is now being modified. Peasants rarely call a veterinarian to see a sick animal, as they cannot afford the fee. Two British organization, the IDPT and the ILPH, have been operating in Mexico for
Fig. 7. Bridles and bits made of cords, wire, old cloth.
26
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
Fig. 8. Lesions along the back of a horse, due to bad harnessing.
the last 11 years in collaboration with the School of Veterinary Medicine of the National University of Mexico. These organizations finance two teams, each consisting of a veterinarian, a farrier and an assistant. The teams go out on a daily basis in two vans ŽFig. 11. equipped with the necessary materials and medicines and assist animals in need free of charge. They work in villages, markets, in the rubbish dump and in those streets of Mexico City where horses, mules and donkeys are used as draft animals to move garbage, old iron, etc. One of the important practices is regular deworming of all animals that can be reached. The veterinarians give talks to the animal owners and also
Fig. 9. Transport of a moribund horse to slaughter from an animal market. The animal is tied to the wall of the truck to prevent it from falling.
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
27
Fig. 10. Horse with open fracture arriving at an animal market where it is sold for slaughter.
to school children in order to explain the benefit of good care for their animals. The Equine Clinic of the Veterinary School sends students out regularly to observe and assist the teams, an experience which fulfils a requirement for Mexican veterinary social service. This enables future veterinarians to get acquainted with the interlinked lives of animals and their owners in rural and poor areas of the country. During the year 1994 the IDPT–ILPH–UNAM have assisted 17 018 equids: 7562 horses, 7537 donkeys and 1919 mules ŽLopez et al., 1995. and the success is very visible. The animals which receive care and treatment and are periodically dewormed
Fig. 11. One of the IDPT–ILPH–UNAM vans working in the countryside.
28
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
Fig. 12. A farrier and a donkey with overgrown hoofs.
are much improved physically and are able to work more efficiently, something that is welcomed and understood by their owners. The principle pathological condition seen are: Skin: lesions due to trauma, dermatitis, Žfly bites., skin tuberculosis Ž M. aÕium. and sarcoids. Locomotor system: tendinitis, arthritis, solar abscess, ringbone, puncture wounds and bursitis. Digestive system: parasitic gastroenteritis and diarrhea. Respiratory system: influenza and glanders. The World Farrier Association, based in the USA, teaches very successful farrier courses once or twice a year in Mexico. By doing so, they help owners to understand the importance of foot care for their animals and provide the possibility of better income to young men in villages ŽFig. 12..
4. Conclusion Through our work in remote villages with the poor peasants of Mexico, it has become very clear that in the rural universe man and animal welfare are closely interlinked and that people who live below the poverty line cannot be expected to give their animals more than minimum care. In Mexico and in many of the Central and South American countries proper opportunities for peasants to learn how to use, train and care for their animals, and how to themselves make the proper harnesses and ploughing equipment, do not exist and are badly needed. This can be partly achieved by radio and television programs, but a more effective remedy would be the formation of training centres in the rural communities. By learning that better and more functional working tools and basic health care increase the
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
29
efficiency of their animals, peasants would raise their own productive capacity and living standard. Their animals would therefore receive the necessary attention and consequently their welfare would automatically improve.
Acknowledgements I am grateful to Drs. Alfredo Lopez Cabanas, Horacio Chavira Sevilla, Miguel Villalba and Francisco Lopez for their help in collecting some of the data. I gratefully acknowledge the support of the International Donkey Protection Trust and the International League for the Protection of Horses, who made my attending the World Veterinary Congress in Japan possible, where this paper was presented. I also thank Miss Katherine Elgar for reviewing the document and Mrs. Isabel Aguilar for her secretarial services.
References de Aluja, A.S., Lopez, F., 1991. Donkeys in Mexico. In: Fielding, D., Pearson, A. ŽEds.., Donkeys, Mules and Horses in Tropical Agriculture. University of Edinburgh, U.K., pp. 1–7. Cruz, L.A., 1994. Traccion Animal en la Agricultura de Mexico. Tesis de Maestria en Ciencias, Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Mexico. Food and Agricultural Organization, 1993. Yearbook. Rome, Italy. Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, Geografia e Informatica ŽINEGI., 1994. Anuario Estadistico de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. Lopez, C.A., Chavira, S.H., de Aluja, A.S., 1995. Actividades de la Clinicas Ambulatorias IDPT–ILPH– UNAM durante Julio de 1994 a Junio de 1995. Vet. Mex. 26, 401–405. Secretaria de Agricultura y Recursos Hidraulicos: Direccion General de Economia Agricola, 1981. Estadistica del Subsector Pecuario en los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. Zedillo, E., 1995. Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 1995. La Jornada, Junio 1, 1995, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
The welfare of working equids in Mexico Aline S. de Aluja
)
International Donkey Protection Trust (IDPT), International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH), UniÕersidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), CP 04510 Mexico, D.F., Mexico
Abstract Horses, mules and donkeys are widely used for many activities by the poor peasants of Mexico. This paper describes working conditions of their equidae. They pull carts and ploughs and carry loads, and people. They are often abused, insufficiently fed and in general neglected. Harnesses and agricultural implements are improvised making efficient work impossible and producing nasty wounds. Measures to improve these conditions are suggested. q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Horses; Mules and donkeys; Mexican subsistence agriculture
1. Introduction Mexico is a country of 1 967 183 km2 with 90 million inhabitants ŽInstituto Nacional de Estadistica, Geografia e Informatica, 1994. and it is expected that by the end of the century there will be 100 million inhabitants. It is estimated that 39 million of the inhabitants live in poverty, 11% are illiterate and a considerable number have not finished primary school. Half of the population does not have access to social security, 40% are malnourished and 10% do not receive regular health care. The distribution of wealth is unequal. In 1992, 54% of the national income was in the hands of 20% of the population while 20% of the poorest citizens only received 4% ŽZedillo, 1995.. Seventyfive percent of the poor people live in rural areas where they own small plots of nonirrigated Žrain fed. land which barely produces the corn the family needs, hence 51% of them live in extreme poverty, whilst rich landowners possess large extensions of fertile and irrigated land ŽCruz, 1994.. )
Departamento de Patologia, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Circuito Exterior srn, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, CP 04510, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. Tel.:rfax: q52-5-622-5958. 0168-1591r98r$19.00 q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII S 0 1 6 8 - 1 5 9 1 Ž 9 8 . 0 0 1 1 7 - 8
20
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
After the Mexican revolution land was distributed among the peasants and communal systems were created Ž‘ejidos’., which in the majority of cases did not turn out to be entirely successful. The big landowners and a few ejidos own machines to work the land. The poor peasant cannot afford these and may use animals for agricultural work if their financial possibilities and the inclination of their plots permit. Many of them however, tend their fields by hand as they used to do before the conquest. Seventyeight percent of the total arable land in Mexico is owned by 82.3% of production units which use animal traction, bullocks, horses and mules ŽCruz, 1994.. Reliable figures on the number of equidae used in agriculture in Mexico are difficult to find and are contradictory. The most recent data published by the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture ŽSecretaria de Agricultura y Recursos Hidraulicos: Direccion General de Economia Agricola, 1981. indicate that 6 134 056 horses, 3 129 438 mules and 3 182 429 donkeys are used. It is not clear, however, whether these numbers refer only to equids used in agriculture or whether they also include others, like all those used for sport, racing, recreation and breeding. The Food and Agricultural Organization published very similar figures in 1993 ŽFood and Agricultural Organization, 1993., probably based on the Ministry of Agricultures information of 1981. These data do not coincide with the much smaller figures recently published by another Mexican government agency ŽInstituto Nacional de Estadistica, Geografia e Informatica, 1994. and which probably have not taken into account all sectors of the population that use or own equids. This paper describes the prevailing conditions of work and the welfare of donkeys, mules and horses owned by the low income sector of the Mexican population.
2. Work and care Horses and mules are generally owned by those peasants who cannot afford machines or must work land which is too difficult for bullocks. The great majority of donkeys are
Fig. 1. A peasant family with their donkeys on the way to a wood market.
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
21
Fig. 2. A loaded cart, pulled by a horse, two mules and a donkey.
owned by peasants who practice what is known as subsistence agriculture ŽAluja and Lopez, 1991; Fig. 1.. If peasants own horses, mules and donkeys, the latter commonly carry the tools to the field, trotting behind the mule or horse. Donkeys can also be seen pulling a plow or a cart together with a horse or mule, which naturally diminishes the efficiency of traction ŽFig. 2.. Other chores equids perform include pulling carts or logs, thrashing and carrying loads and people ŽFigs. 3 and 4.. In cities carts pulled by horses, mules or donkeys are used to transport garbage, old iron, mattresses etc. to be taken to large rubbish dumps or gathering centres ŽFig. 5.. The loads they have to carry or to pull are generally excessive and working hours too long. ŽTables 1 and 2.. Horses and donkeys in Mexico weigh less than their European counterparts ŽTables 1 and 2.. Most of the animals are put to work too young; donkeys frequently start at the age of 18 to 24
Fig. 3. Horse and donkey loaded with wood arriving at the market.
22
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
Fig. 4. Donkey carrying a gas tank.
months to carry loads and horses are already pulling heavy carts and carrying loads at the age of 3 years ŽTable 2.. In rural areas some peasants provide shelter for their animals, others just tie them to a tree or hobble them so that they can only move with difficulty when attempting to find some food. The animals that are used in cities usually are crowded in makeshift stalls inside the house of the owner under very unsanitary conditions. There are of course exceptions and some animals are looked after reasonably well. The food animals receive varies according to the area where they work and depends on the attitude of their owners. In rural areas, during the rainy season they can find enough grass and their condition seems acceptable. During the dry months however, they often look extremely thin. Most owners feed only corn stalk, which has minimal nutritional value, others supplement with grain, mostly corn, especially when the work
Fig. 5. Transport of old iron in Mexico City.
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
23
Table 1 Age and weight of donkeys and loads they carry Age Žyears.
Weight Žkg.
Load Žkg.
Age Žyears.
Weight Žkg.
LoadŽkg.
1.5 1.5 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0
80 171 138 140 134 170 126 120 146 130 130 120 110 140 130 150 100 120 95 154 114 120 140 140 100 46 118
140 100 150 90 100 120 90 186 98 110 110 100 107 55 120 110 121 130 130 110 110 70 110 130 117 80 120
7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 10 11 12 12 12 13 14 16 16 16
136 137 120 126 110 147 160 170 110 116 120 120 160 160 140 126 196 114 155 130 160 116 140 126 130 126 120
110 140 40 126 90 110 140 60 120 140 186 180 80 80 94 90 130 110 140 90 90 90 120 130 110 130 140
Lopez, F. Sex of the animals and duration the loads carried were not determined.
to be performed is heavy. Those around the rubbish dump are let loose after work and will be seen searching for some edibles among the garbage ŽFig. 6.. In general, horses and mules are given better care and food than donkeys.
3. Welfare Federal laws for animal protection do not exist. Twelve of the 32 states of the Republic have issued state laws, but they are mostly not enforced, the excuse being lack of funds to employ personnel for this purpose. For the last 2 years the Ministry of Agriculture together with experts in the different fields have worked on rules and regulations for humane slaughter methods, transport, markets and fairs, etc. some having already been published, but again, as long as there is no official supervision, they only exist on paper. Consequently, at present, very little can be done to prevent abuse and cruelty towards animals. It is often argued that where there is such extreme poverty and
24
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
Table 2 Age, sex and weight of horses and loads they carry Age
Sex
Weight Žkg.
Loads Žkg.
Hrs
3 3 4 4 1r2 5 5 5 5 6 7 8 8 9 9 12 13 15
ŽS. ŽS. ŽS. ŽC. ŽS. ŽM. ŽM. ŽM. ŽC. ŽC. ŽM. ŽM. ŽS. ŽS. ŽC. ŽC. ŽM.
200 250 220 320 250 300 200 300 300 250 300 250 300 300 320 320 250
130 121 120 150 160 72 71 160 167 180 150 148 72 160 169 130 172
1.45 1.30 1.30 2.30 2.00 2.00 1.30 1.30 2.00 2.00 1.30 2.00 2.00 1.30 1.30 1.30 2.00
M s mare; Ssstallion; C s castrated. Weights weight of the animals. Loads weight of the load. Hrss hours they carry the load.
suffering among human beings, one cannot expect people to show interest in the well-being of their animals. In fact, when trying to explain to a poor peasant that he should not abuse his animal the answer may be: ‘these animals came here to suffer, just
Fig. 6. Horses and pigs finding food at the garbage dump near Mexico City.
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
25
as us’. In general, however, most peasants are more considerate to their animals than town people, and do appreciate that without them life would be more difficult. The concept of Animal Welfare is not generally accepted by most of those who produce animals for food or consider them a machine with which to make money. Owners who use them as working force don’t give much thought to the fact that they have needs except to provide a minimum of food. The loads their animals have to carry are excessive ŽTables 1 and 2., the working hours too long, the food insufficient and due to ignorance or negligence, the structure of carts, ploughs and the type of harnesses often make efficient work impossible. Wire, pieces of cloth or cords are used for repairs ŽFig. 7. and in consequence one sees lesions, abrasions, ulcers and abscesses ŽFig. 8., that could quite easily be avoided if the proper implements were used. This is certainly not a question of money, but rather a lack of education, since local materials are often available and could be used to mend halters or girth straps if people were taught how to use them. One of the most upsetting experiences is to watch the transport of equids to slaughter. Old, sick and severely injured animals are acquired by unscrupulous dealers from owners who cannot use them any more. These people travel from village to village and the animals are jammed together into inadequate vehicles and transported for up to 2 or 3 days to markets, where they are unloaded and sold. No food or water is offered to them during transport or while they remain at the market. Ramps do not exist and they are forced to jump out or into the vehicle, even with broken legs ŽFigs. 9 and 10.. To encourage them to do so, they are often severely beaten. They are then finally taken to a slaughter house, a trip that again may take more than a day. Thanks to the insistence of the International Donkey Protection Trust ŽIDPT. and the International League for the Protection of Horses ŽILPH. together with an influential TV commentator one of the worst of these markets is now being modified. Peasants rarely call a veterinarian to see a sick animal, as they cannot afford the fee. Two British organization, the IDPT and the ILPH, have been operating in Mexico for
Fig. 7. Bridles and bits made of cords, wire, old cloth.
26
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
Fig. 8. Lesions along the back of a horse, due to bad harnessing.
the last 11 years in collaboration with the School of Veterinary Medicine of the National University of Mexico. These organizations finance two teams, each consisting of a veterinarian, a farrier and an assistant. The teams go out on a daily basis in two vans ŽFig. 11. equipped with the necessary materials and medicines and assist animals in need free of charge. They work in villages, markets, in the rubbish dump and in those streets of Mexico City where horses, mules and donkeys are used as draft animals to move garbage, old iron, etc. One of the important practices is regular deworming of all animals that can be reached. The veterinarians give talks to the animal owners and also
Fig. 9. Transport of a moribund horse to slaughter from an animal market. The animal is tied to the wall of the truck to prevent it from falling.
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
27
Fig. 10. Horse with open fracture arriving at an animal market where it is sold for slaughter.
to school children in order to explain the benefit of good care for their animals. The Equine Clinic of the Veterinary School sends students out regularly to observe and assist the teams, an experience which fulfils a requirement for Mexican veterinary social service. This enables future veterinarians to get acquainted with the interlinked lives of animals and their owners in rural and poor areas of the country. During the year 1994 the IDPT–ILPH–UNAM have assisted 17 018 equids: 7562 horses, 7537 donkeys and 1919 mules ŽLopez et al., 1995. and the success is very visible. The animals which receive care and treatment and are periodically dewormed
Fig. 11. One of the IDPT–ILPH–UNAM vans working in the countryside.
28
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
Fig. 12. A farrier and a donkey with overgrown hoofs.
are much improved physically and are able to work more efficiently, something that is welcomed and understood by their owners. The principle pathological condition seen are: Skin: lesions due to trauma, dermatitis, Žfly bites., skin tuberculosis Ž M. aÕium. and sarcoids. Locomotor system: tendinitis, arthritis, solar abscess, ringbone, puncture wounds and bursitis. Digestive system: parasitic gastroenteritis and diarrhea. Respiratory system: influenza and glanders. The World Farrier Association, based in the USA, teaches very successful farrier courses once or twice a year in Mexico. By doing so, they help owners to understand the importance of foot care for their animals and provide the possibility of better income to young men in villages ŽFig. 12..
4. Conclusion Through our work in remote villages with the poor peasants of Mexico, it has become very clear that in the rural universe man and animal welfare are closely interlinked and that people who live below the poverty line cannot be expected to give their animals more than minimum care. In Mexico and in many of the Central and South American countries proper opportunities for peasants to learn how to use, train and care for their animals, and how to themselves make the proper harnesses and ploughing equipment, do not exist and are badly needed. This can be partly achieved by radio and television programs, but a more effective remedy would be the formation of training centres in the rural communities. By learning that better and more functional working tools and basic health care increase the
A.S. de Aluja r Applied Animal BehaÕiour Science 59 (1998) 19–29
29
efficiency of their animals, peasants would raise their own productive capacity and living standard. Their animals would therefore receive the necessary attention and consequently their welfare would automatically improve.
Acknowledgements I am grateful to Drs. Alfredo Lopez Cabanas, Horacio Chavira Sevilla, Miguel Villalba and Francisco Lopez for their help in collecting some of the data. I gratefully acknowledge the support of the International Donkey Protection Trust and the International League for the Protection of Horses, who made my attending the World Veterinary Congress in Japan possible, where this paper was presented. I also thank Miss Katherine Elgar for reviewing the document and Mrs. Isabel Aguilar for her secretarial services.
References de Aluja, A.S., Lopez, F., 1991. Donkeys in Mexico. In: Fielding, D., Pearson, A. ŽEds.., Donkeys, Mules and Horses in Tropical Agriculture. University of Edinburgh, U.K., pp. 1–7. Cruz, L.A., 1994. Traccion Animal en la Agricultura de Mexico. Tesis de Maestria en Ciencias, Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Mexico. Food and Agricultural Organization, 1993. Yearbook. Rome, Italy. Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, Geografia e Informatica ŽINEGI., 1994. Anuario Estadistico de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. Lopez, C.A., Chavira, S.H., de Aluja, A.S., 1995. Actividades de la Clinicas Ambulatorias IDPT–ILPH– UNAM durante Julio de 1994 a Junio de 1995. Vet. Mex. 26, 401–405. Secretaria de Agricultura y Recursos Hidraulicos: Direccion General de Economia Agricola, 1981. Estadistica del Subsector Pecuario en los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Mexico, D.F., Mexico. Zedillo, E., 1995. Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 1995. La Jornada, Junio 1, 1995, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.