Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
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.
Pulmonary-locomotory interactions in exercising dogs and horses. In exercising quadrupeds, limb movement is often coupled with breathing frequency. This finding has lead some investigators to conclude that locomotory forces, associated with foot plant, abdominal visceral displacements or lumbo-sacral flexion, are the primary determinants of airflow generation. Analysis of respiratory muscle electrical activation (EMG) and contraction profiles in chronically instrumented dogs and horses, along with measurements of esophageal pressure (Pes) changes and limb movements, provide evidence that each breath during the exercise hyperpnea is determined by respiratory...
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection of in vitro-matured equine oocytes. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was performed on equine oocytes matured in vitro. The oocytes were aspirated from abattoir ovaries and matured in vitro for 36 h at 38 degrees C. ICSI was performed using frozen/thawed stallion semen after swimup in medium containing human serum albumin. Sperm-injected oocytes were either 1) cultured in vitro for 10, 20, or 72 h; 2) transferred to oviducts of pseudopregnant mice; or 3) transferred to a synchronized mare after initial in vitro culture. The transferred ova were recovered after 72 h, and all ova were subsequently fixed, stained, and process...
Evidence that the alpha-subunit influences the specificity of receptor binding of the equine gonadotrophins. Horse LH/chorionic gonadotrophin (eLH/CG) exhibits, in addition to its normal LH activity, a high FSH activity in all other species tested. Donkey LH/CG (dkLH/CG) also exhibits FSH activity in other species, but about ten times less than the horse hormone. In order to understand the molecular basis of these dual gonadotrophic activities of eLH/CG and dkLH/CG better, we expressed, in COS-7 cells, hybrids between horse and donkey subunits, between horse or donkey alpha-subunit and human CG beta (hCG beta), and also between the porcine alpha-subunit and horse or donkey LH/CG beta. The resultant r...
The effect of dietary protein on reproduction in the mare. I. The composition and evaluation of the digestibility of dietary protein from different sources. Four rations that differed in their crude protein and essential amino-acid content were compiled. Digestibility of the crude protein and essential amino-acid contents were determined biologically in a feeding trial using 4 Anglo-Arab stallions. Their respective daily diets were: Diet 1:2 kg cubes, 5 kg tef hay (Eragrostis tef); Diet 2:2 kg cubes, 5 kg lucerne hay (Medicago sativa); Diet 3:2 kg cubes, 5 kg tef hay, 200 g fishmeal; Diet 4:2 kg cubes, 5 kg lucerne hay, 200 g fishmeal. The concentrations of the amino-acids threonine, iso-leucine, leucine and arginine were increased in the total ra...
The effect of dietary protein on reproduction in the mare. II. Growth of foals, body mass of mares and serum protein concentration of mares during the anovulatory, transitional and pregnant periods. The effect of 4 different diets, in terms of protein quantity and quality, on total serum protein (TSP), albumin and globulin was investigated. Non-pregnant mares that were not lactating (n = 36), pregnant mares that had foaled (n = 24) and their foals (n = 24) were used in this study. Daily total protein intake had no effect on blood protein concentrations in the mares. Total protein intake and quality (available essential amino-acids) did affect the body mass of mares during lactation. When mares were fed the minimum recommended (National Research Council 1989) total daily protein, foal mass...
Airborne dust and aeroallergen concentrations in different sources of feed and bedding for horses. Standardized methods were used to make quantitative and qualitative assessments of respirable dust and aeroallergens in feed and bedding for horses. Concentrations of airborne dust were measured by using a Rion particle counter, and levels of major aeroallergens implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were measured by using an Andersen sampler. Laboratory conditions allowed comparison of the different sources of forage, supplements, and bedding without external influences such as ventilation, external temperature and horse activity affecting the result. Grass silages of approximate...
The effect of dietary protein on reproduction in the mare. III. Ovarian and uterine changes during the anovulatory, transitional and ovulatory periods in the non-pregnant mare. In the main experiment the total daily protein intake and quality (essential amino-acids) was varied in 4 groups of mares. The incidence of oestrus in mares during the transitional period was unaffected by protein nutrition. Ovarian activity, as evaluated by follicular development and size of the ovaries, was affected. Mares that received low-quality protein (Groups 1 and 2) had a higher number of smaller follicles (< 10 mm) that developed during the transitional period compared to mares on a high-quality protein intake (Groups 3 and 4). The mares that received the high quality protein ovulate...
Skeletal muscle histology and biochemistry of an elite sprinter, the African cheetah. To establish a skeletal muscle profile for elite sprinters, we obtained muscle biopsy samples from the vastus lateralis, gastrocnemius and soleus of African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Muscle ultrastructure was characterized by the fiber type composition and mitochondrial volume density of each sample. Maximum enzyme activity, myoglobin content and mixed fiber metabolite content were used to assess the major biochemical pathways. The results demonstrate a preponderance of fast-twitch fibers in the locomotor muscles of cheetahs; 83% of the total number of fibers examined in the vastus laterali...
Stability over situations in temperamental traits of horses as revealed by experimental and scoring approaches. Individual behavioural reactions of adult horses in a variety of experimental tests were compared with ratings by riding teachers. The tests were made in a non working situation, with the animals being released in an arena, a box (arena test, new object test, learning tests) or handled (new object/handling situation). The traits rated by teachers were fearfulness, nervousness, gregariousness and learning abilities at work (ridden or handled). Despite a great homogeneity in the reactions exhibited by the horses in the different situations, large individual differences were present. Correlations...
Inhaled medications and bronchodilator usage in the horse. The advantages of aerosol medications include the direct, topical application to the target organ (airways); rapid effect; and low systemic availability. There are now more efficient methods for aerosol delivery that facilitate the use of increasingly sophisticated aerosol drugs. This article reviews the principles of aerosol deposition and the pharmacology of current medications.
Risk factors associated with musculoskeletal injuries in Australian thoroughbred racehorses. Risk factors for musculoskeletal injury in racing Thoroughbreds were investigated in a case-control study conducted at racetracks administered by the Australian Jockey Club. Univariable analysis of 137 cases from the official Veterinary Surgeon's reports and an equal number of randomly selected controls from the Australian Race Results identified field size, barrier position and class of race as being significantly associated with breakdown (P < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression was then used to investigate the effect of each putative risk factor whilst controlling for all others. Horses at ...
The equine immune response to endometrial cups. Out of all the areas of comparative immunological study in the horse, the field of reproductive immunology has proven to be one of the most fertile and exciting. Maternal immunological interactions with the fetus involve a set of events which prevent maternal rejection of trophoblastic tissue invading the uterus, and at the same time control this invasion to regulate growth and prevent damage to maternal tissues. Unique features of equine placentation make it exceptionally well-suited to studying these immunological interactions.
Comparative morphometry of coxal joint angles. The angles related to the coxal joints were comparatively studied in four-limbed walking animals and two-limbed ones including man and birds. Between animals with both types of walking, no significant difference was observed in the neck-shaft angles (NSA), which was equivalent to the acetabulum angles (ACA) at the connection of the femoral head with the acetabulum. The anteversion angles (AVA) were equivalent to the horizontal ACA. Canine species showed two different forms of the femoral neck with or without modification by the femoral AVA, probably being breed-specific and nutrition-dependent...
Cartilage canals in equine articular/epiphyseal growth cartilage and a possible association with dyschondroplasia. Cartilage canals have been described in most mammals and contain the vascular elements necessary for the maintenance of epiphyseal growth cartilage. The presence and longevity of cartilage canals in developing articular/epiphyseal cartilage of horses is described for the first time. Growth cartilages from 30 normal horses (from 130 days gestation to age 2 years) and 6 cases of dyschondroplasia (age 6 months. Cartilage canals were associated with retained cartilage of dyschondroplastic lesions found in animals age < 15 months. The presence of cartilage canals in association with dyschondrop...
Failure of lipopolysaccharides to directly trigger the chemiluminescence response of isolated equine polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Divergent results have been reported on the effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on the activation of equine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). We therefore attempted to determine whether LPS alone can stimulate equine PMN or whether plasma factors are necessary. PMN were isolated from citrated blood on a discontinuous density gradient of Percoll. The luminol (10(-3) mol/L)-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) of 1.25 x 10(6) cells was measured after addition of Escherichia coli LPS (0.001-10 micrograms/ml) alone or after incubation in autologous plasma (1 h, 37 degrees C). After direct stimulatio...
Measurement of total body water content in horses, using deuterium oxide dilution. To measure total body water (TBW) content in horses, using deuterium oxide (D2O) dilution. Methods: Six 8- to 10-year-old healthy untrained mixed-breed horses, weighing (mean +/-SD) 503.4 +/- 64.0 kg. Methods: After a 12-hour nonfeeding period, 6 horses were given D2O (0.14 g/kg of body weight) via nasogastric tube. Blood samples were collected from a preplaced indwelling jugular vein catheter prior to and 1 to 8, 10, 12, 14, and 24 hours after administration of D2O. Blood samples were centrifuged immediately, and plasma was collected and stored at -70 C until analysis. The D2O content in plas...
An introduction to mammalian interspecific hybrids. Haldane's law states that in interspecific hybrids, it is the heterogametic sex that is likely to be absent, rare, or sterile. In mammals, there is increasing evidence to suggest that this may be due to the high mutation rate of male sex-determining genes on the Y chromosome. The mule, humanity's first successful attempt at genetic engineering, provides some support for this concept. Interspecific hybrids may also shed new light on the importance of the maternal transmission of mitochondrial DNA and the phenomenon of genomic imprinting.
