Saving energy during hard times: energetic adaptations of Shetland pony mares.
Abstract: Recent results suggest that wild Northern herbivores reduce their metabolism during times of low ambient temperature and food shortage in order to reduce their energetic needs. It is, however, not known whether domesticated animals are also able to reduce their energy expenditure. We exposed 10 Shetland pony mares to different environmental conditions (summer and winter) and to two food quantities (60% and 100% of maintenance energy requirement) during low winter temperatures to examine energetic and behavioural responses. In summer, ponies showed a considerably higher field metabolic rate (FMR; 63.4±15.0 MJ day(-1)) compared with food-restricted and control animals in winter (24.6±7.8 and 15.0±1.1 MJ day(-1), respectively). During summer, locomotor activity, resting heart rate and total water turnover were considerably elevated (P<0.001) compared with winter. Animals on a restricted diet (N=5) compensated for the decreased energy supply by reducing their FMR by 26% compared with control animals (N=5). Furthermore, resting heart rate, body mass and body condition score were lower (29.2±2.7 beats min(-1), 140±22 kg and 3.0±1.0 points, respectively) than in control animals (36.8±41 beats min(-1), 165±31 kg, 4.4±0.7 points; P<0.05). While the observed behaviour did not change, nocturnal hypothermia was elevated. We conclude that ponies acclimatize to different climatic conditions by changing their metabolic rate, behaviour and some physiological parameters. When exposed to energy challenges, ponies, like wild herbivores, exhibited hypometabolism and nocturnal hypothermia.
© 2014. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.
Publication Date: 2014-10-30 PubMed ID: 25359931DOI: 10.1242/jeb.111815Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the adaptive mechanisms of Shetland pony mares during periods of harsh environmental conditions and food shortage. It found that these animals exhibit altered metabolic rates, behavior, and physiological responses, including decreased activity, lowered heart rate, and nocturnal hypothermia, which are important survival strategies similar to those observed in wild herbivores.
Research Context and Methodology
- This study was prompted by the observation that wild Northern herbivores lower their metabolism during periods of cold weather and limited food supplies to reduce their energy needs. The researchers wanted to determine if domesticated animals like the Shetland pony mares possess similar adaptive mechanisms.
- Ten Shetland pony mares were subjected to different environmental conditions (summer and winter), and two different food quantities (60% and 100% of their maintenance energy requirement) during the cold winter months.
- The researchers then examined the energetic and behavioural responses of the subjects under these varied conditions.
Findings
- In the summer, the ponies exhibited a significantly higher field metabolic rate (FMR) compared to those on food-restricted and regular diets in the winter.
- Locomotor activity, resting heart rate, and total water turnover were also significantly increased in summer compared to winter.
- Ponies put on a restricted diet compensated for their lower energy intake by reducing their FMR by 26% compared to the control group.
- Physiological parameters such as resting heart rate, body mass, and body condition score were also reduced in the ponies on a restricted diet.
- The behavior of the ponies remained unchanged, however, nocturnal hypothermia was observed to increase in the food-restricted group.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that Shetland pony mares are capable of acclimatizing to differing climate conditions by modifying their metabolic rate, behavior, and certain physiological parameters.
- When faced with energy challenges, they demonstrate similar survival strategies to wild herbivores, including a decrease in metabolic rate and the occurrence of nocturnal hypothermia.
This research broadens our understanding of the survival mechanisms in domesticated equines and could potentially impact the management and care practices for these animals during extreme weather conditions and periods of food scarcity.
Cite This Article
APA
Brinkmann L, Gerken M, Hambly C, Speakman JR, Riek A.
(2014).
Saving energy during hard times: energetic adaptations of Shetland pony mares.
J Exp Biol, 217(Pt 24), 4320-4327.
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.111815 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Göttingen, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany.
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Göttingen, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany.
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK.
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK. Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, PR China.
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Göttingen, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany. ariek@uni-goettingen.de.
MeSH Terms
- Adaptation, Physiological / physiology
- Animals
- Body Temperature Regulation
- Circadian Rhythm / physiology
- Energy Metabolism / physiology
- Female
- Food Deprivation / physiology
- Heart Rate / physiology
- Horses / metabolism
- Locomotion
- Seasons
- Water / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Matos JI, Pitti L, Parra-Quijano M, Arencibia A, Ramírez G, Díaz-Bertrana ML. Integrative anatomical and two-dimensional ultrasonographic assessment of the heart in Shetland ponies. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1721000.
- Ishimaru M, Tsuchiya T, Endo Y, Matsui A, Ohmura H, Murase H, Korosue K, Sato F, Taya K. Effects of different winter paddock management of Thoroughbred weanlings and yearlings in the cold region of Japan on physiological function, endocrine function and growth. J Vet Med Sci 2024 Jul 2;86(7):756-768.
- Gesquiere LR, Adjangba C, Wango TL, Oudu VK, Mututua RS, Warutere JK, Siodi IL, Campos FA, Archie EA, Markham AC, Alberts SC. Thyroid hormone concentrations in female baboons: Metabolic consequences of living in a highly seasonal environment. Horm Behav 2024 May;161:105505.
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