Effects of level of dietary protein and exercise on growth rates of horses.

The research article aims to study the impact of dietary protein levels and exercise on the growth rates of two-year-old and nine-month-old horses.

Overview of Experiments

• The researchers conducted two experiments on two groups of horses differing by age – two-year-old horses (Experiment 1) and nine-month-old horses (Experiment 2).
• Each group of horses was subjected to one of two diets – high protein (12 or 14 per cent) or low protein (6 or 8 per cent).
• The horses were also subjected to one of two exercise levels – no exercise or 12 km of trotting per day at a speed of 12 km/h.

Findings in Non-Exercised Horses

• The study found that in the group of non-exercised horses, those receiving high protein diets had greater feed intakes and growth rates compared to those on low protein diets.

Impact of Exercise

• Exercise was found to increase feed intakes and growth rates in horses on the low protein diet, but had no significant impact on those on the high protein diet.
• Due to the impact of exercise on low protein-diet horses, there were no significant differences in feed intakes or growth rates between horses on the two dietary protein levels in the exercised groups.
• Exercise also increased the apparent digestibility of dry matter, energy, and crude protein in horses.

Effects on Skeletal Characteristics

• The study found no differences in skeletal characteristics of horses caused by either dietary protein level or the level of exercise.

Conclusions from the Study

• The research concludes that the diet of growing horses could have a lower protein concentration than what is currently recommended without significant reduction in growth rate, provided the horses exercise regularly.

These findings could have implications on feeding practices and nutrition recommendations for growing horses and may contribute to the development of more effective and efficient feed strategies.