Seasonal fluctuations in body weight during growth of Thoroughbred racehorses during their athletic career.

Takahashi, Y
·
Takahashi, T

Abstract: Domesticated horses adapt to environmental conditions through seasonal fluctuations in their metabolic rate. The seasonal change of metabolic rates of domesticated horses in pastures is documented. However, there are few investigations on seasonal body weight change of domesticated horses housed in stables, which are provided constant energy intake throughout the year. Both seasonal changes and gain in body weight of racehorses during their athletic career is known to a lesser extent because their body weight are not measured in most countries. Here, we used a seasonal-trend decomposition method to conduct a time series analysis of body weight of Thoroughbred racehorses participating in flat races held by the Japan Racing Association from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2014. Results: We acquired 640,431 body weight measurements for race starts and included 632,540 of these in the time series analysis. Based on seasonal component analysis, the body weight of male and gelding horses peaked in autumn and winter and reached its nadir in summer. In contrast, the body weight of female horses peaked in autumn and reached the nadir in spring. Based on trend component analysis, most of the increase in body weight was observed when all sexes approached 5 years of age. The slope of the body weight gain was smaller after that, and an approximately 30 kg gain was observed during their careers. Conclusions: These results indicate that the body weight of a Thoroughbred racehorse fluctuates seasonally, and that there may be sex differences in energy balance mechanisms. Moreover, the present results suggest that the physiological development of Thoroughbred racehorses is completed just before they reach 5 years of age.

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Publication Date: 2017-08-18 PubMed ID: 28821254PubMed Central: PMC5563038DOI: 10.1186/s12917-017-1184-3Google Scholar: Lookup

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Journal Article

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 paper carries out a time series analysis on the weight fluctuations of Thoroughbred racehorses over a 12-year period to identify patterns and trends, revealing both seasonal and sex-based differences.

Research Background and Methodology

The paper begins with reference to existing research on how domesticated horses adapt to environmental conditions through fluctuations in metabolic rates. These studies primarily focus on horses in pastures but lack insight on stabled horses with steady energy intake, and Thoroughbred racehorses in particular.
To address this gap, the researchers analyzed the body weight measurements of Thoroughbred racehorses participating in races held by the Japan Racing Association from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2014.
They obtained 640,431 body weight measurements and used 632,540 of these data points in their time series analysis through a seasonal-trend decomposition method, focusing on trends and seasonal components.

Findings

The body weight of male and gelding horses was found to peak in autumn and winter, and hit its lowest in summer. Conversely, the body weight of female horses peaked in autumn and reached the nadir in spring.
The analysis also unearthed age-related trends, indicating that most of the increase in body weight happened as the horses approached 5 years of age. Beyond this, the rate of weight gain reduced significantly, with an approximately 30 kg gain observed during their careers.

Conclusions and Implications

The research illustrates that the body weight of a Thoroughbred racehorse varies according to season and that there are potential sex differences in energy balance mechanisms.
The analysis additionally suggests that physiological development in Thoroughbred racehorses is typically completed just before they reach 5 years old.
This research could be used to inform care and feeding practices for racehorses, especially as it pertains to the sex and age-specific weight trends identified.

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APA

Takahashi Y, Takahashi T. (2017). Seasonal fluctuations in body weight during growth of Thoroughbred racehorses during their athletic career. BMC Vet Res, 13(1), 257. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-017-1184-3

Publication

BMC veterinary research

ISSN: 1746-6148

NlmUniqueID: 101249759

Country: England

Language: English

Volume: 13

Issue: 1

Pages: 257

PII: 257

Researcher Affiliations

Takahashi, Yuji

Sports Science Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4, Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0412, Japan. yuji_takahashi@equinst.go.jp.

Takahashi, Toshiyuki

Sports Science Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4, Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0412, Japan.

MeSH Terms

Animal Husbandry
Animals
Body Weight
Female
Horses / anatomy & histology
Horses / growth & development
Male
Physical Conditioning, Animal
Seasons
Sex Factors

Conflict of Interest Statement

ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE: Not applicable. CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION: Not applicable COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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