The Effect of Season on Muscle Growth, Fat Deposition, Travel Patterns, and Hoof Growth of Domestic Young Horses.
Abstract: Our objective was to determine the influence of season (winter, spring, summer, and fall) on travel patterns, hoof growth, and longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) height and fat thickness between 13th and 14th ribs in 16 horses aged <4 years (eight males and eight females) of Morgan, Quarter Horse, and Moriesian breeds. Real-time ultrasound images of LM height and fat thickness as well as measures of hoof growth were obtained at the end of each season. Global positioning system tracking was conducted for four randomly selected days and one storm day in each season. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model procedure in SAS. Season influenced fat deposition (P < .01) with the greatest increase in fall (P < .05) but had minimal effect on muscle growth. Hoof growth was greatest in summer and least in winter (P < .01). The average distance traveled was greater in spring and summer than in fall and winter (P < .01). The horses moved for less time and traveled less distance on storm days (P < .05) compared with nonstorm days. Young horses also traveled less on storm days, which indicates that it may be especially important to provide shelter for them. It was concluded that season influenced fat deposition, distance traveled, and hoof growth of domestic young horses. A better understanding of these factors could help equine professionals manage young horses more efficiently to benefit the horses' physical well-being.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2019-11-22 PubMed ID: 31952631DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102817Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research study investigated the impact of different seasons on travel behavior, hoof growth, muscle development, and fat accumulation in young domestic horses. The study found that seasonality significantly affects fat build-up, hoof growth, and distance traveled, but has a minimal effect on muscle growth.
Study Design
- The research involved 16 horses, all under four years of age, including Morgans, Quarter Horses, and Moriesian breeds split evenly between males and females.
- The research utilized real-time ultrasound images to determine the height of the longissimus dorsi muscle and the fat thickness between the 13th and 14th ribs of each horse. Hoof growth was also measured at the end of each season.
- GPS tracking was used for four random days plus one storm day per season to determine travel patterns.
- The data was analyzed using a linear mixed model procedure.
Key Findings
- Season significantly impacted fat deposition in the studied horses, with the greatest increase observed during the fall, highlighting a potential need for closer monitoring of horse diet and exercise during this season to maintain a healthy body condition.
- Hoof growth was found to be the greatest during the summer and least during the winter, suggesting seasonal variations in growth rates that require different approaches to hoof care throughout the year.
- The average travel distance was greater in spring and summer compared to fall and winter, which may be linked to the horses’ physiological or behavior changes or possibly related to variations in pasture availability or weather conditions.
- Horses were less active during storm days, particularly young horses, indicating the potential need for provision of shelter during inclement weather conditions to ensure their physical well-being.
Conclusions
- The results indicated that season plays a vital role in fat deposition, travel behavior, and hoof growth in young domestic horses.
- The findings offer valuable insights that could help horse managers and equine professionals to adapt their care practices according to the time of year to enhance horse health and well-being.
Cite This Article
APA
He Y, Nadeau J, Reed S, Hoagland T, Bushmich S, Aborn S, Jones AK, Martin D.
(2019).
The Effect of Season on Muscle Growth, Fat Deposition, Travel Patterns, and Hoof Growth of Domestic Young Horses.
J Equine Vet Sci, 85, 102817.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102817 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. Electronic address: jenifer.nadeau@uconn.edu.
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Hoof and Claw
- Horses
- Male
- Muscles
- Seasons
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Meng S, Zhang Y, Lv S, Zhang Z, Liu X, Jiang L. Comparison of muscle metabolomics between two Chinese horse breeds. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1162953.
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