An investigation of the effect of hesperidin complex and lemon bioflavonoid complex on growth and development of thoroughbred horses.

The research article investigates the effects of a diet supplemented with Hesperidin Complex and Lemon Bioflavonoid Complex (HC/LBC) on the growth and development of thoroughbred horse foals, but found no significant differences due to the diet during the growth or training phases.

Research Methodology

• The researchers conducted an experimental trial with twenty-four foals, split equally between male (colts) and female (fillies).
• This trial spanned over 495 days, with a 342-day growth phase and a 153-day training phase.
• The foals were allocated to receive a test diet that included the HC/LBC compound calculated to account for 55 mg per kilogram of the horse’s body weight per day.

Growth Phase Analysis

• The researchers observed the average daily growth of the foals during the growth phase.
• Colts that received the HC/LBC showed higher average daily gain than the control group fillies.
• When compared with other colts (treated and controlled), the treated colts’ average growth was not significantly different.
• The heights at the withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades of an animal) and knees of the foals were also measured, but there were no significant changes between different treatments during the growth phase.

Training Phase Analysis

• The researchers continued the HC/LBC diet during the training phase.
• The average daily height change for colts was higher than that of fillies, yet these differences were not related to the diet treatment.
• Radiographs of the knee epiphyseal plates (the growing part of the bone) were taken at about 120-day intervals and upon completion of the trial to assess the bone development of the foals.
• Until day 365 of the trial, there were no significant differences between the diet treatments in the radiographs.
• Radiographs taken at the end of the experiment (495 days) indicated a difference favoring the growth of fillies over colts, but this was unrelated to the diet.

Conclusion

• The study indicates that the incorporation of HC/LBC in the diet exhibited no significant effects on the growth and development of the thoroughbred horses during the growing and training phase.