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Topic:Animal Science
Animal Science and horses encompass the study of equine biology, physiology, and management practices aimed at understanding and improving horse health, welfare, and performance. This field integrates various scientific disciplines, including genetics, nutrition, reproduction, and behavior, to address the needs of horses in diverse contexts such as sports, work, and companionship. Research in this area often focuses on optimizing feeding strategies, enhancing breeding programs, and developing effective health management protocols. Additionally, studies explore the genetic factors influencing traits such as athleticism and disease resistance, as well as the impact of environmental and management conditions on horse behavior and welfare. This page gathers peer-reviewed research and scholarly articles that investigate the scientific principles underpinning equine science and their practical applications in horse care and management.
In vivo muscle function vs speed. II. Muscle function trotting up an incline. Different locomotor tasks, such as moving up or down grades or changing speed, require that muscles adjust the amount of work they perform to raise or lower, accelerate or decelerate the animal's center of mass. During level trotting in the horse, the triceps had shortening strains of around 10.6% while the vastus shortened 8.1% during the stance phase. Because of the 250% increase in metabolic rate in horses trotting up a 10% incline which is, presumably, a result of the increased requirement for mechanical work, we hypothesized that muscle strain during trotting would be increased in both th...
Assessment of the welfare of working horses, mules and donkeys, using health and behaviour parameters. Working animals provide an essential transport resource in developing countries worldwide. Many of these animals are owned by poor people and work in harsh environments, so their welfare is a cause for concern. A protocol was developed to assess the welfare of working horses, mules and donkeys in urban and peri-urban areas, using direct observation of health and behaviour parameters. In this study, 4903 animals used for draught, pack and ridden work in Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Jordan and Pakistan were assessed between December 2002 and April 2003. The data showed that donkeys were more likel...
Feeding value of pastures for horses. The feeding value of fresh pasture grazed in situ is determined by animal performance or productivity and could be relatively easily established for growing and lactating horses. Despite this, there is a lack of published information on the relative feeding value of different pastures and forages grazed by horses in New Zealand and the world. In addition, for adult breeding or non-breeding and young or adult sport or performance horses, the definition of feeding value and its determination remain problematic. Limited information suggests that the feeding value of perennial ryegrass-based pastu...
Sperm motility patterns and metabolism in Catalonian donkey semen. The Sperm-Class Analyzer detected four subpopulations of spermatozoa with different motility characteristics in the ejaculate of the Catalonian donkey. Significant differences (P < 0.001) in the distribution of these subpopulations, as well as in total sperm number and percentage total motility, were seen in the diluted semen of four sampled donkeys. All the ejaculates evaluated showed excellent semen quality characteristics; the sperm they contained was more rapid than horse sperm. Principal components analysis showed sperm l-lactate production to be a good predictor of semen condition. This,...
On the difference in stability between horse and sperm whale myoglobins. The work in the literature on apomyoglobin is almost equally divided between horse and sperm whale myoglobins. The two proteins share high homology, show similar folding behavior, and it is often assumed that all folding phenomena found with one protein will also be found with the other. We report data at equilibrium showing that horse myoglobin was 2.1 kcal/mol less stable than sperm whale myoglobin at pH 5.0, and aggregated at high concentrations as measured by gel filtration and analytical ultracentrifugation experiments. The higher stability of sperm whale myoglobin was identified for both...
Using blood urea nitrogen to predict nitrogen excretion and efficiency of nitrogen utilization in cattle, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, and rats. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the potential for using blood urea N concentration to predict urinary N excretion rate, and to develop a mathematical model to estimate important variables of N utilization for several different species of farm animals and for rats. Treatment means (n = 251) from 41 research publications were used to develop mathematical relationships. There was a strong linear relationship between blood urea N concentration (mg/100 mL) and rate of N excretion (g x d(-1) x kg BW(-1)) for all animal species investigated. The N clearance rate of the kidney (L of bloo...
Binding of cellular proteins to the leader RNA of equine arteritis virus. The genome of equine arteritis virus (EAV) produces a 3' coterminal-nested set of six subgenomic (sg) viral RNAs during virus replication cycle, and each set possesses a common leader sequence of 206 nucleotides (nt) in length derived from the 5' end of the viral genome. Given the presence of the leader region within both genomic and sg mRNAs, it is likely to contain cis-acting signals that may interact with cellular or viral proteins for RNA synthesis. Gel mobility shift assays indicated that proteins in Vero cell cytoplasmic extracts formed complexes with the positive (+) and negative (-) st...
Cloned horse pregnancies produced using adult cumulus cells. The objectives of the present study were to: (1) clone horses using adult cumulus cells; and (2) determine whether the cumulus cell donor affected the outcome. In vivo-matured cumulus-oocyte complexes were obtained using transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration; oocytes were used as cytoplasts, whereas cumulus cells (from one of three different mares) were used as donor cells. Immediately following nuclear transfer and activation procedures, cloned embryos were transferred surgically to the oviduct of recipient mares (n = 2-5 embryos per recipient) that had ovulated within 24 h prior...
High pressure flow cytometric sorting damages sperm. Sexing sperm by high-speed flow cytometry subjects them to high pressure. The routine operating pressure of the MoFlo SX flow cytometer for sperm sorting for commercial production has been 50 pounds/square inch (psi), with a standard 70 microm standard nozzle tip. It was hypothesized that lowering the sorting pressure could reduce sperm damage. Therefore, a series of experiments using semen from six bulls, sorted with three MoFlo SX sorters, was conducted to determine optimal pressure. An additional experiment was done with stallion spermatozoa. In Experiment 1, sorting at 30 psi compared to 5...
The improvement of the therapeutic anti-Lachesis muta serum production in horses. The main features associated with pit viper envenomations include the intense local lesions such as oedema, necrosis, acute renal failure and other effects. The severity of these reactions to snakebite depends on the degree of envenomation. Lachesis muta venom (LMV) has weak lethal activity, but due to the large amount often inoculated, the effects are extremely severe and demand anti-venom with a high neutralizing capacity. LMV had the lowest neutralizing antibody induction capacity in horses when compared with that of other venoms. For example, Bothrops anti-venom serum neutralizes 180 times...
[Sequence comparing of mtDNA D-Loop varied region in Chinese Mongolian horse and External Thoroughbred horse]. Mitochondrial DNA D-Loop varied region 400 bp sequence variations in 4 Chinese Mongolian horses and 4 External Thoroughbred horses were analyzed in this experiment. The results showed that the average nucleotide mutational rate of mtDNA D-Loop varied region in 4 Chinese Mongolian horses was 3.69%, while External Thoroughbred horses were 4.00%. Three types of mutations including transition, transversion and deletion were all found in the investigated mtDNA D-Loop regions, of which transition was the most frequent. Nucleotide mutational loci were abundant, length mutations were found and great d...
The role of the extrinsic thoracic limb muscles in equine locomotion. Muscles have two major roles in locomotion: to generate force and to absorb/generate power (do work). Economical force generation is achieved by short-fibred pennate muscle while the maximum power output of a muscle is architecture independent. In this study we tested the hypothesis that there is an anatomical and structural separation between the force-generating anti-gravity muscles and the propulsive (limb/trunk moving) muscles of the equine forelimb. Muscle mass and fascicle length measurements were made on the thoracic limb extrinsic muscles of six fresh horse cadavers. Physiological cros...
A comparison of the intestinal helminth communities of Equidae in Southern Africa. The intestinal helminth communities of 8 horses, 12 donkeys, 21 Hartmann's mountain zebras, and 44 Burchell's zebras were compared using the original data from 6 studies in South Africa and Namibia. Necropsy and worm recovery techniques were comparable between the studies. Sixty helminth species (58 nematode, 1 cestode, and 1 trematode species) were recorded. There were significant differences in the helminth community structures of the 4 Equus species. The helminth communities of the 2 closely related zebra subspecies were most similar, and they jointly shared 7 helminth species with donkeys ...
West Nile virus and North America: an unfolding story. Before the introduction of the West Nile virus (WNV) into the United States of America (USA) in 1999, conditions in North America were ideal for an arboviral epidemic. Such factors as the large, susceptible and non-immune animal and human populations, the presence of competent vectors, increasing international travel and commerce, existing methods for rapid dissemination and an ill-prepared animal and public health infrastructure all combined to create the essential elements for a severe animal and public health crisis--the 'perfect microbial storm'. The introduction of WNV into New York City ...
The presence of myofibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and elastic fibers in the lymphatic collectors of horses. Horses are highly susceptible to lymphedema. Knowledge of the morphological components of lymphatic collectors is therefore essential to understanding the function of the lymphatic system. A better knowledge of the lymphatic system allows the development of more effective treatments against lymphedema. The composition of hypodermal and deep lymphatic collectors was investigated with immunohistochemical staining, using antibodies against proteins of the collector walls from the skin in the hind limbs of 10 healthy horses. Lymphatic collectors can be subdivided into passive (elastic fibers) and ...
Use of dressings and bandages in equine wound management. The use and aims of various wound dressings are discussed. Application and indications in the horse vary according to the type and location of the wound as well as the nature and availability of the dressing material. Coaptation and immobilization are essential to promote healing in certain locations. Techniques used for bandage application in horses are described, with special emphasis on problem areas.
Management of equine hoof injuries. Hoof injuries are common in horses. Some wounds can pose diagnostic and treatment challenges because of the rigid nature of horn,the tissue involved, the deeper underlying structures eventually invaded, or the pattern of healing. By combining knowledge about the anatomy and biomechanical properties of the foot and healing characteristics of the hoof with adapted general principles of wound management, satisfactory clinical outcomes usually result.
High-resolution RH map of horse chromosome 22 reveals a putative ancestral vertebrate chromosome. High-resolution gene maps of individual equine chromosomes are essential to identify genes governing traits of economic importance in the horse. In pursuit of this goal we herein report the generation of a dense map of horse chromosome 22 (ECA22) comprising 83 markers, of which 52 represent specific genes and 31 are microsatellites. The map spans 831 cR over an estimated 64 Mb of physical length of the chromosome, thus providing markers at approximately 770 kb or 10 cR intervals. Overall, the resolution of the map is to date the densest in the horse and is the highest for any of the domesticat...
Osteonal effects on elastic modulus and fatigue life in equine bone. We hypothesized that recently formed, incompletely mineralized, and thus, relatively deformable osteons in the equine third metacarpus enhance in vitro load-controlled fatigue life in two ways. Macroscopically, there is a compliance effect, because reduced tissue elastic modulus diminishes the stress required to reach a given strain. Microscopically, there is a cement line effect, in which new osteons and their cement lines more effectively serve as barriers to crack propagation. We studied 18 4 x 10 x 100 mm beams from the medial, lateral, and dorsal cortices of metacarpal bones from 6 thorou...
Prostaglandins and reproduction in female farm animals. Prostaglandins impact on ovarian, uterine, placental, and pituitary function to regulate reproduction in female livestock. They play important roles in ovulation, luteal function, maternal recognition of pregnancy, implantation, maintenance of gestation, microbial-induced abortion, parturition, postpartum uterine and ovarian infections, and resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity. Prostaglandins have both positive and negative effects on reproduction; they are used to synchronize oestrus, terminate pseudopregnancy in mares, induce parturition, and treat retained placenta, luteinized cysts, ...
Advances in information technology. Advances in digital technology have vastly increased the speed and content of information transfer. Equine practitioners of the future should be in contact with their office and other information resources at all times through an array of digital networks. Patients and practitioners alike should benefit from better information access.
Gene therapy: future therapies in osteoarthritis. The field of equine veterinary practice is in an ever-evolving state, requiring current technologies to be constantly evaluated for new applications. The specific use of gene therapy in the horse is a novel application. The authors want to help familiarize the equine practitioner with the concept of gene therapy, and introduce its use and potential future benefits for the equine industry in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Behavior and misbehavior of the horse. For decades after the discipline of psychiatry had been established as an accepted specialty, many medical schools continued to fail to train their students in the fundamentals of this discipline. Medical students all have at least cursory exposure to psychiatric principles and basic psychology. Unfortunately, the veterinary profession has lagged behind human medicine in this regard. Until recently, veterinary students received no training in animal behavior, and there were no available residencies within our schools for developing board-certified behavioral specialists.
Digital imaging advances and the future. Digitization of clinical data is becoming increasingly important in veterinary medicine. Current veterinary applications range from digital cameras to computed radiography. The opportunity for increased productivity and diagnostic capabilities makes the computerization of veterinary medicine especially exciting. Future trends seem to indicate that more veterinarians should have better technology available in their practices and more veterinarians should be connected to experts, clients, and each other.
