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Home / Equine Research Bank / Acta Vet Scand / The effect of exercise on blood parameters in standardbred a...
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica1983; 24(2); 170-184; doi: 10.1186/BF03546745

The effect of exercise on blood parameters in standardbred and Finnish-bred horses.

Abstract: Serum enzyme activities, albumin, protein, urea, cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid, glucose and lactate concentrations as well as hematocrit values were measured in standardbred and Finnish-bred horses at rest and after (i) a short controlled exercise and (ii) a trotting competition. There were no breed differences in the enzyme activities at rest and the 2 breeds responded in the same manner to the exercise. Only after the race proper significant increases in the enzyme activities were found. The activities rose more in the standardbred horses than in the Finnish-bred horses. Urea and cholesterol concentrations did not change after either exercise. Protein and albumin concentrations as well as hematocrit values increased significantly after the exercise. At rest hematocrit values were significantly higher in the standardbred horses and the difference persisted throughout the exercise. After the race proper also albumin and protein concentrations were higher in the standard-bred than in the Finnish-bred horses. Free fatty acid and triglyceride concentrations increased significantly during the exercise. Although glucose and lactate concentrations increased in both breeds, the behaviour of these parameters differed. Glucose concentrations remained increased for a longer period and the recovery from the increased lactate level was faster in the standardbred than in the Finnish-bred horses. The observed differences suggest that the standardbred horses have higher anaerobic capacity than the Finnish-bred horses. Halten av serum enzymaktiviteter, albumin, protein, urea, koles-terol, triglycerider, fria fettsyror, glukos och laktat samt hämatokrit-värden bestämdes hos amerikanska travare samt finska hästar i vila och (i) efter kort kontrollerad ansträngning och (ii) efter travtävlin-gen. Ingen rasskillnad i enzymaktiviteter vid vila konstaterades och de två raserna svarade likadant på ansträngningen. Först efter traven påvisades en reell stegring av enzymaktiviteter. Aktiviteterna steg mera hos amerikanska travare än hos finska hästar. Urea- och koleste-rolkoncentrationerna förblev oförändrade efter ansträngningarna. För-höjningen av protein- och albuminkoncentrationerna samt hämatokrit-värderna var markant efter ansträngningen. Vid vila var hämatokrit-värdena markant högre hos amerikanska travare och skillnaden kvar-stod alltigenom ansträngningen. Efter traven var också albumin- och proteinkoncentrationerna högre hos amerikanska travare än hos finska hästar. Halten av fria fettsyror och triglycerider steg markant under ansträngningen. Ehuru koncentrationen av glukos och laktat steg i bägge raser avvek beteendet av dessa parametrar. Halten av glukos förblev förhöjd för en längre period och återsitällandet av det förhöjda laktatvärdet försiggick fortare hos amerikanska travare än hos finska hästar. De observerade skillnaderna tyda på, att amerikanska hästar besitta en högre anaerobisk kapacitet än finska hästar.
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Publication Date: 1983-01-01 PubMed ID: 6613781PubMed Central: PMC8291260DOI: 10.1186/BF03546745Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • 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 examines how exercise affects blood parameters in American standardbred and Finnish-bred horses. The key finding suggests standardbred horses have a higher anaerobic capacity than Finnish-bred horses, by studying and comparing the effect of exercise on various blood parameters.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers measured several blood parameters in standardbred and Finnish-bred horses at rest and after different types of exercise – a short controlled exercise and a trotting competition.
  • The blood parameters examined included serum enzyme activities, albumin, protein, urea, cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid, glucose and lactate concentrations, as well as hematocrit values.

Key Findings

  • It was found that there were no breed differences in the enzyme activities at rest, and both breeds responded to exercise in the same manner.
  • However, after the race, significant increases in the enzyme activities were found. The increase occurred more in standardbred horses than in Finnish-bred horses.
  • Urea and cholesterol concentrations did not change following either type of exercise.
  • The concentrations of protein and albumin as well as hematocrit values demonstrated a significant increase after the exercise. Further, it was found that at rest, the hematocrit values were significantly higher in the standardbred horses and this difference carried through the exercise.
  • After the competition, albumin and protein concentrations were also higher among standardbred than in Finnish-bred horses.
  • Levels of free fatty acid and triglyceride significantly increased with exercise in both horse breeds.
  • Glucose and lactate concentrations also increased in both breeds in response to exercise, but showed distinct differences in their behaviour post-exercise. For standardbred horses, glucose concentrations remained elevated for a longer period and their recovery from the heightened lactate level was faster than that in Finnish-bred horses.
  • The researchers concluded that the observed differences suggest that the standardbred horses have a higher anaerobic capacity than the Finnish-bred horses.

Conclusion

  • This research provides valuable insights into the physiological differences between different horse breeds. It highlights that there are variances in how different breeds respond to exercise, particularly in their blood parameters – an important factor when considering breed suitability for equestrian sports or other activities involving physical exertion.

Cite This Article

APA
Pösö AR, Soveri T, Oksanen HE. (1983). The effect of exercise on blood parameters in standardbred and Finnish-bred horses. Acta Vet Scand, 24(2), 170-184. https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03546745

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 0044-605X
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 24
Issue: 2
Pages: 170-184

Researcher Affiliations

Pösö, A R
    Soveri, T
      Oksanen, H E

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Blood Glucose / analysis
        • Blood Proteins / analysis
        • Enzymes / blood
        • Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / blood
        • Female
        • Hematocrit / veterinary
        • Horses / blood
        • Lactates / blood
        • Lactic Acid
        • Male
        • Physical Exertion
        • Triglycerides / blood

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 8 times.
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        2. Saastamoinen M, Särkijärvi S. Effect of Linseed (Linum usitatissimum) Groats-Based Mixed Feed Supplements on Diet Nutrient Digestibility and Blood Parameters of Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 10;10(2).
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        3. Saastamoinen M, Särkijärvi S, Valtonen E. The Effect of Diet Composition on the Digestibility and Fecal Excretion of Phosphorus in Horses: A Potential Risk of P Leaching?. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jan 15;10(1).
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        4. Saastamoinen M, Särkijärvi S, Hyyppä S. Garlic (Allium Sativum) Supplementation Improves Respiratory Health but Has Increased Risk of Lower Hematologic Values in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2019 Jan 2;9(1).
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        5. Connysson M, Muhonen S, Jansson A. Road transport and diet affect metabolic response to exercise in horses. J Anim Sci 2017 Nov;95(11):4869-4879.
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