Effect of seasons and sex on the physical, hematological, and blood biochemical parameters of Noma horses.
Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of seasons and sex on body size and hematological and biochemistry parameters of Noma horses, a native Japanese breed. Body size was larger in winter than in summer. Laboratory testing variables, including erythrocytic parameters and urea nitrogen, total cholesterol, and creatinine kinase levels, were higher in winter, while the eosinophil count was higher in summer. These seasonal differences may be related to increased energy consumption of horses due to heat stress. The higher eosinophil counts may have been related to the dermatitis observed in summer. Stallions tended to have smaller bodies compared with mares. Future studies are necessary to investigate the effect of stress in seasonal and sex-based groups.
©2021 The Japanese Society of Equine Science.
Publication Date: 2021-03-16 PubMed ID: 33776537PubMed Central: PMC7984912DOI: 10.1294/jes.32.21Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research looks into how seasons and gender affect the body size, as well as hematological and biochemical parameters of Noma horses, a breed native to Japan. The study’s findings suggest that these horses tend to be larger in winter with specific data indicating higher levels in erythrocytic parameters, urea nitrogen, cholesterol, and creatinine kinase than in summer, possibly due to the heat stress that leads to higher energy consumption. However, eosinophil count was higher in summer, possibly due to dermatitis prevalent in that season. As per the gender, male horses tend to have smaller bodies than female horses.
Research Objective
- This study was carried out with the primary aim of understanding the influence of seasons and sex on the body size, hematology, and biochemistry parameters of Noma horses, a breed that is native to Japan.
Seasonal Influence on Noma Horses
- The research found substantial differences correlated to the seasons, such as changes in body size and laboratory testing variables in Noma horses. More specifically, these horses had a larger body size in winter compared to summer.
- Apart from this, several other noticeable variations corresponding to the seasons were identified using laboratory testing. For instance, erythrocytic parameters along with urea nitrogen, total cholesterol, and creatinine kinase levels, were significantly higher in winter than in summer.
- Researchers hypothesized that these seasonal differences might be linked to increased energy output due to heat stress in horses during the warmer months.
- On the contrary, a higher eosinophil count was noted during the summer season. This increase could be attributed to the occurrence of dermatitis, which is commonly observed during this period.
Impact of Gender on Noma Horses
- Also, it was observed in the study that stallions—male Noma horses—generally had a smaller body size compared to mares, the female horses.
Future Research Directions
- The researchers conclude that further investigation is needed to better understand the effect of stress, especially among specific groups of horses based on the season and their gender.
Cite This Article
APA
Ono T, Inoue Y, Hisaeda K, Yamada Y, Hata A, Miyama TS, Shibano K, Kitagawa H, Ohzawa E, Iwata E.
(2021).
Effect of seasons and sex on the physical, hematological, and blood biochemical parameters of Noma horses.
J Equine Sci, 32(1), 21-25.
https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.32.21 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime 794-8555, Japan.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime 794-8555, Japan.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime 794-8555, Japan.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime 794-8555, Japan.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime 794-8555, Japan.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime 794-8555, Japan.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime 794-8555, Japan.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime 794-8555, Japan.
- Noma Horse Preservation Society, Ehime 794-0082, Japan.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime 794-8555, Japan.
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Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Inoue Y, Ono T, Hisaeda K, Yamada Y, Hata A, Shimokawa T, Miyama, Shibano K, Ohzawa E, Kitagawa H, Iwata E. Relationships between the age and blood test results or body sizes in Noma horses. J Equine Sci 2022 Jul;33(2):27-30.
- Yamashita N, Hatazoe T, Misumi K, Hobo S. Hematological and blood biochemical parameters of Tokara horses in Kaimon Foothills Nature Park. J Vet Med Sci 2025 Dec 1;87(12):1405-1407.
- Hisaeda K, Ono T, Shimokawa-Miyama T, Hata A, Iwata E, Hiasa Y, Ohzawa E, Tozaki T, Murase H, Takasu M, Nishii N, Kitagawa H. Differences in serum iron concentrations between the summer and winter in Noma horses. J Equine Sci 2025;36(1):1-9.
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