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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Sci / Zinc Status of Horses and Ponies: Relevance of Health, Horse...
Veterinary sciences2023; 10(4); 295; doi: 10.3390/vetsci10040295

Zinc Status of Horses and Ponies: Relevance of Health, Horse Type, Sex, Age, and Test Material.

Abstract: Little is known about the animal- and diet-related factors that could interfere with the plasma zinc (Zn) concentrations of equines. Additionally, the adequacy of plasma to reflect changes in the Zn intake is unclear. In the first part of this study, the plasma Zn concentrations of hospitalized horses and ponies ( = 538) were measured and evaluated for the impact of the age, sex, horse type, and internal diseases of the animals. In the second part, the effects of increasing dietary Zn chloride hydroxide and Zn methionine supplementations were assessed on the plasma and mane hair Zn concentrations of healthy horses ( = 2) and ponies ( = 8). Part 1: The age, sex, and horse type did not influence the plasma Zn concentrations. No effect of internal diseases was observed, with the exception of higher plasma Zn concentrations in animals with metabolic disorders compared to the control group ( < 0.05). Part 2: Both Zn supplements dose-dependently increased the Zn concentrations in the mane hair ( = 0.003), but not in the plasma of the horses and ponies. In conclusion, the plasma Zn concentrations were widely unaffected by nutritional and non-nutritional factors in equines, while mane hair samples better reflected the dietary Zn supply.
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Publication Date: 2023-04-16 PubMed ID: 37104450PubMed Central: PMC10144230DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10040295Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study examines the factors that influence zinc (Zn) levels in horses and ponies, and finds that hair samples rather than plasma samples effectively reflect dietary zinc intake.

Study Purpose and Methodology

  • The study aims to explore the factors, both diet and non-diet related, that might influence the concentration of zinc in the plasma of equines (horses and ponies). It also attempts to ascertain whether plasma reflects changes in zinc intake.
  • In the first part of the study, the researchers examine plasma zinc concentrations in a large sample size of 538 hospitalized horses and ponies. They then assess the influences of variables such as age, sex, type of horse, and internal diseases on these concentrations.
  • In the second part of the study, the researchers investigate the effect of increasing dietary supplements of zinc chloride hydroxide and zinc methionine on the zinc concentrations in the plasma and mane hair of 2 healthy horses and 8 healthy ponies.

Study Findings

  • The first part of the study finds no significant correlation between age, sex, type of horse and plasma zinc concentrations. The plasma zinc concentration levels remain unaffected even in the presence of internal diseases, with the exception of metabolic disorders that caused an increase in the plasma zinc concentrations when compared to the control group.
  • The results of the second part of the study show that both zinc supplements tested had a dose-dependent positive effect on the zinc concentrations in the mane hair, albeit with no significant effect on the plasma concentrations of the horses and ponies.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that plasma zinc concentrations in horses and ponies remain widely unaffected by both nutritional and non-nutritional factors.
  • The research suggests that mane hair samples provide a more accurate measure of dietary zinc supply in equines, as they reflect the changes in zinc intake far better than plasma samples do.

Cite This Article

APA
van Bömmel-Wegmann S, Gehlen H, Barton AK, Büttner K, Zentek J, Paßlack N. (2023). Zinc Status of Horses and Ponies: Relevance of Health, Horse Type, Sex, Age, and Test Material. Vet Sci, 10(4), 295. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10040295

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 4
PII: 295

Researcher Affiliations

van Bömmel-Wegmann, Sarah
  • Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
Gehlen, Heidrun
  • Equine Clinic, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
Barton, Ann-Kristin
  • Equine Clinic, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
Büttner, Kathrin
  • Unit for Biomathematics and Data Processing, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Zentek, Jürgen
  • Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
Paßlack, Nadine
  • Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany.

Grant Funding

  • This research was funded by almapharm GmbH & Co. KG (Wildpoldsried, Germany). / This research was funded by almapharm GmbH & Co. KG (Wildpoldsried, Germany).

Conflict of Interest Statement

Sarah van Bömmel-Wegmann received a scholarship funded by almapharm GmbH & Co. KG (Wildpoldsried, Germany). The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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