Effect of copper supplementation on the evidence of developmental orthopaedic disease in pasture-fed New Zealand Thoroughbreds.
Abstract: The effect of copper status on the evidence of bone and cartilage lesions was investigated in 21 Thoroughbred foals. The foals and their dams were grazed on pasture containing 4.4-8.6 mg Cu/kg dry matter (DM). Four treatment groups were created by randomly allocating mares and their foals to either copper supplemented (0.5 mg Cu/kg liveweight (LW)/day), or control (pasture only) groups. This experimental design allowed the effect of copper supplementation of mare and foal to be examined independently. Parameters of bone and cartilage development were assessed in the foals both in vivo, and at post mortem at approximately age 150 days. Mare copper supplementation significantly (P<0.01) decreased radiographic indices of physitis in the distal third metatarsal bone of the foals at 150 days, and the prevalence of articular cartilage lesions (P<0.05). Articular cartilage lesions were minor in all foals, with no evidence of clinical developmental orthopaedic disease (DOD) in vivo, with the exception of minor radiographic changes assessed at post mortem. Copper supplementation of the foal had no effect on any of the bone and cartilage parameters. Copper supplementation of the mares did not abolish DOD in the growing foals, emphasising the probable multifactorial nature of this condition. However, mare supplementation may be a useful treatment regime on a farm where the incidence and severity of DOD are of concern.
Publication Date: 1998-06-11 PubMed ID: 9622322DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04490.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research focuses on the examination of the effects of copper supplementation on bone and cartilage growth in Thoroughbred foals and their potential for developing orthopaedic disease.
Experimental Process
- The research involved a study on 21 Thoroughbred foals who, alongside their dams were allowed to graze on pastures having a copper content ranging between 4.4 to 8.6 mg of copper per kilogram of dried matter.
- Four distinct treatment groups were created. This was achieved by randomly grouping the mares and their foals into two groups: those who received copper supplements at a rate of 0.5 mg per kg of live weight per day, and a control group that only grazed on pastures.
- This setup made it possible to research the effects of copper supplementation independent of mare and foal.
- Bone and cartilage parameters were analysed both in vivo (living organism) and post mortem at roughly 150-day intervals.
Findings
- It was found that copper supplementation in mares reduced instances of physitis radiographic indications in the foals’ distal third metatarsal bones and reduced the prevalence of articular cartilage lesions significantly.
- Despite this, the foals’ cartilage lesions were found to be minimal, with no apparent clinical symptoms of developmental orthopaedic disease (DOD)—note, this excludes the minor radio-graphical alterations found post mortem.
- In contrast, copper supplementation in foals had no noticeable impact on any bone or cartilage parameters examined.
Conclusions
- The research concludes that direct copper supplementation of the mares did not eliminate cases of DOD in growing foals, emphasizing the probability that this condition is multi-factorial.
- Nonetheless, the supplementation of mares with copper may prove beneficial in farm environments where instances and severity of DOD is a concern.
Cite This Article
APA
Pearce SG, Firth EC, Grace ND, Fennessy PF.
(1998).
Effect of copper supplementation on the evidence of developmental orthopaedic disease in pasture-fed New Zealand Thoroughbreds.
Equine Vet J, 30(3), 211-218.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04490.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Animal Feed
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Biopsy / veterinary
- Bone Development / drug effects
- Bone Development / physiology
- Bone Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Bone Diseases / prevention & control
- Bone Diseases / veterinary
- Cartilage Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Cartilage Diseases / prevention & control
- Cartilage Diseases / veterinary
- Cartilage, Articular / diagnostic imaging
- Cartilage, Articular / physiopathology
- Copper / deficiency
- Copper / metabolism
- Copper Sulfate / administration & dosage
- Copper Sulfate / pharmacology
- Dietary Supplements
- Extremities / diagnostic imaging
- Extremities / pathology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diet therapy
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Male
- New Zealand
- Radiography
- Random Allocation
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Bourebaba L, Röcken M, Marycz K. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in Horses - Molecular Background of its Pathogenesis and Perspectives for Progenitor Stem Cell Therapy. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2019 Jun;15(3):374-390.
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