Working horses welfare assessment and their owners perceive in middle and north Darfur states Sudan

Working horses in Low and Middle income countries have a significant impact on people's lives. In spite of their best, the well-being of Sudanese working horses are neglected. There is no information on Sudanese working horse's welfare. The purpose of this study was to investigate working horse welfare and owners' perceptions in two states. A methodology using owner interviews and direct parameters as well as body condition score and gait abnormality was applied. A total of 150 working horses and their owners were assessed (Middle Darfur =100, North Darfur =50). The results revealed that there was a significant difference between the body condition score of horses from the north and middle state, with 34% and 18% being thin, respectively. There was a significant difference (P = 0.040) in nasal discharge, with 24% and 18% of the horses from the north and middle, respectively. Moreover, there was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in dirty coat conditions, appeared in 62% and 33% of the horses from the north and middle, respectively. Horses that had external parasites differed significantly between both regions (P < 0.0001), with 70% and 23% having parasites in the north and middle, respectively. No significant differences were found between the horses from the north and middle state in terms of skin wounds and kicking behavior. We conclude that the northern state suffers from more direct welfare issues than the middle state. However, indirect parameter measures were worse in the middle state than in north. Owner awareness and additional research are required for both states.