Study: Swiss Pack Mules Handle Strenuous Journeys Well

Researchers say pack mules dealt with the physical and emotional stress of a rigorous five-day journey very well, Here’s what they learned in their study.
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The scientists took regular measurements of the mules’ heart rates, respiratory rates, body temperatures, and fecal cortisol levels to monitor their stress levels over the 5-day journey. | Photo: Courtesy Dr. Conny Herholz
For the first time since 1940, researchers have evaluated the health and welfare of a niche group of equids: pack mules. They’re not true working equids like we see in less-developed parts of Africa, Asia, and South America, allowing their owners to transport goods to market and earn a living. But they’re not true sport or leisure animals, either.

They’re in their own unique sector of active equids—and their welfare has been significantly understudied, said Sina Huwiler, BSc, who’s working under the supervision of professor Conny Herholz, PD, DrMedVet, FTA, Dipl. ECEIM, ATA, at the Bern University of Applied Sciences School of Agricultural, Forest, and Food Sciences (HAFL), in Switzerland.

“Pack mules fall into a sort of scientific desert, often overlooked by researchers,” Huwiler said. “But these animals are used year after year, rented out by their owners to tourists who often have no experience with equids at all. It’s important to explore what’s going on with these pack mules during their trips and how well they fare during the voyage.”

Huwiler and her fellow researcher, Marie Pfammatter, BSc, also a student at HAFL, followed a film crew producing a documentary as they crossed the St. Gotthard Pass (a mountain pass in the Alps that connects northern and southern Switzerland). The crew rented three mules to carry their equipment over a five-day journey. The scientists took regular measurements of the mules’ heart rates, respiratory rates, body temperatures, and fecal cortisol levels to monitor their stress levels. Huwiler presented their findings at the 2018 Swiss Equine Research Day

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Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

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