Role of Cortisol in Horse’s Welfare and Health

Urszula Sikorska, Małgorzata Maśko (), Anna Ciesielska, Łukasz Zdrojkowski () and Małgorzata Domino
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Urszula Sikorska: Department of Animal Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS–SGGW), 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Małgorzata Maśko: Department of Animal Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS–SGGW), 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Anna Ciesielska: Department of Animal Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS–SGGW), 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Łukasz Zdrojkowski: Department of Large Animal Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS–SGGW), 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Małgorzata Domino: Department of Large Animal Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS–SGGW), 02-787 Warsaw, Poland

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: This review describes the physiological role of cortisol in the horses’ body and the usefulness of cortisol concentration measurements in assessing welfare and diagnosing diseases. Cortisol is examined in terms of its production and functions, along with the concept of circadian cortisol rhythms and potential disruptions in these patterns. The significance of cortisol concentration is emphasized, as it provides insights into stress levels, and the connection between cortisol and stereotypical horse behaviors, raising the question of whether these behaviors signify stress or serve as coping mechanisms. Moreover, cortisol concentration helps in diagnosing various health conditions such as Cushing’s Disease, inflammation, and metabolic imbalances. As cortisol concentration is considered a stress indicator that may be affected by the sampling protocol, the matrices for cortisol sampling and their practical applications are summarized. In this review, three major cortisol sampling methods: plasma, salivary, and hair cortisol, are described in detail. Plasma cortisol measurements offer acute stress insights, while salivary cortisol analysis provides a non-invasive method for continuous stress monitoring. Hair cortisol, on the other hand, offers an assessment of long-term stress levels. This text underscores the importance of cortisol control in safeguarding the welfare and health of horses.

Keywords: hormone; cortisol; glucocorticoid; blood; saliva; hair; stress; welfare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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