Anuario Raza Polo Argentino Anuario2018 | Page 259

detachment lead to a 40% decrease in vocalizations,
also reducing voluntary motor behavior typical of
stressful situations, and showing a difference in
physiological parameters (salivary cortisol and
transcriptome dosage). Additionally, in the last few
weeks a transition ration was put together destined
to manage nutritional stress.
Contact or no Contact during
Physical Separation?
Another study [7] compares two types of weaning.
In the first group, mothers are set 8 km apart from
their offspring, making sure that there is no contact
whatever between them. The second group was
separated by a physical method (fence; electric
wiring) allowing them to see, feel and make certain
contact with each other. The result showed a
lessening of stress in the group that was separated
with contact, which provides an alternative so that
they may get used to it gradually too.
Separation in Isolation or in Pairs
The Houpt et al. [5] study shows what several
authors have suggested about weaning: avoid
isolation and wean in pairs, reaching the conclusion
that in this case foals get less agitated; reduce their
voluntary motor behavior and their vocalizations
are noticeably less frequent. Hoffman et al. [4]
carried out a supplementary study showing that
foals increase aggression among themselves
in this type of management, which becomes
technically an additional stress. In this case it is
important to consider the social relations and
affinity among foals; such precocious stabling is
unusual in our country, but the results obtained are
altered by promoting affinity when choosing pairs,
and of course controlling and intervening when
aggression appears as a result of not having taken
into account this requirement.
Group Separation in the Field
This type of weaning is very frequent in local
productive types. Previous studies have been
carried out mainly in countries where extensive
management is exceptional. In the Heleski et al.
[3] study a comparison is made between weaning
in 1000 m2 fields in groups of three, with that of
individual 13 m2 stalls. The result shows that
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