Successful Pregnancy Outcome in Mares: The Potential Role of Body Conditional Score, Age and Biochemical Parameter’s Adjustments.

The study investigates the link between body condition, age, and biochemical changes in pregnant Spanish Purebred mares. Findings reveal that pregnancy induces hyperlipidemia in mares and older mares show signs of decreased organ functionality.

Research Methodology

• The research involved a total of 45 pregnant Spanish Purebred mares. These mares were divided into three groups based on their ages and body condition scores (BCS).
• Group A consisted of 15 mares aged between 14 to 18 years old and with a BCS less than 4 out of 10. Group B had 15 mares aged between 4 to 8 years with a BCS of 5-6 out of 10. Group C included 15 mares aged between 6 and 11 years with a BCS of 8 out of 10.
• Throughout the pregnancy, these animals’ blood samples were collected every month and analyzed. The research took into account three periods of pregnancy: early (1st to the 3rd month), mid (4th to the 6th month), and late pregnancy (7th month onwards).

Biochemical Testing

• In the laboratory, several biochemical parameters were measured in the blood samples of the mares. These include total triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and bilirubin levels.
• Other parameters, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total plasma proteins, albumin, glucose, urea, and creatinine, were also measured.

Findings from the Research

• Pregnancy in Spanish broodmares was found to induce hyperlipidemia, a condition characterized by an excessive amount of fats in the blood.
• The pregnant mares were also found to have hypertriglyceridemia, which refers to a high level of triglycerides in the blood, and increased levels of direct and indirect bilirubin. It’s important to clarify that bilirubin is a waste product produced by the liver.
• Older pregnant mares showed significant biochemical changes, which the researchers speculated might be consistent with decreased organ functionality.
• Interestingly, the researchers found that obesity did not significantly influence the lipid metabolism during pregnancy. This suggests that regardless of a mare’s body condition score, the same lipid metabolic changes occur during pregnancy.

Implications of the Research

• This research presents important insights into the relationship between age, body condition, and biochemical responses during pregnancy in the Spanish Purebred mares. It provides a valuable foundation for further studies investigating the health and well-being of pregnant mares and their offspring.