The document summarizes a study on the prevalence of lameness in indigenous horses in Greater Mymensingh Region, Bangladesh. The study found the overall prevalence of lameness to be 8.57%. Factors like housing, management practices, age and sex were found to significantly affect the prevalence of lameness. Lameness resulted in economic losses for owners, reducing average annual income by approximately 30,000 taka. The study concludes lameness is an important cause of reduced performance in horses and its prevalence is influenced by management and housing conditions.

1. Prevalence of Lameness in Indigenous
Horses of Greater Mymensingh Region
Md. Mossabbir Hossain
16VSJD-01M
Reg. No. 37213
Session: 2010-11
Department of Surgery and Obstetrics
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

2. Supervisor
Prof. Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman
Department of Surgery and Obstetrics
Faculty of Veterinary Science
Bangladesh Agricultural University
Mymensingh-2202
Co-Supervisor
Prof. Dr. Md. Mahmudul Alam

3. Horse is known as beast of burden and used for draught or
pack work to support the livelihoods of low-income people
(Upjohn et al., 2014).
Horse are very sparsely distributed throughout the country
with a noticeable higher density in Sylhet, Mymensingh and
Dhaka region and some elite organization who have been
rearing a small number of exotic horses (Bhuiyan, 2013).
The population of horse in Bangladesh was 45000 in 1969
and increased slowly and reached to 46000 in 1990 (FAO,
1990).

4. In this modern age of science horses are still used for
transportation in rugged mountainous areas and alluvial land
of vulnerable river erosion (Thornton, 2010).
Lameness is one of the major disorders of horse and it has
been reported that 33% of horses are lame in any time during
their life time (Seitzinger et al., 2000, Murray et al., 2010).
The horse is being used as an amusement tool for rural
people and recently it includes placing to race after
harvesting of Boro and Amon paddy (Alam et al., 2015).
Background

5. Largest horse market of Bangladesh Horse as a amusement tool
Working horse in village The horse girl Tasmina in a race

6.  To determine the prevalence of lameness in
indigenous horses.
 To study the management practices of indigenous
horses.
 To estimate the economic impact of foot diseases
on horse rearing households.

7. Chars of Sadar Upazilla of Mymensingh
Sadar Upazilla of Jamalpur district
Madhupur Upazilla of Tangail district
Sample Size
140 Horses
Study Period
From July 2016 to June 2017
Study Area
Data Collection
A cross-sectional study by
Random face to face
interview of farmers with
prepared questionnaire.
Data Analysis
IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0
Materials and Methods

8. Controlling of horses Taking history of horses
Taking history of horses Measuring horse body length

9. Examination of hoof
Housing system of horse

10. Area Stakeholder (%)* Horse population (%)* Lame
Horse (%)*
Preva-
lenceMale Female Total Male Female Total
Chalkshamr
ampur
11.43 (16) 4.29
(06)
15.72 (22) 7.14 (10) 8.57 (12) 15.71 (22) 2.86(4) 18.18
Bartipara
7.14 (10) 2.86
(04)
10.00 (14) 2.86 (04) 7.14(10)
10.00 (14) 2.86 (4)
18.18
Char
Hasadia
10.00 (14) 2.86
(04)
12.86 (18) 2.77 (08) 7.14(10) 12.86 (18) 1.43 (2) 11.11
Ambikagonj 15.71 (22) 1.43 (02) 17.14 (24) 12.86 (18) 4.29 (06) 17.14 (24) - -
Fodiar char 10.00 (14) 1.43 (02) 11.43 (16) 7.14 (10) 4.29 (06) 11.43 (16) 1.43 (2) 12.5
Nandina 15.71 (22) - 15.71 (22) 8.57 (12) 7.14 (10) 15.71 (22) - -
Modhupur 17.14 (24) - 17.14 (24) 7.14 (10) 10.00 (14) 17.14 (24) - -
TOTAL 87.14 (122) 12.86 (18) 140 51.43(72) 48.57(68) 140 8.57 (12) 8.57
Prevalence of horse lameness in Mymensingh region
(*Actual number in parenthesis)
Results

11. Factors Categories Horse
population (%)
Lame horse
(%)
Prevalence (%)
Type of horse
use
Carriage & Load bearing 97.14 (136) 8.57 (12) 8.57
Race/show & Riding 2.86 (04) - -
Total 140 8.57 (12) 8.57
Housing Enclosed tie housing 68.57 (96) * 5.71 (8) 5.71
Open front stables 31.42 (44) * 2.86 (4) 2.86
Total 140 8.57 (12) 8.57
Management
practice
Good 11.43 (16) - -
Fair 27.14 (38) - -
Poor 61.43 (86) 8.57 (12) 8.57
Total 140 8.57 (12) 8.57
Factors affecting prevalence of horse’s lameness
(*Significant relationships between variables exists according to t-test (P<0.05)

12. Factors Categories Horse population (%) Lame horse (%) Prevalence (%)
Age <5 years 41.43 (58) * 1.43 (02) 1.43
> 5 years 58.57 (82) * 7.14 (10) 7.14
Total 140 8.57 (12) 8.57
Sex Male 51.43 (72) * 5.71 (08) 5.71
Female 48.57 (68) * 2.85 (04) 2.86
Total 140 8.57 (12) 8.57
Factors affecting prevalence of horse’s lameness
(*Significant relationships between variables exists according to t-test (P<0.05)

13. Management factors Frequencies Number of Horse (%) Prevalence of lameness (%)
Grouping Single 32.86 (46) * 1 (0.71%)
Group 44.29 (62) 3 (2.14%)
Mixed 22.86 (32) * 8 (5.71%)
Floor type Earth 75.71 (106) * 5 (3.57%)
Concrete - -
Brick 24.29 (34) * 7 (8.00%)
Bedding Present 72.86 (102) 8 (5.71%)
Absent 21.14 (38) 4 (2.86%)
Feed supply Forage 100 (140) 12 (8.57%)
Concentrate 74.29 (104) 10 (7.14%)
Supplement 17.14 (24) 2 (1.43%)
Management practices of horse in greater Mymensingh
(*Significant relationships between variables exists according to t-test (P<0.05)

14. Housing system of the horse of Mymensingh region
33%
44%
23%
Single
Group
Mixed

15. 67%
0%
33%
0%
Recure
Death
discard
sick
Consequences of lameness in horse

16. 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
Average Sound horse Lame horse
Effect of lameness on annual income of owner

17.  The results of this study confirm that lameness is one of
the most important causes of lost performance in horses.
 The prevalence of lameness in horse in the study area was
found 8.57% at the end of the study.
 Management practices and housing arrangement have been
found to significantly affect the lameness prevalence.

18.  Ministry of Science and Technology, People Republic
of Bangladesh
 Honorable Supervisor and Co-Supervisor
 People of the research areas, especially the horse
owner
 Department of Surgery and Obstetrics