Effect of prolonged use of altrenogest on behaviour in mares.
Abstract: Oral administration of altrenogest for oestrus suppression in competition horses is believed to be widespread in some equestrian disciplines, and can be administered continuously for several months during a competition season. To examine whether altrenogest has any anabolic or other potential performance enhancing properties that may give a horse an unfair advantage, we examined the effect of oral altrenogest (0.044 mg/kg), given daily for a period of eight weeks, on social hierarchy, activity budget, body-mass and body condition score of 12 sedentary mares. It was concluded that prolonged oral administration of altrenogest at recommended dose rate to sedentary mares had no effect on dominance hierarchies, body-mass or condition score.
Publication Date: 2005-05-25 PubMed ID: 15912604DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.03.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Clinical Trial
- Corrected and Republished Article
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
Summary
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This study investigated if prolonged use of altrenogest, a drug used to suppress oestrus in competition horses, impacts their behavior, body mass, or body condition. The findings indicated no significant impact on these factors, but the drug was administered to sedentary mares, so it may not be indicative of the effects in regular competition horses.
Understanding the Experiment: Methods and Groups
- The research focused on an anabolic drug called altrenogest. This drug is widely used for oestrus suppression (control of sexual heat cycle) in competition horses. It is often administered continuously for several months during a competition season.
- The researchers aimed to gauge whether altrenogest has any potential performance-enhancing properties that might give a horse an undue advantage in a competition. Concerning this, the experiment was conducted on 12 sedentary mares over eight weeks, where the drug was orally administered at a daily dose of 0.044 mg/kg.
- The researchers tested the impact of altrenogest on multiple variables such as the social hierarchy among the horses, their activity level, body mass, and body condition score.
Findings of the Experiment
- The study concluded that prolonged oral administration of altrenogest at the recommended dosage to sedentary mares didn’t affect their dominance hierarchies — the social order among them remained unaffected by the drug.
- Furthermore, the drug had no significant effect on the mares’ body mass or body condition score — two crucial elements linked with a horse’s performance in a competition. This finding contradicts any suggestions about altrenogest being a potential performance-enhancing substance.
Implications of this Research
- The results of this research offers reassurance regarding the fair use of altrenogest in horse competitions, indicating that extensive use of this drug at recommended levels doesn’t confer an unfair advantage.
- However, since this experiment was conducted on sedentary mares — horses that aren’t engaging in regular physical activities — results may vary concerning performance horses that participate in competitions.
- Thus, further research is needed to clarify the effects of altrenogest on competition horses with differing activity levels and hormonal balances.
Cite This Article
APA
Hodgson D, Howe S, Jeffcott L, Reid S, Mellor D, Higgins A.
(2005).
Effect of prolonged use of altrenogest on behaviour in mares.
Vet J, 169(3), 322-325.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.03.003 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Narellam, NSW 2537, Australia. davidh@camden.usyd.edu.au
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Oral
- Anabolic Agents / adverse effects
- Anabolic Agents / pharmacology
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal / drug effects
- Body Constitution / drug effects
- Body Weight / drug effects
- Doping in Sports
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Social Behavior
- Social Dominance
- Time Factors
- Trenbolone Acetate / adverse effects
- Trenbolone Acetate / analogs & derivatives
- Trenbolone Acetate / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Straticò P, Hattab J, Guerri G, Carluccio A, Bandera L, Celani G, Marruchella G, Varasano V, Petrizzi L. Behavioral Disorders in Mares with Ovarian Disorders, Outcome after Laparoscopic Ovariectomy: A Case Series. Vet Sci 2023 Jul 25;10(8).
- Elbourne M, Keledjian J, Cawley A, Fu S. Administration Route Differentiation of Altrenogest via the Metabolomic LC-HRMS Analysis of Equine Urine. Molecules 2024 Oct 22;29(21).
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