The influence of maternal size on pre- and postnatal growth in the horse: III Postnatal growth.
Abstract: The growth parameters exhibited by seven Thoroughbred (Tb) foals that had experienced a 'restricted' in utero existence following transfer as embryos to the uteri of smaller Pony (P) mares (Tb-in-P) and, conversely, six P foals that experienced a 'luxurious' in utero existence after transfer to larger Tb mares (P-in-Tb), were compared from birth to 3 years of age with those exhibited by six normal Tb-in-Tb and six P-in-P foals conceived by within-breed artificial insemination. Bodyweight, height at the withers, girth, poll-to-nose length, crown-rump length and three foreleg longbone measurements were made at regular intervals. At birth, an approximate 15% reduction or increase in parameters was observed in the Tb-in-P and P-in-Tb respectively, which declined to 5% by 3 years of age. Growth post partum was affected by restricted or enhanced growth in utero. In the first 6 months post partum, growth rate was enhanced in the previously restricted Tb-in-P foals and curbed in the previously enhanced P-in-Tb foals compared with their respective controls. Overall, the similarity of the responses of the offspring to both 'restriction' and 'luxury' in utero ensured that no major changes to conformation resulted from either treatment. Thus, the Thoroughbreds carried by the Pony mares were merely scaled down versions of the Tb-in-Tb controls while the Ponies carried by the Thoroughbred mares were scaled up versions of the P-in-P controls.
Publication Date: 2004-04-02 PubMed ID: 15056771DOI: 10.1530/rep.1.00024Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigates the influence of the size of the mother (mare) on the pre and postnatal growth of horse foals. The study finds that Thoroughbred foals carried by Pony mares are smaller but proportional versions of their breed, whereas Pony foals carried by Thoroughbred mares are larger but proportionally similar to their breed.
Research Context and Method
- This study involved comparing the growth parameters of Thoroughbred (Tb) and Pony (P) horse foals that had their in utero environment either ‘restricted’ (Tb foals to smaller Pony mares) or ‘luxurious’ (Pony foals to larger Thoroughbred mares) to those conceived naturally within their breed. The focus was on observing the effects from birth to 3 years of age.
- Growth parameters considered included body weight, height at the withers, girth, poll-to-nose length, crown-rump length, and three longbone measurements of the foreleg. These measurements were taken at regular intervals.
Findings
- The findings showed that at birth, Tb foals carried by P mares were approximately 15% smaller in all observed parameters compared to controls, while P foals carried by Tb mares were roughly 15% larger. By the age of 3 years, this disparity reduced to around 5%.
- Postnatal growth seemed to be impacted by the in-utero conditions. Tb foals which had restricted growth in-utero showed an enhanced growth rate in the first 6 months after birth and vice versa for the P foals.
- In terms of physical conformation, the treatments did not drastically alter the horses’ forms. The Tb carried by the P mares were found to be smaller but proportional versions of the Tb-in-Tb, whereas the P carried by Tb mares were larger but proportional versions of the P-in-P.
Implications and Conclusion
- The research highlights how in-utero conditions can influence postnatal growth rates in horses. However, the eventual proportions remain consistent with that of their breed, with no major conformational changes.
- The results indicate the robustness of the genetic design and growth patterns of these horses—despite changes in in-utero conditions, the horses grow to become scaled versions of their breed.
Cite This Article
APA
Allen WR, Wilsher S, Tiplady C, Butterfield RM.
(2004).
The influence of maternal size on pre- and postnatal growth in the horse: III Postnatal growth.
Reproduction, 127(1), 67-77.
https://doi.org/10.1530/rep.1.00024 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine Equine Fertility Unit, Mertoun Paddocks, Woodditton Road, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9BH, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / growth & development
- Body Constitution / genetics
- Embryo Transfer
- Embryonic and Fetal Development
- Female
- Genotype
- Horses / growth & development
- Pregnancy
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Meinecke B, Meinecke-Tillmann S. Lab partners: oocytes, embryos and company. A personal view on aspects of oocyte maturation and the development of monozygotic twins.. Anim Reprod 2023;20(2):e20230049.
- Hallman I, Karikoski N, Kareskoski M. The effects of obesity and insulin dysregulation on mare reproduction, pregnancy, and foal health: a review.. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1180622.
- Gao Y, Hannan MA, Murata K, Rajabi-Toustani R, Nambo Y. Ultrasonographic examination of equine fetal growth parameters throughout gestation in pony for Equine-Assisted Therapy.. J Vet Med Sci 2022 Jan 7;84(1):74-81.
- Aurich J, Köhne M, Wulf M, Nagel C, Beythien E, Gautier C, Zentek J, Aurich C. Effects of dietary L-arginine supplementation to early pregnant mares on conceptus diameter-Preliminary findings.. Reprod Domest Anim 2019 May;54(5):772-778.
- Archer E, Pavela G, McDonald S, Lavie CJ, Hill JO. Cell-Specific "Competition for Calories" Drives Asymmetric Nutrient-Energy Partitioning, Obesity, and Metabolic Diseases in Human and Non-human Animals.. Front Physiol 2018;9:1053.
- Robles M, Gautier C, Mendoza L, Peugnet P, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Lejeune JP, Caudron I, Guenon I, Camous S, Tarrade A, Wimel L, Serteyn D, Bouraima-Lelong H, Chavatte-Palmer P. Maternal Nutrition during Pregnancy Affects Testicular and Bone Development, Glucose Metabolism and Response to Overnutrition in Weaned Horses Up to Two Years.. PLoS One 2017;12(1):e0169295.
- Peugnet P, Robles M, Mendoza L, Wimel L, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Guillaume D, Camous S, Berthelot V, Toquet MP, Richard E, Sandersen C, Chaffaux S, Lejeune JP, Tarrade A, Serteyn D, Chavatte-Palmer P. Effects of moderate amounts of barley in late pregnancy on growth, glucose metabolism and osteoarticular status of pre-weaning horses.. PLoS One 2015;10(4):e0122596.
- Peugnet P, Wimel L, Duchamp G, Sandersen C, Camous S, Guillaume D, Dahirel M, Dubois C, Jouneau L, Reigner F, Berthelot V, Chaffaux S, Tarrade A, Serteyn D, Chavatte-Palmer P. Enhanced or reduced fetal growth induced by embryo transfer into smaller or larger breeds alters post-natal growth and metabolism in pre-weaning horses.. PLoS One 2014;9(7):e102044.
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