Industry updates / Study into water consumption on race day launched

The Commission has announced the launch of a pilot observational study to assess drinking water consumption by racing greyhounds while kennelled during NSW race meetings.

The Commission is responsible for initiating, implementing and developing policies related to the welfare of greyhounds. One such policy is the Race Day Hydration and Hot Weather Policy which applies throughout the year at all greyhound race meetings conducted in NSW.

This study is designed to enable ongoing assessment and monitoring of the current Race Day Hydration and Hot Weather Policy. Animal ethics approval has been granted to the Commission for the conduct of this study.

The study is a pilot study which will involve observing the drinking water consumption of seventy (70) greyhounds during TAB race meetings held at the Bathurst Greyhound Racing Club. It is anticipated that up to four (4) race meetings at Bathurst will be included in the study.

Greyhounds will be randomly selected for participation in the study from the racing nominations list prior to race day. Enrolment into the study will be voluntary; consent must be granted by each greyhounds’ trainer in order for their dog(s) to be included in the study. Trainers will be contacted by telephone prior to race day to seek their consent.

It is anticipated that this study will have minimal impact on race day operations and will involve the use of trained Commission staff for the purposes of data collection. This will ensure that the integrity of race meeting operations are maintained.

Commission study personnel will not handle any of the greyhounds selected for the study or any water bowls belonging to the greyhounds. The study involves placing water bowls onto a digital scale, before and after racing, to weigh the water and to observe any spillage inside the race kennel. These recordings will be taken by observation only with the assistance of each greyhound’s handler. Up to four (4) Commission study personnel will be in attendance at race meetings during the study in order to collect data. Commission study staff will be located inside the kennels and in the wash-down area during the race meeting.

The study will also include temperature and humidity recordings which will be taken outside the kennels (ambient conditions) and inside the kennels in order to assess any effects of environmental conditions on water consumption. Recordings will be taken using small portable temperature/humidity monitors.

Participating trainers will additionally be surveyed by Commission study personnel in order to obtain data on hydration measures prior to and after racing. The survey is not expected to take more than 2 - 3 minutes.

For further details regarding this research project, please contact Dr Kasia Hunter (GWIC Veterinarian) or Dr Michelle Ledger (GWIC Chief Veterinary Officer) – vets@gwic.nsw.gov.au