Effects of exogenous equine somatotropin on mineral balance in two-year-old horses in race training

This study examined the effects of exogenous equinesomatotropin (eST — Equigen) administration on mineral absorption and retention in two-year-old horses in race training. Sixteen Quarter Horse geldings were paired by age (ave.age=794 d), and one horse from each pair was assigned at random to either the eST treatment group or the control. The experiment was conducted over 112 days during which the horses were gentled to ride and trained on a dirt track in a regimen typical for race horses in training. At 28-day intervals, collections of total fecal and urinary output were made to determine effects on Ca, inorganic P, Mg, Cu and Zn mineral balance.Due to marginal and slightly deficient amounts (P<01)of Ca, P, Mg and Zn intake by days 84 and 112, a result of reduced feed intake to maintain a constant body condition in the presence of a decreased workload, mineral balance for the aforementioned minerals was only examined through day 56. In contrast to the previous minerals, Cu intake appeared adequate. Ca, P, Mg, Cu and Zn intake did not differ (P>.05) by treatment. The eST-treated horses increased (P<.05) Ca retention as a percent of Ca absorbed, had greater (P<.05) overall apparent efficiency of P absorption and greater (P<.05) apparent retention of P on day 56 than the control horses. The eST-treated horses had greater (P<.05) apparent Cu absorption on day 56, greater (P<.05) apparent Cu absorption efficiency on days 56 and 84, and there was a trend (P<.1) for the eST-treated horses to retain more Cu on day 56 than the control horses. Finally, the eST-treated horses retained a greater percent (P<.1) of absorbed Zn on day 56.     

Endurance Training Has Little Impact on Mineral Content of the Third Metacarpus in Two-Year-Old Arabian Horses

Although previous research suggests that short bouts of high-speed exercise will increase bone mass in horses, little research has been conducted to determine the impact of endurance exercise on bone. Although many in the equine industry believe that months of slow training will increase bone strength, we hypothesized that endurance training would not alter bone mineral content as determined through optical density. Eleven 2-year-old Arabians were split into two groups, Exercised (E, 6 geldings) or Control (C, 5 fillies), with radiographs taken on day 0 for estimation of bone mineral content by radiographic bone aluminum equivalence (RBAE). The E horses were then trained on a high-speed treadmill for 90 days; training consisted of walking (1.6 m/second), trotting (4 m/second) and cantering (8 m/second) at increasing distances until the target of 60 km/day was met. On day 90, E horses were confined to 9 × 14 m dry lots and placed on a regular exercise schedule, including a 60-km endurance test once every 3 weeks. The C horses remained on pasture throughout the study. On day 162, radiographs were made again on all 11 horses. No differences between treatments, days, or interactions were noted in any cortex or the total RBAE, suggesting that endurance exercise does little to alter bone optical density compared with free-choice exercise on pasture.     

Bone density in the juvenile racehorse treated with exogenous somatotropin (eST)

Thirty juvenile horses were paired by age within sex, and one horse from each pair was randomly assigned to either eST treatment or to a control group. The horses were “broke” to ride and trained in a regimen typical for young racehorses. Radiographs were taken on days 0, 32, 50, 64, 82, 96 and 128 of the study. Increase in total radiographic bone aluminum equivalence (RBAE) was significantly greater in eST treated horses than in the control group (P<.003). Increase in medial RBAE was also significantly greater due to eST treatment (P<.0001). Trends were apparent for increases due to eST treatment in dorsal RBAE (P=.07) and lateral RBAE (P=.07). Bone density was selectively increased in the dorsal, lateral and medial vs. the palmar cortex in the eST treated horses.     

A Marine Mineral Supplement Alters Markers of Bone Metabolism in Yearling Arabians

This study tested whether the supplement (Aquacid), high in calcium and other minerals, can alter markers of bone metabolism and mineralization of the equine third metacarpus bone. Radiographs were taken of the left third metacarpus of 14 yearlings. Radiographic bone aluminum equivalence (RBAE) of each cortex was calculated to estimate mineral content. Blood samples were also taken at this time. Horses were ranked according to RBAE and gender, were pair-matched, and randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Each group was provided one of two mineral supplements in addition to their normal diet. The treated group (Aq) received 75 g Aquacid/horse/d, which provided an additional 15 g of calcium. The control group (Co) received 39.5 g of limestone to provide similar amounts of calcium. The study lasted for 112 days, with blood being taken every 28 days. At day 56 and 112, additional radiographs was taken to track changes in RBAE. Blood was analyzed for osteocalcin (a bone formation marker) and serum C-telopeptide crosslaps of type I collagen (a bone resorption marker) to detect alterations in bone metabolism. Using day 0 values as a covariate for bone markers, there was a trend (P = .07) for osteocalcin concentrations to be greater in Aq horses than in Co. Likewise, C-telopeptide crosslaps of type I collagen concentrations were greater (P < .0001) in Aq horses than in Co. There were minimal differences in RBAE values. These findings suggest Aquacid, while not altering bone mass, increases bone turnover and may aid in repairing damaged bone and preventing injuries.     

The effect of aerobic exercise after a period of inactivity on bone remodeling and calcium and phosphorus balance in mature horses

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of aerobic training after a sedentary period on bone remodeling and Ca and P balance and serum concentrations in varying ages of mature horses. Eighteen stock-type geldings were blocked into three age groups (6 to 10, 11 to 15, and 16 and older years of age), within two groups of nine, with horses randomly assigned to one of two exercise treatments, exercised for 112 days (control) or idle for 56 days followed by 56 days of exercise (treated). Blood samples were taken at the beginning of period I and at 14-day intervals thereafter to determine serum concentrations of osteocalcin (OST), Ca, and P. Dorsal-palmar and lateral-medial radiographs were taken of the left third metacarpal bone on days 0, 56, 84, and 112 to monitor changes in bone density. Total fecal and urine collections were taken for 72 hours on days 0, 56, and 112. Mean serum OST concentrations were affected by treatment (P<.02), time (P<.001); and the interactions of treatment and age (P<.003), time and treatment (P<.001), and time, treatment, and age (P<.001). Overall dorsal (DBRAE), palmar (PRBAE), and medial (MRBAE) RBAE means were affected by time (P<.001), as was overall lateral (LRBAE) RBAE mean (P<.005). Overall DBRAE and PRBAE means were lower (P<.04) at day 56, and higher at day 84 (P<.02) and 112 (P<.001) as compared to day 0. Mean serum Ca concentration was affected by treatment (P<.003) and time (P<.001). Mean serum P concentration was affected by the interaction of time and treatment (P<.001). Mean apparent daily Ca balance was affected bythe interaction of time, treatment, and age (P<.03). Mean apparent daily P balance was affected by treatment (P<.02) and time (P<.001). Biochemical and radiographic data from this experiment suggest that bone remodeling as well as Ca and P balance and serum concentrations are affected by age, inactivity, and exercise in mature horses.     

Bone mineral changes in dairy cows. The effect of low and high calcium feeding during late pregnancy and at parturition

The bone mineral content in two coccygeal vertebrae of 16 cows of Swedish Red and White Breed was measured with dichromatic photon absorptiometry during the period nine weeks prepartum to one week postpartum. For eight weeks before calving eight cows received 37 g Ca and 50 g P/day and the other eight, 76 g Ca and 50 g P/day. The mean bone mineral changes of the cows on the low Ca ration did not change. The cows on the high Ca ration had a slight increase (4 %) in bone mineral content to some days before calving. The postpartum bone mineral changes were, however, lower than the one prepartum. There was no significant difference between the mean bone mineral changes of the two groups.     

Mineral balance in juvenile horses in race training

Twenty-four long yearlings were fed rations containing differing amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium to further elucidate the requirements for these minerals during exercise-induced skeletal modeling and remodeling in juvenile racehorses. The animals were assigned randomly within gender subgroups to 1 of 4 diets. Total collections of feces and urine were performed on days 0, 64, and 128 of the trial for determination of mineral absorption and retention. Horses were maintained in a typical race-training protocol to mimic the nutritional stresses placed on long yearlings during strenuous exercise. Calcium absorption and retention were lower (P < .05) at day 64 than at day 0 and day 128. Also, the efficiency of retaining absorbed calcium was lower at day 64 than at day 0 or day 128. Thus, lower calcium retention at day 64 was due to both reduced absorption and reduced systemic demand. At day 64, calcium absorption and retention were not maximized at calcium intake of 160 mg/kg per day. At day 128, calcium absorption was maximal at a daily intake of 124 mg/kg per day, and retention was maximal at a daily intake of 123 mg/kg per day. These are in excess of current National Research Council (NRC)[1] recommendations by 38% and 36%, respectively. There was no consistent, significant effect of days on trial on phosphorus absorption or retention, which may have been due to inadvertent limited phosphorus intake. The efficiency of phosphorus retention systemically was over 94% to 98%. Phosphorus absorption and retention were not maximized at the highest intake (66 mg/kg/d), which is 32% over current NRC [1] recommendations. Similarly, there was no day effect on the efficiency of magnesium absorption or retention. Urinary excretion of magnesium was highest; thus, systemic efficiency of magnesium retention was lower on days 64 and 128 than on day 0. At day 64, magnesium retention was maximized at a daily intake of 35.6 mg/kg per day, which is 66% over NRC [1] recommendations. However, at day 128, magnesium retention was not maximized even at its highest intake (44 mg/kg/d), which is over 2 times the current NRC [1] recommendations. These data indicate that early race training affects the dietary requirements for calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.

Introduction

The need for a marketable product at an early age in both competition and in sales places significant pressure on horse owners to start training or conditioning early in a horse's life. Training at an early age may exacerbate physiologic stress on young horses and increase nutritional requirements. The process of bone modeling/remodeling is necessary for the juvenile skeleton to adapt to the stresses of training. The horse must form new bone and remodel existing bone to bear the load being applied. During the demineralization process of bone remodeling, there is an increase in mineral excretion from the degradation of the bone matrix. Nielsen et al[2] reported this demineralization of the third metacarpal in conjunction with the introduction of speed in juvenile horses on a race-training regimen. The lack of time routinely given to the stressed bone of a juvenile horse to model and/or remodel according to the stresses placed upon it can cause serious and career-ending injuries. [3] While injury reduction may be achieved from a delay in the onset of training until the horse is mature, this is not feasible economically. Alterations in existing training methods and increasing physiologic stimulus to the skeleton are approaches being researched to minimize skeletal injuries to young horses.Mineral density increase and size of the third metacarpal would result in larger cortical bone mass, decreased strain on the bone, and decreased susceptibility for injury. Previous work in this area demonstrated that increased calcium and phosphorus intake above NRC[1] recommendations for juvenile horses in training enhanced bone density, but no quantitative estimates of requirements were made. [4] The NRC [1] developed an approximation of the requirements for juvenile horses in training using mineral intakes based on extrapolations from research conducted with sedentary and mature horses. This study was conducted to verify previous findings and to further quantify the dietary requirement for calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium during the bone modeling/remodeling process in juvenile athletic horses. The specific objectives of this study were to determine calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium balances in young horses during race training.

Materials and methods

Management of animals

Twenty-four long-yearling Quarter Horses were grouped according to age and sex, then randomly assigned to the diet treatments as shown in Table 1. Two horses from each group were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 diets with the condition that each treatment group would contain the same number of fillies and geldings. While at the Texas A&M University Horse Center, the horses were vaccinated against eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis, influenza, and tetanus and dewormed. All horses began the trial with a background period of at least 1 week, during which the horses were group-housed at the Texas A&M University Horse Center, fed hay ad lib, and offered concentrate at approximately 1% of body weight twice daily. Regular hoof care and deworming were provided throughout the course of the study. The horses were then moved from the Texas A&M University Horse Center in groups of 8 to Steephollow Farm in Bryan, Texas, a race-training facility, where they were separated and housed individually in 7 × 7-m stalls. The horses were moved to Steephollow Farm in 3 groups of 8 at an average age of 226 days for the group. Rations were formulated based on 60% concentrate and 40% Bermuda grass hay, with varying concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. The concentrate diets were provided by Consolidated Nutrition of Omaha, Nebraska (Table 1). All concentrates were mixed, pelleted, and bagged by Consolidated Nutrition and shipped to the Texas A&M University Horse Center. The horses were fed concentrate and hay at 12-hour intervals (7:00 and 7:00 ) for the duration of the trial. They were given until the next feeding to consume all concentrate and hay, and any feed refused was weighed and recorded. Refusals were very infrequent. Feed intake was adjusted weekly as needed to allow for normal growth and to maintain a body condition score of 5 to 6,[5] while maintaining a constant ratio of 60% concentrate and 40% hay. The protocol for management and treatment of the animals was approved by the Texas A&M University Agricultural Animal Care and Use Committee. Five horses were not able to complete the study because of lameness, injury, or sickness, and data from those horses were not included in the results of the study.     

Effects of lysocellin and calcium level on mineral metabolism, performance and ruminal and plasma characteristics of beef steers

Metabolism and growth experiments were conducted to determine the effects of lysocellin and calcium level on mineral metabolism and performance of beef steers. Lysocellin at 0 or 22 mg/kg and Ca at .3 or .6% of the diet were fed in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Two steers averaging 287 kg BW were fed each diet consisting of 80% corn silage and 20% supplement (DM basis) in each of two metabolism trials. Steers were fed the diets for a 21-d preliminary period, followed by 7 d of total feces and urine collection. A lysocellin x Ca interaction was observed for nitrogen retention (P less than .01). Steers fed lysocellin and .6% Ca retained the most N (15.6 g/d), whereas steers receiving lysocellin and .3% Ca retained the least N (8.8 g/d). Lysocellin increased (P less than .05) apparent absorption of Mg. In one of the two metabolism trials, lysocellin increased (P less than .05) apparent absorption and retention of Ca. Apparent absorption and retention of Ca were higher (P less than .05) in steers fed .6% Ca when expressed as grams per day, but absorption and retention were lower (P less than .01) when expressed as a percentage of intake. In the other metabolism trial, the .6% Ca level decreased (P less than .05) urinary P excretion and increased (P less than .05) P retention as a percentage of absorbed P. In a growth experiment, 64 steers were fed similar levels of lysocellin and Ca for 119 d. Diets consisted of 90% corn silage and 10% supplement. Although no treatment effects on ADG, DMI or feed:gain were detected, lysocellin did affect concentration of several minerals in ruminal fluid and blood plasma.     

The effect of calcium and phosphorus supplementation on bone metabolism in young, mature, and aged horses during inactivity and subsequent aerobic training

An experiment was performed to determine the effects of Ca and P supplementation, inactivity, and subsequent aerobic exercise on bone metabolism in young, mature, and aged horses. Twelve stock-type geldings were blocked into three groups: 2 and 3, 7 to 11, and 15 to 21 years of age. Horses within age groups were evenly divided and randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments; control (C) or Ca and P supplementation (T). Horses consuming C and T received about 133% and 275% of National Research Council (NRC) requirements for Ca and P, respectively. The trial consisted of eight 21-day periods. During periods I, II, and III, all horses were inactive and received no forced exercise. During periods IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII, all horses were placed on an ascending aerobic exercise regimen. Blood samples were taken at the beginning of period I and at 21-day intervals thereafter to determine serum concentrations of osteocalcin (OST) and type I carboxyterminal telopeptide (ICTP). Dorsal-palmar and lateral-medial radiographs were taken of the left third metacarpal at the beginning of period I and at 21-day intervals thereafter to monitor changes in bone densities, as indicated by radiographic bone aluminum equivalencies (RBAE). Mean serum OST was affected by age (P < .004) and the interaction of time and age (P < .006). Mean serum ICTP was affected by age (P < .001), time (P < .001), the interaction of time and age (P < .001); and the interaction of time and treatment (P < .05). There was an effect of treatment on overall mean medial (MRBAE; P < .04) and total (TRBAE; P < .04) RBAE. Overall mean dorsal RBAE (DRBAE; P < .001), palmar RBAE (PRBAE; P < .003), lateral RBAE (LRBAE; P < .001), MRBAE (P < .001), normalized MRBAE (P < .001), TRBAE (P < .05), and normalized TRBAE (P < .05) were affected by time. There was an effect of the interaction of time and age on overall mean DRBAE (P < .05), LRBAE (P < .002), MRBAE (P < .02), normalized MRBAE (P < .02), TRBAE (P < .005), and normalized TRBAE (P < .005). Overall mean DRBAE (P < .02) and PRBAE (P < .001) were affected by the interaction of time, treatment, and age. Biochemical and radiographic data from this experiment indicate that dietary Ca and P supplementation may affect bone remodeling in aerobically exercised horses of varying ages following a period of inactivity. Furthermore, the data indicate that bone in horses of varying ages responds differently to inactivity and exercise.     

Characterization of changes related to mineral balance and bone metabolism in the young racing Quarter Horse

This study was conducted to determine physiologic responses reflective of bone metabolism during the onset of training and to relate those responses to the mineral requirements of young racehorses. Ten previously untrained Quarter Horse geldings were put into race training. They were fed a diet balanced to meet NRC recommendations for young horses in training. Feed, feces and urine were collected, weighed and analyzed over the experiment to determine mineral balance. Radiographs were taken of the left front leg to determine mineral content of a cross-sectional area of the third metacarpal. Blood samples were taken to determine osteocalcin, parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, Ca and inorganic P concentrations. Horses were gentled to ride, trained to gallop on the track and maintained in training for four 28-day periods. Blood serum was collected every 14 day, while radiographs and 72-hr total collections of urine and feces were taken every 28 d. Radiographs demonstrated that mineral content was lowest at day 56 in the dorsal, palmar and medial cortices of the third metacarpal. Urinary Ca declined dramatically from day 0 to day 28, then remained constant to day 56, before decreasing at day 84. Fecal Ca peaked at day 28 and remained elevated above day 0 amounts until day 112. calcium retention was negative at day 0, became slightly positive by day 28 and increased through day 112. Phosphorus and Mg balance remained relatively unchanged throughout the duration of the study. This study demon-strated changes in the mineral content of the third metacarpal and Ca balance during early training and suggests that further studies be performed.     

Effect of dietary cation-anion balance on urinary mineral excretion in exercised horses

Four mares and four geldings of Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred breeding were used in two simultaneous 4x4 Latin square experiments to study the effects of dietary cation-anion balance (DCAB), defined as meq ((Na+K)-C1)/kg dry matter, on urinary pH and mineral excretion in exercised horses. Diets consisted of a pelleted concentrate of corn, soybean meal and cottonseed hulls fed with bermudagrass hay. Treatments with DCAB of +5 (Low, L), +107 (Medium Low, ML), +201 (Medium High, MH) and +327 (High, H), meq ((Na+K)-Cl)/kg dry matter were formed by supplementing diet L with calcium chloride and ammonium chloride, diet ML with calcium chloride and diet H with sodium bicarbonate and potassium citrate (Table 1). Diet MH was not supplemented and served as the control treatment. Horses were conditioned aerobically for 6 weeks using long, slow, distance (LSD) workouts. During the experimental periods, horses were subjected to a combined exercise regimen alternating LSD with an interval-training protocol 6 days/week. There was a significant (P<.01) treatment effect on urine pH; least squares means for L, ML, MH and H were 6.73, 7.17, 7.38, and 7.92. Horses consuming diet L excreted more calcium in the urine (P<.05) than those consuming MH or H. Least squares means for daily urine calcium excretion tended to be linear across treatments and ranged from 19.66 g/day for diet L to 9.12 g/day for diet H. Urinary chloride excretion was higher (P<.05) for L than for MH or H. Horses fed diet H excreted more sodium (P<.05) in urine than horses fed the other diets. Lowering DCAB, increases urinary calcium loss; depending on the level of calcium intake, this could lead to negative calcium balance in exercising horses.     

Storage and mobilization of muscle glycogen in exercising horses fed a fat-supplemented diet

In a switchback experiment, six mature mares were fed a control and a fat-supplemented diet while being exercised in a galloping regimen. After three weeks adaptation to each diet, horses performed an exercise test (ET) consisting of four, 600-m gallops. Muscle biopsies were obtained before and after the ET, and blood samples were taken before, during and throughout recovery from the ET. Resting glycogen concentration in the biceps femoris muscle increased (P<.05) from 15.77 mg/g wet tissue when the horses were fed the control diet to 22.89 mg/g when they were fed the fats-supplemented diet. During the ET, the amount of glycogen mobilized by the muscle increased (P<.05) from 6.99 mg/g when the horses were fed the control diet to 13.09 mg/g when they were fed the fat-supplemented diet. When the horses were fed the fat-supplemented diet, they galloped faster (P<.09), at a constant heart rate, during the last two gallops of the ET. Thus, adapting exercising horses to a fat-supplemented diet increased muscle glycogen concentrations, which appeared to enhance their performance past the anaerobic threshold.     

Changes in the third metacarpal bone and frequency of bone injuries in young quarter horses during race training - observations and theoretical considerations

Fifty-three Quarter Horses were put into race-training at 18 mo of age. Changes in the third metacarpal were monitored by radiographic densitometry initially at 83 days prior to the commencement of training and at days 0, 62, 104 and 244 of training. A normal increase in density of the third metacarpal due to growth and mineralization was seen from the first set of radiographs until the horses began training at day 0 (P<.001). Bone density then decreased to day 62 (P<.001), remained low through day 104 before it began to increase to day 244 (P<.005). Differences in the most optically dense portion of each cortex of the third metacarpal were compared in horses completing the study without injury and those sustaining a bone-related injury. Horses experienced fewer injuries when they had greater cortical mass in the lateral (P<.05) and medial (P<.1) aspects of the third metacarpal, relative to the palmar aspect, at the commencement of training.     

Digestible energy intake, dry matter digestibility and effect of increased calcium intake on bone parameters of grazing Thoroughbred weanlings in New Zealand

AIMS: To measure the nutritive value of pasture in terms of digestible energy intake (DEI) and dry matter (DM) digestibility, and the effects of increased calcium (Ca) intakes on apparent mineral absorption and bone characteristics in grazing weanling Thoroughbreds. METHODS: DM intake (DMI) and DEI were determined in 16 weanling Thoroughbreds grazing pasture from their daily faecal DM output, measured over 8 days, divided by the DM indigestible fraction (1-digestible DM) determined in a 6-day digestibility trial. The DM, gross energy content, crude protein, soluble carbohydrate, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, lipid, Ca, phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), potassium(K), sulphur (S) and magnesium (Mg) composition of perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture and faeces were determined and their digestibility and/or apparent absorption calculated. Calcium intake and bone growth studies used 17 weanlings, randomly divided into three groups and fed perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture and 0.5 kg grain, with or without a CaCO3 supplement, for 84 days. The animals in Group 1 (n=6) were on a low Ca diet (3.5 g/kg DM) and were fed pasture only; those in Group 2 (n=5) were on a medium Ca diet (6.3 g/kg DM);and those in Group 3 (n=6) were on a high Ca diet (12.0 g/kg DM). After 44 days the apparent absorption of Ca was determined from the differences between the Ca intakes and faecal Ca outputs. At periods just before and after Ca supplementation the horses were anaesthetised and the left radius, third metacarpus(Mc3) and first phalanx of the left foreleg were scanned using a peripheral quantitative computed tomography scanner to determine cortical mineral content, density, area, periosteal circumference and bone strength. To investigate gastrointestinal tract transit time and DM digestibility, five randomly selected horses were administered Swiss screen bags on several occasions via a nasogastric tube. Each 60 x 10mm bag contained 3.21 (SE 0.37) g of frozen minced grass. Bags were recovered from the freshly passed faeces and frozen until analysis. RESULTS: The DM digestibility of the pasture was 0.62, while the DMI and DEI of weanlings (300 kg, gaining 0.7 kg/day) were 5.5 kg/day and 63 MJ/day, respectively. Increasing Ca intake had no significant effect on DEI, DM digestibility or on the apparent absorption of Ca, P, Na and K, but decreased the apparent absorption of Mg from 0.50 to 0.38. Regardless of Ca intake, the apparent absorption of Ca was 0.56. During the Ca administration trial there were significant increases overtime in the bone strength (strain stress index) of the proximal phalanx, Mc3 and radial diaphysis. However, the increase in bone strength was not associated with increase in dietary Ca, as neither the medium- nor high-Ca intake groups differed significantly from the low-Ca controls. The mean transit time for the Swiss screen bags was 25.46 (SE 0.09) h, and transit times were similar whether the horses were grazing or confined in loose boxes, being 26.64 (SE 0.23) h and 24.33 (SE 0.13) h, respectively. The DM digestibility determined using the bags was 0.54, which was significantly lower than the 0.62 determined by direct faeces collection. CONCLUSIONS: Good growth rates were achieved in Thoroughbred weanlings grazing perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture containing 3.5 g Ca/kg DM and a DE of 11.4 MJ/kg DM. Increasing dietary Ca intake 3.5-fold for 3 months had negligible impact on bone growth and development.     

Daily access to pasture turnout prevents loss of mineral in the third metacarpus of Arabian weanlings

Seventeen Arabian weanlings were used to determine the influence of housing on third metacarpal bone mass. Animals were separated into three treatment groups: Pasture (n = 6), Stall (n = 5), and Partial-Pasture (n = 6). Radiographs of the left third metacarpus were taken every 28 d to determine radiographic bone aluminum equivalence (RBAE). Serum was collected every 14 d and analyzed for osteocalcin, carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), and keratan sulfate. Hip and wither height, BW, and cannon circumference were measured every 28 d. Lateral RBAE in the pastured group increased linearly from d 0 to d 56 (P = 0.001). In the Pasture group, total RBAE increased from d 0 to 56 (P = 0.05) and medial RBAE tended to increase from d 0 to d 28 (P = 0.06). The Partial Pasture group increased from d 0 to 56 in medial (P = 0.02) and tended to increase in total RBAE (P = 0.08). Although the Stall group demonstrated an increase in total RBAE from d 0 to 56 (P = 0.04), the Partial Pasture group tended to have greater total RBAE than the Stall group at d 28 (P = 0.08), and the Pasture group had greater lateral RBAE at d 28 (P = 0.005) and 56 (P = 0.007) than did the Stall group. At d 28, medial RBAE was greater in the Pasture (P = 0.003) and Partial Pasture (P = 0.05) groups than in the Stall group. Pasture and Stall groups tended to decrease in osteocalcin (P = 0.06), whereas Partial Pasture weanlings decreased (P = 0.01) from d 0 to 56. All treatment groups decreased from d 0 to 56 in ICTP (P < 0.01). Pastured weanlings decreased from d 0 to 42 in serum keratin sulfate (P < 0.05), whereas the Stall group decreased from d 0 to 56 (P = 0.05). All treatment groups increased in wither height (P < or = 0.01), hip height (P < or = 0.001), and BW (P < or = 0.01). Both the Pasture and Partial Pasture weanlings demonstrated greater cannon circumference than Stall weanlings on d 28 (P < or = 0.05) and 56 (P < or = 0.005). These data demonstrate that pasture rearing or 12-h daily turnout is beneficial to maintaining and increasing bone mineral content in weanling Arabian horses.     

Effect of dietary cation-anion difference on mineral balance, serum osteocalcin concentration and growth in weanling horses

Sixteen Quarter Horse weanlings were used in a splitplot design experiment to determine the effects of dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) on mineral metabolism, osteocalcin concentration and variables of growth. Horses were blocked by age and sex and then randomly allotted to two treatment groups (High or Low). Experimental diets with a DCAD of +325 (High, H) and −52 (Low, L) were formed by supplementing diet H with sodium bicarbonate and diet L with calcium chloride. The DCAD was calculated as meq (Na+K)−(Cl+S)/kg of diet DM. The 25-week trial consisted of three 72 h collection periods at 150, 240 and 330 d of age during which a complete urine collection was taken.Multiple fecal grab samples were collected to represent every 2 h post-feeding during each collection period. Venous blood samples were taken for analysis of serum osteocalcin concentration. Weekly measurements were taken to monitor skeletal growth. Representative samples of feed, feces and urine were analyzed for mineral content and apparent mineral balances were calculated by difference. Although osteocalcin concentration did not differ significantly between diets H and L at 150 and 330 d of age, it was higher (P<.05) at d 240 in horses consuming diet H versus diet L. No difference (P>.05) was detected between treatments in any skeletal growth variable measured. Phosphorus balance and digestibility did not differ significantly between treatments across d of age. However, digestibility of P was lower (P<.05) at d 240 and 330 compared to d 150 in both treatments. Horses consuming diet L experienced an increased (P<.05) urinary and a decreased (P<005) fecal excretion of Ca compared to horses consuming diet H. Apparent daily Ca balance was higher (P<.05) in horses consuming diet L than those on diet H at 240 and 330 d of age. Furthermore, Ca digestibility decreased significantly between d 150 and d 240 and 330 in horses consuming diet H. Horses consuming diet L experienced no difference (P>.05) in Ca digestibility across d of age.These findings suggest that horses consuming a low DCAD diet are able to compensate for the increased urinary excretion of Ca by enhancing intestinal Ca absorption and thereby increasing daily CA balance and digestibility.     

Effect of High Concentrations of Cholecalciferol on Growth,Bone Mineralization,and Mineral Retention in Broiler Chicks Fed Suboptimal Concentrations of Calcium and Nonphytate Phosphorus

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of supplementing high concentrations (200 vs. 1,200, 2,400, and 3,600 ICU/kg) of cholecalciferol (CC) on performance, bone mineralization, and mineral retention in broiler chickens (2 to 42 d of age) fed a basal diet containing suboptimal concentrations of Ca and nonphytate P (NPP; 0.5 and 0.25%, respectively). A reference diet (RD) containing recommended levels of Ca, NPP, and CC was considered as control. Each diet was fed ad libitum to 21 replicates containing 5 birds in each. Body weight gain, feed efficiency, tibia ash, and serum Ca and inorganic P decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in broilers fed suboptimal concentrations of Ca and NPP compared with those fed the RD. The BW gain (2,400 ICU/kg) and feed efficiency, leg abnormality score, and bone mineralization characteristics (3,600 ICU/kg) in broilers fed suboptimal concentrations of Ca and NPP with high concentrations of CC were similar to those fed the RD. The concentrations of Zn, Mn, Fe, and Cu in liver increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increase in concentrations of CC in the basal diet. Based on the results, it is concluded that performance and bone mineralization in broilers could be maintained with suboptimal concentrations of Ca and NPP (0.5 and 0.25%, respectively) and higher concentrations of CC (3,600 ICU/kg) in the diet.     

Growth, nutrient utilization, radiographic bone characteristics and postprandial thyroid hormone concentrations in weanling horses fed added dietary fat

Thirty, 19-week-old Quarter Horses were utilized in a 112-d study to compare growth, nutrient utilization and post prandial thyroid hormone concentrations in weanling horses fed fat-supplemented or conventional diets. Concentrates were formulated to contain the same nutrient-calorie ratios and were fed with Coastal Bermuda grass hay in a 70:30 concentrate:hay ratio. Initially and at 28-d intervals the horses were weighed and measured for height, heart girth circumfer ence and subcutaneous fat thickness over the rump and ribs. Radiographs were taken of the right carpal and metacarpal phalangealjoints at the beginning and end of the experimental period for evaluation of bone density and physeal maturation. A digestion trial was conducted on each horse 10 d prior to completion of the study. On d 70, blood samples were col lected from 6 females in each treatment group over a 6-h collection period for evaluation of postprandial insulin, T₄ and T₃ concentrations in response to the diets. Horses in both groups consumed an average of 2.6% of body weight daily of total feed (Dry Matter). Weanlings consuming the fat-supplemented concentrate tended to have higher (P = .10) average daily weight gains (.80 vs .74 kg) and lower (P<.05) feed:gain ratios (6.3 vs 7.3) than weanlings fed the control diet. Gain in heart girth circumference was greater (P<.05) for the fat fed weanlings (20.1 cm) than the control weanlings (17.9 cm). All other linear measurements of growth were similar between treatments. There were no radiographic indications of abnormalities in the physes of horses on either treatment. Closure of the physes occurred at normal rates in foals on both treatments. Radiographic bone density was not different between treatments, and there was an expected increase in bone density in weanlings on both treatments over time. Digestibilities of protein and energy were similar between treatments, while ether extract and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities were higher (P<.05 and P<.06, respec tively) in those horses consuming the fat-supplemented diet (65.39 vs 57.67% and40.55 vs 35.62%, respectively). These data indicate that fat can be used as an energy source to support growth and development in weanling horses.     

The effect of previous conditioning exercise on diaphyseal and metaphyseal bone to imposition and withdrawal of training in young Thoroughbred horses

This study recorded the response to training of the diaphysis of the proximal phalangeal bone and the third metacarpal bone (Mc3) and the Mc3 proximal metaphysis. Nineteen 2- and 3-year old horses in training were exposed either to spontaneous exercise at pasture (PASTEX group) or additional imposed exercise (CONDEX group) from a very young age. Quantitative computed tomography scans were analysed for bone mineral content, size, bone mineral density, periosteal and endosteal circumference, cortical thickness and an estimate of bone strength. The bones of the CONDEX horses were bigger and stronger than those of the PASTEX horses at the start of the observation period, and these differences were maintained after adjusting for training workload. Increase in the bone strength index was through size and not density increase. Density increased during training and decreased during paddock rest between the two training campaigns, during which time bone strength continued to increase because of the slow growth that was still occurring. The greatest variance in the response to the training exercise of diaphyseal bone mineral content, bone strength index or cortical thickness was associated with the cumulative workload index at the gallop, although statistically significant unexplained variances remained. There were no differences in bone response to training, with the exception of the endosteal circumference at 55% of the Mc3 length from the carpometacarpal joint space between CONDEX and PASTEX, which indicated that young horses may be able to be exercised slightly more vigorously than currently accepted.     

Mineral balance in horses fed two supplemental silicon sources

Numerous studies suggest that silicon (Si) supplementation is beneficial for mineral metabolism and bone health. Mineral balance studies have not been performed in horses to determine how these supplements affect absorption of other minerals. The purpose of these studies was to investigate the effects of two different Si supplements on mineral absorption and retention in horses. Eight geldings were randomly placed in one of two groups: control (CO) or supplemental Si, which was provided by one of two supplements. The first, sodium aluminium silicate (SA), contains a bioavailable form of Si and is high in aluminium (Al). The second supplement contains oligomeric orthosilicic acid (OSA). All horses received textured feed and ad libitum access to hay. Supplemented horses received either 200 g of SA or 28.6 ml of OSA per day. Following a 10-day adaptation period, the horses underwent a 3-day total collection. Blood samples were taken on days 0 and 13. The two balance studies were conducted 4 months apart to reduce carryover effects. Intakes of Al and Si were greater with SA supplementation (p < 0.05). Sodium aluminium silicate increased faecal and urinary Si excretion (p < 0.05). Calcium retention and apparent digestion were increased by SA (p < 0.05). It also maintained plasma Si compared with the CO which tended to have a decrease in plasma Si (p = 0.08). Supplemental OSA increased retention of Ca and B (p < 0.05) and apparent digestion of B (p < 0.01). Orthosilicic acid tended to increase Si retention (p = 0.054), apparent digestion (p < 0.065), and also increased plasma Si. Both supplements were able to alter Ca retention and B metabolism, however, only OSA was able to alter Si retention, digestibility and plasma concentration. Orthosilicic acid, an Si supplement without substantial Al, appears to be a viable option for Si supplementation as it increased Si retention and digestibility.