Development of Foals Until One Year of Age When the Dam was Exposed to Blue Monochromatic Light Directed at One Eye During Late Pregnancy.

The research article investigates the effects that blue LED light exposure to one eye of pregnant horses has on the postnatal growth and development of their foals. The researchers observed no negative impacts from the treatment, noting that these foals grew normally and were just as healthy as those born to untreated mares.

Methods

• The study involved 40 mares: half of them were treated with blue LED light directed at one eye during late pregnancy while the remaining half served as a control group.
• Data was collected on the newborn foals for a duration of one year. This included measurements such as size, weight, and changes to their fur.
• For the first month, parameters like heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and selected haematology (study of blood) aspects were collected.

Findings

• Blue LED light treatment did not seem to interfere with the postnatal development of foals. These foals were perceived as mature and healthy.
• The haematocrit level, indicative of the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen, among foals decreased over time. Simultaneously, there was an increase in the count of white blood cells (leukocytes) and lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells). None of these changes, however, differed between the foals born to the treated and control mares.
• The heart rate and HRV of the foals increased until day 6, but again, no difference was observed between the two groups.
• While the guard hair of foals born to treated mares was initially shorter than that of control foals, no differences in fur length were seen beyond the age of two months.
• The height at the shoulder (wither height) and the distance from elbow to wrist (carpus) of control foals was initially more than that of foals born to the treated mares. These height differences decreased over time, indicating normal growth in the treated group.

Conclusion

• The research concludes that the treatment of pregnant mares with blue LED light in the ways the study practiced does not cause detrimental effects on the postnatal growth and development of the foals.