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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Equine Sci / Comparison of physical body growth and metabolic and reprodu...
Journal of equine science2017; 28(3); 77-86; doi: 10.1294/jes.28.77

Comparison of physical body growth and metabolic and reproductive endocrine functions between north and south climates of Japan in trained Thoroughbred yearling horses.

Abstract: This study aimed to compare body growth, metabolic, and reproductive hormonal changes in trained Thoroughbred yearling horses under different climate conditions with and without light supplementation (LS). Thoroughbred yearlings raised at research centers of the Japan Racing Association in Hokkaido (north) or Miyazaki (south) were divided into control and LS groups. In the LS groups, 44 colts and 47 fillies from Hokkaido and 11 colts and 11 fillies from Miyazaki were exposed to LS with an extended photoperiod of 14.5 hr of daylight and 9.5 hr of darkness. One week before and once a month after LS, circulating total thyroxine (T4), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1), prolactin (PRL), cortisol, and progesterone (P4) concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay and fluoroimmunoassay, respectively. Growth parameters, including body weight, height, girth, and cannon bone circumferences, were measured monthly. Hair coat (HC) condition was scored. Under natural conditions, the T4 concentrations of Hokkaido yearlings tended to be higher, whereas the IGF-1 (colt) and PRL levels were significantly lower than those of yearlings in Miyazaki. Growth parameters and HC scores were lower in Hokkaido yearlings. With LS, the PRL and P4 concentrations in Hokkaido and Miyazaki were higher, and the first ovarian activity tended to be earlier than in the controls. Only LS Hokkaido yearlings showed significantly higher HC scores than the controls. Comparing the different climates among the LS yearlings, the levels of PRL and P4 and the HC scores in Hokkaido yearlings increased and reached levels similar to those in Miyazaki yearlings. The body weight and girth increment percentages of Hokkaido yearlings in January dramatically decreased and then eventually increased to levels similar to those of Miyazaki yearlings. This suggested that yearlings in naturally colder Hokkaido exhibit higher basal metabolism to maintain homeostasis. However, providing LS may help to improve growth and early development of reproductive function in Hokkaido yearlings to levels equal to those of Miyazaki horses.
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Publication Date: 2017-09-20 PubMed ID: 28955159PubMed Central: PMC5608960DOI: 10.1294/jes.28.77Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research studied the impact of varying climates (north and south of Japan), and light supplementation on the physical growth, metabolism, and reproductive hormones of trained Thoroughbred yearling horses.

Methods and Materials

  • The research included Thoroughbred yearlings from the Japan Racing Association centers based in Hokkaido (north) and Miyazaki (south).
  • These horses were divided into two groups – control and light supplementation (LS) groups.
  • The LS groups, which included 44 colts and 47 fillies from Hokkaido and 11 colts and 11 fillies from Miyazaki, were exposed to an extended photoperiod of 14.5 hours of daylight and 9.5 hours of darkness.
  • The researchers measured several key factors like circulating total thyroxine (T4), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1), prolactin (PRL), cortisol, and progesterone (P4) concentrations using radioimmunoassay and fluoroimmunoassay. These measurements were taken a week before and once a month after the LS was introduced.
  • Growth parameters like body weight, height, girth, and cannon bone circumferences were recorded on a monthly basis.
  • The condition of the horse’s hair coat (HC) was also rated and recorded.

Results

  • The findings revealed that under natural conditions, T4 concentrations were relatively higher in Hokkaido yearlings, while the colts’ IGF-1 and PRL levels were significantly lower compared to Miyazaki yearlings.
  • Growth parameters and HC scores were seen to be lower in Hokkaido yearlings.
  • With the introduction of LS, there was an increase in PRL and P4 concentrations in both Hokkaido and Miyazaki yearlings.
  • The first ovarian activity in the horses was observed to be earlier in the LS groups compared to the controls.
  • Horses from the Hokkaido LS group displayed significantly higher HC scores compared to the control group.
  • When comparing LS yearlings from different climates, Hokkaido yearlings showed similar PRL and P4 levels and HC scores as Miyazaki yearlings after LS was implemented.
  • In January, the body weight and girth increment percentages of Hokkaido yearlings dropped dramatically before later rising to levels similar to Miyazaki yearlings.

Conclusion

  • The study suggests that yearlings in colder Hokkaido have a higher basal metabolism to maintain homeostasis, but the implementation of LS can help improve growth functions and early development of reproductive function in these horses, matching the levels found in Miyazaki horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Tangyuenyong S, Sato F, Nambo Y, Murase H, Endo Y, Tanaka T, Nagaoka K, Watanabe G. (2017). Comparison of physical body growth and metabolic and reproductive endocrine functions between north and south climates of Japan in trained Thoroughbred yearling horses. J Equine Sci, 28(3), 77-86. https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.28.77

Publication

Journal of equine science
ISSN: 1340-3516
NlmUniqueID: 9503751
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 28
Issue: 3
Pages: 77-86

Researcher Affiliations

Tangyuenyong, Siriwan
  • Department of Basic Veterinary Science, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
Sato, Fumio
  • Department of Basic Veterinary Science, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
  • Equine Breeding Science, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan.
Nambo, Yasuo
  • Department of Basic Veterinary Science, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
  • Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-0834, Japan.
Murase, Harutaka
  • Equine Breeding Science, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan.
Endo, Yoshiro
  • Equine Breeding Science, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan.
Tanaka, Tomomi
  • Department of Basic Veterinary Science, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Reproduction, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
Nagaoka, Kentaro
  • Department of Basic Veterinary Science, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
Watanabe, Gen
  • Department of Basic Veterinary Science, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Ishimaru M, Tsuchiya T, Endo Y, Matsui A, Ohmura H, Murase H, Korosue K, Sato F, Taya K. Effects of different winter paddock management of Thoroughbred weanlings and yearlings in the cold region of Japan on physiological function, endocrine function and growth. J Vet Med Sci 2024 Jul 2;86(7):756-768.
    doi: 10.1292/jvms.24-0083pubmed: 38777756google scholar: lookup
  2. Ishimaru M, Okano A, Matsui A, Murase H, Korosue K, Akiyama K, Taya K. Effects of an extended photoperiod on body composition of young Thoroughbreds in training. J Vet Med Sci 2024 Jan 10;86(1):58-65.
    doi: 10.1292/jvms.23-0349pubmed: 37967974google scholar: lookup
  3. Ishimaru M, Matsui A, Seki K, Korosue K, Akiyama K, Mizukami H, Yoshida T, Taya K. Effects of different winter climates in Japan on body composition of young Thoroughbreds in training. J Vet Med Sci 2022 Nov 18;84(12):1585-1594.
    doi: 10.1292/jvms.22-0378pubmed: 36244743google scholar: lookup
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    doi: 10.3390/ani12050645pubmed: 35268214google scholar: lookup
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