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Home/Equine Research Bank/J Vet Med Sci/Effects of different winter climates in Japan on body compos...
The Journal of veterinary medical science2022; 84(12); 1585-1594; doi: 10.1292/jvms.22-0378

Effects of different winter climates in Japan on body composition of young Thoroughbreds in training.

Abstract: Changes in the body composition of 50 Thoroughbreds colts and fillies, born between 2004 and 2010, were compared between those reared at the Hidaka Training and Research Center (Hidaka), Hokkaido, which is extremely cold in winter, and those reared at the Miyazaki Yearling Training Farm (Miyazaki), Kyushu, which is mildly cold in winter. The horses were divided into two sex groups and reared and trained in Hidaka or Miyazaki for 7 months from October of one year of age to April of two years of age. Body weight (BW), rump fat thickness (RFT), fat-free mass (FFM), and percentage of fat (%F) were used as parameters of body composition. This study revealed that BW and FFM were higher, and %F was lower in colts than in fillies at both training sites. Among colts, Miyazaki colts tended to have higher FFM values than Hidaka colts, and %F was significantly lower in Miyazaki colts than in Hidaka colts. Furthermore, from October to April, Miyazaki horses had a higher rate of increase in BW than Hidaka horses in both sexes and a higher rate of increase in FFM in colts. The higher rate of increase in FFM in Miyazaki colts suggests that training young Thoroughbreds in winter under mildly cold climate is more effective, than severely cold climate, particularly in colts.
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Publication Date: 2022-10-14 PubMed ID: 36244743PubMed Central: PMC9791233DOI: 10.1292/jvms.22-0378Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study examines how different winter climates in Japan affect the body composition of young Thoroughbred horses. The findings suggest that for these horses, especially the colts, training in milder winter climates leads to more effective growth.

Research Methodology

  • The body composition changes in 50 Thoroughbred horses, both colts and fillies, born between 2004 and 2010 were studied. These horses were raised in two different climate conditions, one in Hidaka, Hokkaido which is extremely cold during winters, and the other in Miyazaki, Kyushu which experiences milder winters.
  • The horses were divided into two sex groups and trained at either Hidaka or Miyazaki for a period of 7 months between October, when they were one year old, and April, when they turned two years old.
  • The researchers measured the horses’ body weight (BW), rump fat thickness (RFT), fat-free mass (FFM), and percentage of fat (%F) to track changes in body composition.

Findings

  • The results showed that the colts had higher BW and FFM, and lower %F than the fillies at both sites.
  • Comparing the colts at the different sites, those at Miyazaki tended to show higher FFM values than those in Hidaka, and Miyazaki colts also had a significantly lower %F than their Hidaka counterparts.
  • Both sex groups of horses in Miyazaki experienced a higher rate of increase in BW from October to April as compared to the horses in Hidaka. Also, the rate of increase in FFM in Miyazaki colts was higher than in Hidaka colts during the same period.

Implications

  • The findings suggest that training young Thoroughbreds under milder winter conditions, like those in Miyazaki, leads to a more effective increase in both body weight and fat-free mass, especially in colts.
  • These results could guide the choice of training locations for young Thoroughbred horses, favoring milder climates over severe winters to optimize body composition and potentially improve performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Ishimaru M, Matsui A, Seki K, Korosue K, Akiyama K, Mizukami H, Yoshida T, Taya K. (2022). Effects of different winter climates in Japan on body composition of young Thoroughbreds in training. J Vet Med Sci, 84(12), 1585-1594. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.22-0378

Publication

The Journal of veterinary medical science
ISSN: 1347-7439
NlmUniqueID: 9105360
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 84
Issue: 12
Pages: 1585-1594

Researcher Affiliations

Ishimaru, Mutsuki
  • Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido, Japan.
  • Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Hokkaido, Japan.
Matsui, Akira
  • Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido, Japan.
Seki, Kazuhiro
  • Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido, Japan.
Korosue, Kenji
  • Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido, Japan.
Akiyama, Kentaro
  • Equine Department, Japan Racing Association, Tokyo, Japan.
Mizukami, Hirotoshi
  • Miyazaki Yearling Training Farm, Japan Racing Association, Miyazaki, Japan.
Yoshida, Toshinobu
  • Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Tochigi, Japan.
Taya, Kazuyoshi
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Male
  • Japan
  • Seasons
  • Body Composition
  • Body Weight

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