Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
Volume 28, Issue 3 , Pages 156-166 , March 2008

Effects of Diet and Weight Gain on Body Condition Scoring in Thoroughbred Geldings

  • Jessica K. Suagee, MS

      Affiliations

    • Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
    • ,
  • Amy O. Burk, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
    • Institute of Applied Agriculture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Amy O. Burk, PhD, Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742.
    • ,
  • Rachael W. Quinn, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
    • ,
  • Erin D. Petersen, MS

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Applied Agriculture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
    • ,
  • Thomas G. Hartsock, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Applied Agriculture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
    • ,
  • Larry W. Douglass, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

References 

  1. Henneke DR, Potter GD, Kreider JL, Yeates BF. Relationship between condition score, physical measurements and body fat percentage in mares. Equine Vet J. 1983;15:371–372
  2. Borst SE, Conover CF. High-fat diet induces increased tissue expression of TNF-alpha. Life Sci. 2005;77:2156–2165
  3. West DB, York B. Dietary fat, genetic predisposition, and obesity: lessons from animal models. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998;67:505–512
  4. Quinn RW. Effect of weight gain, diet, and exercise on insulin sensitivity in Thoroughbred geldings. Doctoral Dissertation. College Park: University of Maryland; 2007;
  5. NRC . Nutrient requirements of horses. 5th rev ed.. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 1989;43–44
  6. Heusner GL. Ad libitum feeding of mature horses to achieve rapid weight gain. In: Proceedings 13th Equine Nutrition and Physiology Symposium; 1993.
  7. Bland JM, Altman DG. Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. Lancet. 1986;1:307–310
  8. Freestone JF, Wolfsheimer KJ, Ford RB, Church G, Bessin R. Triglyceride, insulin and cortisol responses of ponies to fasting and dexamethasone administration. J Vet Int Med. 1991;5:15–22
  9. Potter GD, Evans JW, Greene LW. Digestible energy requirements of Belgian and percheron horses. In: Proceedings 10th Equine Nutrition and Physiology Symposium; 1987.
  10. Burkholder WJ. Use of body condition scores in clinical assessment of the provision of optimal nutrition. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2000;217:650–654
  11. Evans DG. The interpretation and analysis of subjective body condition scores. Anim Prod. 1978;26:119–125
  12. Westervelt RG, Stouffer JR, Hintz HF, Schryver HF. Estimating fatness in horses and ponies. J Anim Sci. 1976;43:781–785
  13. Hoffman RM, Boston RC, Stefanovski D, Kronfeld DS, Harris PA. Obesity and diet affect glucose dynamics and insulin sensitivity in Thoroughbred geldings. J Anim Sci. 2003;81:2333–2342
  14. Williams CA, Kronfeld DS, Staniar WB, Harris PA. Plasma glucose and insulin responses of Thoroughbred mares fed a meal high in starch and sugar or fat and fiber. J Anim Sci. 2001;79:2196–2201
  15. Weller R, Pfau T, May SA, Wilson AM. Variation in conformation in a cohort of national hunt racehorses. Equine Vet J. 2006;38:616–621
  16. Anderson TM, McIlwraith CW. Longitudinal development of equine conformation from weanling to age 3 years in the Thoroughbred. Equine Vet J. 2004;36:563–570
  17. Eto D, Yamano S, Kasashima Y, Sugiura T, Nasu T, Tokuriki M, et al. Effect of controlled exercise on middle gluteal muscle fiber composition in thoroughbred foals. Equine Vet J. 2003;35:676–680
  18. Yamano S, Eto D, Sugiura T, Kai M, Hiraga A, Tokuriki M, et al. Effect of growth and training on muscle adaptation in thoroughbred horses. Am J Vet Res. 2002;63:1408–1412
  19. Graham-Thiers PM, Kronfeld DS. Amino acid supplementation improves muscle mass in aged and young horses. J Anim Sci. 2005;83:2783–2788
  20. Gentry LR, Thompson DL, Gentry GT, Davis KR, Godke RA. High versus low body condition in mares: Interactions with responses to somatotropin, GNRH analog, and dexamethasone. J Anim Sci. 2002;80:3277–3285
  21. Kronfeld DS, Harris PA. Influences of dietary energy sources on health and performance. In:  Robinson E editors. Current therapy in equine medicine. Saunders; 2003;

 Refereed

PII: S0737-0806(08)00030-0

doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2008.01.019

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
Volume 28, Issue 3 , Pages 156-166 , March 2008

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