Vitamin A, E and D nutrition in mares and foals during the winter season: effect of feeding two different vitamin-mineral concentrates.
Abstract: The effects of feeding two different vitamin-mineral concentrates on serum levels of vitamins A, E and D and some growth indicators were examined in 30 pregnant mares and 30 foals. One concentrate contained vitamins A and E and the other did not. Both contained vitamin D3. No differences (P greater than .05) in serum levels of retinol and alpha-tocopherol were observed between the feeding groups in the mares, whereas in the weanlings serum levels of dietary vitamins A and E increased (P less than .01) during late winter and early spring. However, the values did not increase to levels found in summer. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were very low (compared with animals of other species) in October, decreased (P less than .05) in winter and increased somewhat during the spring. The decrease in January was more pronounced in horses receiving vitamin concentrates containing less vitamin D. These results are interpreted to indicate that, in Finland, the commonly used amounts of dietary vitamins A and E or their bioavailability in vitamin-mineral concentrates are not sufficient to maintain serum concentrations in winter even close to the levels found in horses on pasture. Vitamin D status of horses is difficult to study due to very low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Publication Date: 1988-06-01 PubMed ID: 2840425DOI: 10.2527/jas1988.6661424xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research looks at how feeding pregnant mares and foals two different vitamin-mineral concentrates during the winter season affects their levels of vitamins A, E, and D, and how this subsequently influences certain growth indicators.
Methodology and Participants
- The study involved 30 pregnant mares and 30 foals.
- These horses were divided into groups and fed two different vitamin-mineral concentrates. One of these contained vitamins A and E whereas the other did not. Both concentrates contained vitamin D3.
Observations and Findings
- For the mares, there were no significant differences observed in the serum levels of retinol (a form of vitamin A) and alpha-tocopherol (a form of vitamin E) between the feeding groups.
- In contrast, the foals showed an increase in serum levels of dietary vitamins A and E during late winter and early spring, though these levels did not reach the levels found in summer.
- The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, which is a measure of vitamin D status, were found to be quite low in October, declined further in winter, and increased slightly during the spring. This decrease was more pronounced in horses receiving vitamin concentrates with less vitamin D.
Interpretation
- The findings suggest that the common amounts of dietary vitamins A and E provided in the vitamin-mineral concentrates used in Finland are not adequate enough to maintain serum concentrations during the winter season that are anywhere close to the levels found in horses on pasture.
- The research also highlights that studying the vitamin D status of horses is a complex task due to very low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Implications
- This study underscores the need to reconsider the composition and quantities of dietary vitamins A and E in vitamin-mineral concentrates provided to horses during winter to ensure maintenance of optimum serum vitamin levels.
- The research also points towards the need for further research on accurately assessing and monitoring the vitamin D status of horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Mäenpää PH, Pirhonen A, Koskinen E.
(1988).
Vitamin A, E and D nutrition in mares and foals during the winter season: effect of feeding two different vitamin-mineral concentrates.
J Anim Sci, 66(6), 1424-1429.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1988.6661424x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Dept. of Biochem., University of Kuopio, Finland.
MeSH Terms
- Alkaline Phosphatase / blood
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Cholecalciferol / administration & dosage
- Cholecalciferol / blood
- Cholesterol / blood
- Female
- Horses / blood
- Hydroxycholecalciferols / administration & dosage
- Hydroxycholecalciferols / blood
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy, Animal / blood
- Seasons
- Vitamin A / administration & dosage
- Vitamin A / blood
- Vitamin D / administration & dosage
- Vitamin D / blood
- Vitamin E / administration & dosage
- Vitamin E / blood
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Etemadi F, Tabatabaei Naeini A, Aminlari M. Assessment of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D and PTH levels in sera of lame horses. Vet Med Sci 2023 Sep;9(5):2070-2077.
- Trombetta MF, Accorsi PA, Falaschini A. Effect of β-carotene Supplementation on Italian Trotter Mare Peripartum. J Equine Sci 2010;21(1):1-6.
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