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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.
Explicit evidence for a missense mutation in exon 4 of SLC45A2 gene causing the pearl coat dilution in horses. Four loci seem responsible for the dilution of the basic coat colours in horse: Dun (D), Silver Dapple (Z), Champagne (CH) and Cream (C). Apart from the current phenotypes ascribed to these loci, pearl has been described as yet another diluted coat colour in this species. To date, this coat colour seems to segregate only in the Iberian breeds Purebred Spanish horse and Lusitano and has also been described in breeds of Iberian origin, such as Quarter Horses and Paint Horse, where it is referred to as the 'Barlink Factor'. This phenotype segregates in an autosomal recessive manner and resembles ...
External mechanical work in the galloping racehorse. Horse locomotion is remarkably economical. Here, we measure external mechanical work of the galloping horse and relate it to published measurements of metabolic cost. Seven Thoroughbred horses were galloped (ridden) over force plates, under a racing surface. Twenty-six full strides of force data were recorded and used to calculate the external mechanical work of galloping. The mean sum of decrements of mechanical energy was -876 J (±280 J) per stride and increments were 2163 J (±538 J) per stride as horses were accelerating. Combination with published values for internal work and metabolic c...
Comparing assignment-based approaches to breed identification within a large set of horses. Considering the extensive data sets and statistical techniques, animal breeding embodies a branch of machine learning that has a constantly increasing impact on breeding. In our study, information regarding the potential of machine learning and data mining within a large set of horses and breeds is presented. The individual assignment methods and factors influencing the success rate of the procedure are compared at the Czech population scale. The fixation index values ranged from 0.057 (HMS1) to 0.144 (HTG6), and the overall genetic differentiation amounted to 8.9% among the breeds. The highes...
Improving Techniques to Study Equine Cervical Mucociliary Clearance. Postbreeding bacterial uterine infections inflict major losses on the equine industry. Microcurrents propelled by ciliated cells between the folds of the uterus and cervix have been proposed as a means by which contaminants are expelled. Previous data have shown possible ciliary microcurrents propelling carbon particles, occasionally rotating, through cervical folds. However, adherence to the epithelium may have interfered with movement of carbon in these studies. Therefore, we tested potentially nonadherent substances to reveal ciliary microcurrents on the equine cervix under high magnificati...
Quantitative genetics of gastrointestinal strongyle burden and associated body condition in feral horses. Variability in host resistance or tolerance to parasites is nearly ubiquitous, and is of key significance in understanding the evolutionary processes shaping host-parasite interactions. While ample research has been conducted on the genetics of parasite burden in livestock, relatively little has been done in free-living populations. Here, we investigate the sources of (co)variation in strongyle nematode faecal egg count (FEC) and body condition in Sable Island horses, a feral population in which parasite burden has previously been shown to negatively correlate with body condition. We used the ...
Nanoparticles in Equine Nutrition: Mechanism of Action and Application as Feed Additives. Several concerns exist regarding horse rearing such as environmental pollution, antibiotics resistance, digestive disorders, mycotoxins contamination of animal feed, gut health management, and improvement of feed efficiency. Nanoparticles have the potential to address these issues and thus could be used as feed additive. Citrate reduces and stabilizes gold nanoparticles, alongside biosynthesized silver nanoparticles have the potential to prolong and improve digestive enzyme activity, which would enhance starch digestibility in the stomach. Zinc oxide and selenium nanoparticles could be used to...
Evaluation of a Novel System for Linear Conformation, Gait, and Personality Trait Scoring and Automatic Ranking of Horses at Breed Shows: A Pilot Study in American Quarter Horses. The study compared results of the traditional horse judging system (T) using subjective grades with those of a novel system of linear scoring (LS) using an application ("Breed Show App"). The horse's quality in relation to the total breeding aim was evaluated based on weighting factors for 57 individual traits commonly regarded in T, thus allowing immediate ranking of the horses. Results were stated as total grade in percent for both systems. One thousand nine hundred nine American Quarter horses were judged at regular breed shows with either T (n = 883), LS (n = 1,026), or both systems (n ...
A natural energy absorbent polymer composite: The equine hoof wall. The equine hoof has been considered as an efficient energy absorption layer that protects the skeletal elements from impact when galloping. In the present study, the hierarchical structure of a fresh equine hoof wall and the energy absorption mechanisms are investigated. Tubules are found embedded in the intertubular matrix forming the hoof wall at the microscale. Both tubules and intertubular areas consist of keratin cells, in which keratin crystalline intermediate filaments (IFs) and amorphous keratin fill the cytoskeletons. Cell sizes, shapes and IF fractions are different between tubular a...
Whole genome sequencing analysis of horse populations inhabiting the Korean Peninsula and Przewalski’s horse. The Jeju horse is an indigenous horse breed in Korea. However, there is a severe lack of genomic studies on Korean horse breeds. The objective of this study was to report genomic characteristics of domestic horse populations that inhabit South Korea (Jeju, Jeju crossbred, and Thoroughbred) and a wild horse breed (Przewalski's horse). Using the equine reference genome assembly (EquCab 2.0), more than ~ 6.5 billion sequence reads were successfully mapped, which generated an average of 40.87-fold coverage throughout the genome. Using these data, we detected a total of 12.88 million SNPs, of w...
Neuroanatomy of the equine brain as revealed by high-field (3Tesla) magnetic-resonance-imaging. In this study, the morphology of the horse brain (Equus caballus) is decribed in detail using high field MRI. The study includes sagittal, dorsal, and transverse T2-weighted images at 0.25 mm resolution at 3 Tesla and 3D models of the brain presenting the external morphology of the brain. Representative gallocyanin stained histological slides of the same brain are presented. The images represent a useful tool for MR image interpretation in horses and may serve as a starting point for further research aiming at in vivo analysis in this species.
Living the ‘Best Life’ or ‘One Size Fits All’-Stakeholder Perceptions of Racehorse Welfare. The purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions held by British racing industry stakeholders of factors influencing racehorse welfare. Ten focus groups were held across the UK with a total of 42 stakeholders from a range of roles within racehorse care including trainers, stable staff and veterinarians. Participants took part in three exercises. Firstly, to describe the scenarios of a 'best life' and the minimum welfare standards a horse in training could be living under. Secondly, to identify the main challenges for racehorse welfare and thirdly, to recall any innovative or uncommon pr...
Are mule pregnancies really longer than equine pregnancies? Comparison between mule and equine pregnancies. In equine management, it is important to predict the approximate foaling date of mares to monitor parturition and allow early identification and intervention of problems during the perinatal period. There are no studies comparing accurate gestational length (GL) when mares are carrying mule foals and no controlled comparisons between GL of mares pregnant with equine or mule foals. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to compare GL of mares pregnant with equine or mule foals and establish normal reference values for GL of mares pregnant with male and female mules. Gestational length of ...
First reports of nasal and traumatic myiasis infection in endangered Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii). Myiasis has great economic and medical importance. However, myiasis in wildlife that is caused by oestroid flies is relatively rarely recorded compared with that in humans and domestic animals. Recently, during our research on the conservation of Przewalski's horse (PH), we observed two new records of oestroid flies parasitizing wildlife in China. The first is the horse nasal bot fly, Rhinoestrus sp. (Diptera: Oestridae), found in a dead PH from Kalamaili Nature Reserve. One morphotype (R. purpureus-like) was identified. The second is the Wohlfahrt's wound myiasis fly, Wohlfahrtia magnifica (S...
Identification of piRNAs and piRNA clusters in the testes of the Mongolian horse. P-element induced wimpy testis-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are essential for testicular development and spermatogenesis in mammals. Comparative analyses of the molecular mechanisms of spermatogenesis among different organisms are therefore dependent on accurate characterizations of piRNAs. At present, little is known of piRNAs in non-model organisms. Here, we characterize piRNAs in the Mongolian horse, a hardy breed that reproduces under extreme circumstances. A thorough understanding of spermatogenesis and reproduction in this breed may provide insights for the improvement of fecundity and repr...
Effects of Overcheck Use on Stress Parameters and Welfare Implications in Driving Horses. Three sequential studies were performed to evaluate the effects of tying horses while wearing overchecks (strap from the bridle to backpad). In an observational study, horses (n = 305) wore high (HC), low (LC), or no overchecks (NC) with frequencies of 29.2%, 51.8% and 19.0% respectively. Study 1 (Latin square, n = 6) consisted of a 90-min tie test (90TT) with treatments (HC, LC, NC) x periods (1-3). Horses wearing HC had higher plasma cortisol (P < 0.01) when compared to LC and NC. Muscle soreness (MSS) and tightness (MTS) were evaluated pre and 24 hr post 90TT and were higher (P <...
Potent inhibitors of equine steroid isomerase EcaGST A3-3. Equine glutathione transferase A3-3 (EcaGST A3-3) belongs to the superfamily of detoxication enzymes found in all higher organisms. However, it is also the most efficient steroid double-bond isomerase known in mammals. Equus ferus caballus shares the steroidogenic pathway with Homo sapiens, which makes the horse a suitable animal model for investigations of human steroidogenesis. Inhibition of the enzyme has potential for treatment of steroid-hormone-dependent disorders. Screening of a library of FDA-approved drugs identified 16 out of 1040 compounds, which at 10 μM concentration afforded at ...
Assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of Levucell SC (Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077) as a feed additive for lambs and horses. Levucell SC is the trade name for a feed additive based on viable cells of a strain . The product is currently authorised for use in feed for horses, lambs, dairy sheep and dairy goats, dairy cows and cattle for fattening. This opinion concerns the renewal of the authorisation of Levucell SC as a zootechnical additive for lambs and horses. is considered by EFSA to be suitable for the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach to establishing safety for the target species, consumers and the environment. The identity of the strain present in the additive was established. Accordingly, this s...
Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Response to Exercise, Twitching, Epinephrine Injection, Substance P Injection, and Prostaglandin-F2α Administration in Mares. Five experiments were performed to test the hypothesis that α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) is secreted in response to various stressors in horses similar to prolactin, growth hormone, and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). There was considerable variation in resting concentrations of MSH and in the degree of stimulation in responders; thus all data sets were tested for heterogeneity of variance and corrected for as needed before analysis. In experiment 1, 12 mares were used in a switchback design to test the effect of a 2-minute exercise bout on MSH secretion. Plasma MSH concentrations were ...
The Origin of a Coastal Indigenous Horse Breed in China Revealed by Genome-Wide SNP Data. The Jinjiang horse is a unique Chinese indigenous horse breed distributed in the southern coastal areas, but the ancestry of Jinjiang horses is not well understood. Here, we used Equine SNP70 Bead Array technology to genotype 301 horses representing 10 Chinese indigenous horse breeds, and we integrated the published genotyped data of 352 individuals from 14 foreign horse breeds to study the relationships between Jinjiang horses and horse breeds from around the world. Principal component analysis (PCA), linkage disequilibrium (LD), runs of homozygosity (ROH) analysis, and ancestry estimating m...
The health enhancer yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in two types of commercial products for animal nutrition. The health enhancer yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) is widely used in diets for different animals. Two main types of SC-based products are commercially available, one containing live yeasts and one containing SC fermentation by-products, which are supposedly not dependent on live yeasts for their physiological effects in vivo. Culture-based techniques were applied to study yeasts in two types of commercial products: a product containing live SC (LSC) and a SC fermentation product (SCFP). Three temperatures (25, 30 and 39°C) and two pH levels (4 and 7) were tested. The product with LSC co...
A model for the dynamics of the parasitic stages of equine cyathostomins. A model was developed to reproduce the dynamics of the parasitic stages of equine cyathostomins. Based on a detailed review of published literature, a deterministic simulation model was constructed using the escalator boxcar-train approach, which allows for fully-overlapping cohorts of worms and approximately normally distributed variations in age/size classes. Key biological features include a declining establishment of ingested infective stage larvae as horses age. Development rates are constant for all the parasitic stages except the encysted early third stage larvae, for which development ...
Hunting for horsepower: what’s in a gallop? discusses research into the power behind a horse's gallop.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in non-camelid domestic mammals. Dromedary camels are natural host of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). However, there are limited studies of MERS-CoV infection of other domestic mammals exposed to infected dromedaries. We expanded our surveillance among camels in Egypt, Tunisia, and Senegal to include other domestic mammalian species in contact with infected camels. A total of 820 sera and 823 nasal swabs from cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, buffaloes, mules, and horses were collected. Swabs were tested using RT-PCR and virus RNA-positive samples were genetically sequenced and phylogenetically analy...
An optimized TaqMan real-time PCR method for authentication of ASINI CORII COLLA (donkey-hide gelatin). In this study, probe/primers of high specificity and sensitivity were selected to analyze donkey-hide gelatin for donkey DNA and to look for horse, ox, and pig DNA as possible adulterants. The mitochondrial CO I genes in donkey, horse, and ox were selected as target sequences for design and synthesis of three pairs of specific probes and primers. In addition, eight pairs of probe/primers were obtained via literature search. Out of these eleven groups of probe/primers, those with the highest specificity and sensitivity were selected, which was fulfilled by the screening firstly with animal hide...
Genetic characteristics of feral Misaki horses based on polymorphisms of microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA. The Misaki horse is a Japanese native horse, known as the "feral horse of Cape Toi". In this study, we acquired the genetic information to establish their studbook, and analyzed their genetic characteristics for conservation. We genotyped 32 microsatellites and a mitochondrial D-loop region in 77 Misaki horses (80.2% of the population). The average number of alleles, observed heterozygosity, and expected heterozygosity were 3.4, 0.509, and 0.497, respectively. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree of individuals was constructed. Moreover, the results suggested that Misaki horses experienced a b...
