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PloS one2015; 10(4); e0122596; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122596

Effects of moderate amounts of barley in late pregnancy on growth, glucose metabolism and osteoarticular status of pre-weaning horses.

Abstract: In stud management, broodmares are commonly fed concentrates in late pregnancy. This practice, however, was shown to correlate with an increased incidence of osteochondrosis in foals, which may be related to insulin sensitivity. We hypothesized that supplementation of the mare with barley in the last trimester of pregnancy alters the pre-weaning foal growth, glucose metabolism and osteoarticular status. Here, pregnant multiparous saddlebred mares were fed forage only (group F, n=13) or both forage and cracked barley (group B, n=12) from the 7th month of pregnancy until term, as calculated to cover nutritional needs of broodmares. Diets were given in two daily meals. All mares and foals returned to pasture after parturition. Post-natal growth, glucose metabolism and osteoarticular status were investigated in pre-weaning foals. B mares maintained an optimal body condition score (>3.5), whereas that of F mares decreased and remained low (<2.5) up to 3 months of lactation, with a significantly lower bodyweight (-7%) than B mares throughout the last 2 months of pregnancy. B mares had increased plasma glucose and insulin after the first meal and after the second meal to a lesser extent, which was not observed in F mares. B mares also had increased insulin secretion during an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). Plasma NEFA and leptin were only temporarily affected by diet in mares during pregnancy or in early lactation. Neonatal B foals had increased serum osteocalcin and slightly increased glucose increments and clearance after glucose injection, but these effects had vanished at weaning. Body measurements, plasma IGF-1, T4, T3, NEFA and leptin concentrations, insulin secretion during IVGTT, as well as glucose metabolism rate during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps after weaning, did not differ between groups. Radiographic examination of joints indicated increased osteochondrosis relative risk in B foals, but this was not significant. These data demonstrate that B or F maternal nutrition has very few effects on foal growth, endocrinology and glucose homeostasis until weaning, but may induce cartilage lesions.
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Publication Date: 2015-04-13 PubMed ID: 25875166PubMed Central: PMC4395399DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122596Google 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.

This research article explores the effects of feeding barley to pregnant mares in their last trimester and finds that it does not substantially affect the growth, glucose metabolism, or osteoarticular health of their offspring by weaning, despite inducing cartilage lesions.

Objectives and Methodology

  • The study was designed to investigate the relationship between the diet of pregnant mares and health of their foals, specifically in terms of growth, glucose metabolism, and osteoarticular status.
  • The researchers hypothesized that consuming barley in the last trimester might have implications on these parameters.
  • To assess this, pregnant saddlebred mares were divided into two groups: those fed only forage (group F) and those given a diet of forage and cracked barley (group B).
  • The diets were distributed in two daily meals from the 7th month of pregnancy until birth, matching the mares’ nutritional needs.
  • All mares and foals were returned to pasture after birth and various parameters were measured in the foals before weaning.

Outcomes and Findings

  • The researchers found that mares fed barley maintained an optimal body condition above 3.5, while those in group F had a lower score (below 2.5) and body weight, by 7%, in the concluding 2 months of pregnancy.
  • Increased levels of plasma glucose and insulin were observed in group B mares after the two meals, a response not seen in group F mares.
  • B mares also showed increased insulin secretion during an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT).
  • However, both plasma NEFA (non-esterified fatty acids) and leptin levels were only temporarily influenced by the diet.
  • The B group neonates exhibited increased serum osteocalcin and marginally increased glucose increments and clearance after glucose injection, but these effects were no longer observed by weaning.
  • Other parameters including body measurements, plasma IGF-1, T4, T3, NEFA, and leptin concentrations, insulin secretion during IVGTT, as well as glucose metabolism rate during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps after weaning, revealed no differences between the groups.
  • Although radiographic examination showed a higher incidence of osteochondrosis in B foals, this finding wasn’t statistically significant.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that the type of maternal nutrition (B or F) had minimal effects on the growth, endocrinology, and glucose homeostasis of foals up to the point of weaning.
  • However, it was suggested that feeding pregnant mares barley might lead to the development of cartilage lesions in their foals.

Cite This Article

APA
Peugnet P, Robles M, Mendoza L, Wimel L, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Guillaume D, Camous S, Berthelot V, Toquet MP, Richard E, Sandersen C, Chaffaux S, Lejeune JP, Tarrade A, Serteyn D, Chavatte-Palmer P. (2015). Effects of moderate amounts of barley in late pregnancy on growth, glucose metabolism and osteoarticular status of pre-weaning horses. PLoS One, 10(4), e0122596. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122596

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 4
Pages: e0122596
PII: e0122596

Researcher Affiliations

Peugnet, Pauline
  • INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, F-78350, Jouy en Josas, France.
Robles, Morgane
  • INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, F-78350, Jouy en Josas, France.
Mendoza, Luis
  • Clinique Equine, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Liège, B-4000, Liège, Belgium.
Wimel, Laurence
  • IFCE, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, F-19370, Chamberet, France.
Dubois, Cédric
  • IFCE, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, F-19370, Chamberet, France.
Dahirel, Michèle
  • INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, F-78350, Jouy en Josas, France.
Guillaume, Daniel
  • INRA, UMR85, Physiologie de la Reproduction et Comportements, CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380, Nouzilly, France, Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000, Tours, France.
Camous, Sylvaine
  • INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, F-78350, Jouy en Josas, France.
Berthelot, Valérie
  • AgroParis Tech, F-75005, Paris, France.
Toquet, Marie-Pierre
  • Normandie University, UNICAEN, SF4206 ICORE / LABEO Frank Duncombe Laboratory, F-14000, Caen, France.
Richard, Eric
  • Normandie University, UNICAEN, SF4206 ICORE / LABEO Frank Duncombe Laboratory, F-14000, Caen, France.
Sandersen, Charlotte
  • Clinique Equine, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Liège, B-4000, Liège, Belgium.
Chaffaux, Stéphane
  • INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, F-78350, Jouy en Josas, France.
Lejeune, Jean-Philippe
  • Clinique Equine, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Liège, B-4000, Liège, Belgium.
Tarrade, Anne
  • INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, F-78350, Jouy en Josas, France.
Serteyn, Didier
  • Clinique Equine, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Liège, B-4000, Liège, Belgium.
Chavatte-Palmer, Pascale
  • INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, F-78350, Jouy en Josas, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Diet
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Hordeum
  • Horses / growth & development
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Leptin / metabolism
  • Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Osteochondrosis / metabolism
  • Osteochondrosis / physiopathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Weaning

Conflict of Interest Statement

Co-author Pascale Chavatte-Palmer is a PLOS ONE Editorial Board member. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Hallman I, Karikoski N, Kareskoski M. The effects of obesity and insulin dysregulation on mare reproduction, pregnancy, and foal health: a review.. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1180622.
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  2. Robles M, Couturier-Tarrade A, Derisoud E, Geeverding A, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Aioun J, Prezelin A, Calvez J, Richard C, Wimel L, Chavatte-Palmer P. Effects of dietary arginine supplementation in pregnant mares on maternal metabolism, placental structure and function and foal growth.. Sci Rep 2019 Apr 23;9(1):6461.
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  3. Robles M, Nouveau E, Gautier C, Mendoza L, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Lagofun B, Aubrière MC, Lejeune JP, Caudron I, Guenon I, Viguié C, Wimel L, Bouraima-Lelong H, Serteyn D, Couturier-Tarrade A, Chavatte-Palmer P. Maternal obesity increases insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation and osteochondrosis lesions in foals and yearlings until 18 months of age.. PLoS One 2018;13(1):e0190309.
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