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PloS one2025; 20(1); e0310784; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310784

Effect of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the growth and development of young foals under subtropical conditions of Pakistan.

Abstract: This study was designed to explore the impact of intrinsic (breed of foal, age of dam, and age of foal at weaning) and extrinsic (season of birth and housing type) factors on the growth and survival of foals in the subtropical conditions of Pakistan. For the growth study, retrospective data analysis of foals (n = 150) born from purebred brood mares of Thoroughbred, Arabs, and Percheron breeds (n1, n2, and n3 = 50 each) was made. Six hundred and twenty-four (n = 624) foals born between 2020 to 2022 were observed for the study of foal survival rate. The survival of these foals till the age of one year was considered. To study the growth and development of foals, height, bone, and girth measurements were taken at multiple developmental stages (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months of age). Statistical analysis revealed that late-weaned foals demonstrated superior growth metrics compared to early-weaned foals (P = 0.001) and sheltered housing conditions markedly enhanced growth parameters across all breeds and measurement intervals (P = 0.002). However, no significant effect of season (P > 0.05) on the growth measurements across breeds was found. Arab and Thoroughbred breeds demonstrated significant early growth advantages in foals from middle-aged dams, with marked differences in height, bone width, and girth; however, by 15 months, these differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In contrast, Percheron foals showed consistent growth regardless of the dam's age, suggesting breed-specific developmental influences (P = 0.885). Regarding the effects of extrinsic and intrinsic factors on foal survival, environmental conditions, and maternal age significantly impacted survival rates. Extreme winter conditions were associated with a notably lower survival probability (P = 0.002), and middle-aged dams exhibited significantly enhanced survival odds (P = 0.03). However, the influences of housing conditions and weaning age on survival were not statistically significant (P > 0.05), indicating these factors do not substantially affect foal survival within the first year. These results underscore the critical roles of weaning age, housing conditions, and age of dams in influencing foal growth and survival, highlighting the importance of tailored management practices in optimizing outcomes for the growth and development of young equines under subtropics.
Copyright: © 2025 Chatha et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Publication Date: 2025-01-30 PubMed ID: 39883625PubMed Central: PMC11781635DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310784Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research investigates the effects of various factors both intrinsic (such as breed and maternal age) and extrinsic (like birth season and housing) on the growth and survival of young foals under the subtropical conditions of Pakistan. It found the age the foals are weaned, the housing conditions they are kept in, and the age of their mothers to significantly affect their growth and survival.

Methodology

  • The research was carried out by examining retrospective data from 150 foals born from purebred brood mares of Thoroughbred, Arabs, and Percheron breeds, with 50 foals each from the three breeds.
  • Additionally, the survival rate of another 624 foals born between 2020 and 2022 was also studied. Survival was determined based on whether foals survived to one year of age.
  • Growth and development were analyzed by taking measurements of foal height, bone, and girth at six different stages of development: at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months of age.

Growth Study Findings

  • Foals that were weaned later showed superior growth compared to those weaned early.
  • Sheltered housing conditions significantly improved growth across all breeds and stages of development measured.
  • While Arab and Thoroughbred breeds showed significant early growth advantages in foals from middle-aged dams, these differences diminished by the time the foals were 15 months of age.
  • Interestingly, Percheron foals displayed consistent growth regardless of the mother’s age, suggesting that breed may play a role in development.

Survival Study Findings

  • Environmental conditions and maternal age significantly impacted survival rates for foals within their first year of life.
  • Extreme winter conditions led to a notably lower survival probability.
  • Foals of middle-aged dams had significantly enhanced chances of survival.
  • However, the housing conditions and weaning age didn’t play a statistically significant role in foal survival.

Implications

  • The study’s results emphasize the critical role that weaning age, housing conditions, and age of dams play in influencing foal growth and survival, and suggest the importance of tailored management practices
  • It shows the need for custom strategies to optimize outcomes for the growth and development of young equines, particularly those situated in subtropical environments.

Cite This Article

APA
Chatha MA, Ahmad N, Abbas MA, Saadullah M, Khan JA. (2025). Effect of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the growth and development of young foals under subtropical conditions of Pakistan. PLoS One, 20(1), e0310784. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310784

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 20
Issue: 1
Pages: e0310784
PII: e0310784

Researcher Affiliations

Chatha, Muhammad Athar
  • Department of Livestock Management, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
Ahmad, Nisar
  • Department of Livestock Management, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
Abbas, Muhammad Athar
  • Pakistan Agriculture Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Saadullah, Muhammad
  • Department of Livestock Management, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
Khan, Jawaria Ali
  • Department of Clinical Medicine & Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / growth & development
  • Pakistan
  • Seasons
  • Female
  • Weaning
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Male
  • Animals, Newborn / growth & development
  • Breeding

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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