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[RC] Fw: Equine Nutrition - rackinfool


Growth and Development
The current trend in the horse industry is to accentuate growth in young
horses; however, some fear developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) if growth
is too rapid or foals become too large. Additional support for this theory
was obtained in recent research done on a Kentucky Thoroughbred farm in
which 271 foals were evaluated over four years. It was found that foals that
developed DOD were larger at birth and grew more rapidly than foals without
DOD.

If foals are fed for rapid weight gain, they will have an increase in bone
mineral content, according to one study. However, the study showed that
there were no differences in bone mineral quality in foals fed for rapid
weight gain versus those fed for slow weight gain. Foals that do gain weight
rapidly might have an increase in serum osteocalcin, indicating that more
bone growth is taking place. However, they observed an increased incidence
of physitis in foals fed for rapid gain.

Concerns over a connection between glucose intolerance and insulin
resistance to development of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions
prompted the development of an oral dextrose challenge test for glucose
intolerance. Research at Rutgers found that there might indeed be an
association of glucose intolerance and OCD.

Studies at Kentucky Equine Research on the effects of feed on the incidence
of OCD indicated that providing feed with a low glycemic response could
reduce the incidence of OCD.

Owners of young horses strive to make weaning time as stress-free as
possible, and researchers wondered what the effects of weaning time are on
body weight, wither height, and bone density. It was found that weaning had
no effect; however, a decline in weight gain at one and three weeks after
weaning is normal.

If young horses enter race training, there will be a period of bone
demineralization, then a period of re-mineralization. A study of yearling
Quarter Horses showed a significant decrease in the density of metacarpal
bone believed to be caused by the exercise-induced bone remodeling. "The
research indicated the onset of speed work often coincides with the time of
greatest demineralization (50-60 days into training), which may account for
the high incidence of skeletal injuries in 2-year-old horses in training,"
according to the authors of the study. "Training methods and protocols
should be designed to reflect the findings that significant demineralization
of metacarpal bone occurs in the first 60 days of training."

Further research shows that feeding higher levels of phosphorus, calcium,
and magnesium than those recommended by the NRC might increase bone
mineralization. And even for long yearlings not in training, calcium levels
might need to be increased to 115% of NRC recommendations, according to
Oklahoma researchers.

For many young horses, once training is begun, they are then confined to
stalls. However, research suggests this might be detrimental. Michigan
researchers found that confined long yearlings and 2-year-olds had a loss of
bone mineral content in comparison with those on pasture. Rich recommended
allowing young horses free access to exercise on pasture, or if this is not
an option, then training should be modified to account for the bone loss.
One product that might help prevent bone mineral loss is exogenous
somatopropin (eST).

 
 

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