Abstract: Twenty-seven mature Quarter horses were used in a randomized design to determine the effects of bioactive protein supplementation on gait kinematics and systemic inflammatory markers in a 34-d trial. Treatments consisted of oral doses of 230 g/d of pelleted supplements containing 0 g (CON; = 9), 40 g of bioactive protein (40BP; = 9; LIFELINE, APC, LLC, Ankeny, IA), and 80 g of bioactive protein (80BP; = 9) daily. Horses were fed a commercial concentrate at 0.5% BW (as-fed) and received coastal bermudagrass () hay daily. On day 33, horses consistent in exercise (CON, = 6; 40BP, = 8; 80BP, = 7) participated in a trailering and riding challenge. Kinematic gait analysis was performed on day 0 for use as a covariate, and on day 14, 28, and 34 to allow for the determination of potential time and dosage effects. Video footage was collected and analyzed using gait analysis software (EquineTec, Monroe, GA) for the determination of stride length (SL) and range of motion (ROM). Blood was collected via jugular venipuncture on days 0, 14, 28, and 34 for determination of systemic expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-1β. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS. A trend towards treatment × time interaction was observed in ROM of the knee at the walk ( = 0.10), due to the increasing ROM for 40BP and 80BP as time increased and decreasing ROM for CON. A treatment × time interaction was observed ( < 0.01) for hock ROM at a walk resulting from CON and 80BP decreasing from day 14 to 28 with 40BP increasing, while from day 28 to 34 ROM at a walk decreased for 40BP and increased for 80BP. The main effect of treatment on hock ROM at the walk was quadratic ( < 0.01) and characterized by higher ROM values for 40BP compared to CON or 80BP. Dietary treatment lengthened ( = 0.04) SL of the hind limb at the walk for 40BP and 80BP compared to CON on both days 14 and 28. A significant treatment × time interaction was observed in the expression of IL-1β ( < 0.01) and can be explained by lower concentrations of IL-1β for 80BP on day 34 compared to the other treatments, with 40BP being intermediate and CON being the highest. Increased articular ROM with decreased expression of IL-1β may indicate potential anti-inflammatory effects of 80 g/d of bioactive proteins.
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This research tests whether bioactive protein supplements alter how horses move and levels of inflammation indicators in their bodies. The study found that horses given certain doses of the supplement showed greater movement range and lower inflammatory marker concentration, suggesting potential anti-inflammatory benefits.
Research design and subjects
The study involved 27 mature Quarter horses and spanned over a period of 34 days.
The horses were randomly assigned to three groups. Two groups received different doses of supplements containing bioactive proteins, and one group (CON) received no bioactive proteins.
The designated daily doses were 0 grams (CON), 40 grams (40BP), and 80 grams (80BP) of bioactive proteins.
All horses fed on a commercial concentrate and received coastal bermudagrass hay daily.
Experimental procedures
On the 33rd day, some horses from each group participated in a trailering and riding challenge. These horses’ exercise regimen was kept consistent throughout the study.
Gait kinematics (the study of how the horses moved) was recorded, analyzed and used as a determinant for time and dosage effects.
Video footage was collected to measure stride length (SL) and range of motion (ROM).
Blood was drawn intermittently for analysis of systemic expression of inflammation markers, in this case, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-1β.
Results
The data showed an observable trend toward interaction between supplement treatment and time in knee ROM while walking.
There was an interaction between the type of treatment and time for hock ROM at a walk.
Horses who received 40 grams of bioactive proteins showed higher hock ROM values when compared to the other two groups.
The supplement lengthened the stride length of the hind limb in the horses who received 40 to 80 grams of the bioactive proteins.
A significant treatment-time interaction affected IL-1β expression. The horses on 80BP exhibited lower concentrations of IL-1β on the 34th day as compared to the horses in the other two groups.
Conclusions
The observable increase in the range of motion alongside the decrease in the IL-1β expression indicates potential anti-inflammatory effects from consuming 80 grams per day of bioactive proteins.
Cite This Article
APA
Fikes KK, Coverdale JA, Leatherwood JL, Campbell JM, Welsh TH, Hartz CJ, Goehring M, Millican AA, Bradbery AN, Wickersham TA.
(2021).
Effect of bioactive proteins on gait kinematics and systemic inflammatory markers in mature horses.
Transl Anim Sci, 5(1), txab017.
https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab017
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
Coverdale, J A
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
Leatherwood, J L
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
Campbell, J M
APC, LLC, Ankeny, IA 50021, USA.
Welsh, T H
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
Hartz, C J
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
Goehring, M
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
Millican, A A
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
Bradbery, A N
Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
Wickersham, T A
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
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