ABSTRACT The present study aimed to evaluate the growth of Criollo foals from birth to 800 days of age using Brody, Gompertz, Logistic, and Von Bertalanffy nonlinear models. The data utilized consisted of weight, height, chest circumference, and shin circumference taken from 75 foals kept in southern Brazil. Morphometric traits analyzed showed mean values ranging from 63 to 325 kg for weight, 0.92 to 1.32 m for height, 0.88 to 1.58 m for chest circumference, and 0.12 to 0.18 m […]

ABSTRACT This study aimed to provide baseline data for the serum biochemical parameters of Brazilian sport horses undergoing physical training for eventing to be used as a practical guide. A total of 139 blood samples were collected by vacuum venipuncture of the jugular vein from healthy horses in training. Tubes without anticoagulant were used for biochemical analysis. Means and standard deviations were determined for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (306.27±84.66 U/L), creatine kinase (CK) (181.06±80.38 U/L), urea (29.51±5.82 mg/dL), creatinine (1.44±0.20 mg/dL), […]

This survey, conducted with 461 racehorse owners-breeders in Algeria between 2009 and 2011, investigates their perceptions, objectives and practices regarding selective breeding. Racehorse breeding is a full-time professional activity for a third of interviewees. The holdings are small-sized with 77% owning one or two mares. The regular practice of mating is here used to categorize breeders according to their degree of professionalization (38.4% professional vs. 61.6% occasional breeders). Experience in the sector was also used to classify breeders, considering as […]

The objective of this research was to determine the concentration of heavy metals in the blood (Pb, Ni and Cd), serum (Cu and Zn) and hair (Pb, Ni, Cd, Cu and Zn) of horses raised in non-industrial and industrial areas (with steel mill), and to verify the possibility to use these data as indicators of environmental pollution. The samples were collected during summer and winter, aiming to verify animal contamination related to environment and season of the year. Copper and […]

In order to evaluate the effect of using probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in diets for horses, it was used four male equines, with average body weight of 400 kg, in a 4 õ 4 Latin square design. Diets were composed of concentrated and 85 Tifton grass hay (low quality) or alfafa hay (high quality), with or without addition of yeast. Each experimental period lasted 36 days, with total fecal collection for determination of apparent digestibility coefficients of the nutrients and fecal […]

In Brazil, as in other countries, investments in research with horses are related to the objectives of the equine industry in the country. This study aimed to review the current literature with the purpose of assessing the latest scientific and technological development in horse’s production. Researchers are related to many areas as in production and management, genetics and breeding, nutrition and feeding, reproduction, medicine and surgery, diseases and health protection. There is still research in areas related to equestrian sports, […]

The society has taken a new direction towards a respectable relationship with the animals and a more conscious breeding, use for food, sports and company. The domestication and the use of horses by people have caused wrong feeding management, which is mainly due to reduced knowledge on feeding behavior. The pastures are the appropriate environment to horses feeding, but it is a complex system which interferes on the horse’s decision while it is grazing. The appropriate horse’s feeding management depends […]

The objective of this study was to the evaluate physiological, hematological and biochemical parameters of eventing horses fed diets containing soybean oil and submitted to physical effort tests. Twelve horses were used in a completely randomized design with two diets and six replications. The diets used were: diet without soybean oil inclusion (control) and diet with inclusion of 10% soybean oil. The experiment lasted 82 days, with three exercise tests: at the beginning, 60th and 82th day of the experiment. […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate intake, digestive kinetics and nutrient digestibility in horses fed diets supplemented with soybean oil inclusion. Fifteen horses were used in a randomized complete design with three diets and five replications. The experimental diets were formulated from a control diet (without soybean oil) with the addition of 8.5% and 19.5% soybean oil. The experiment lasted for 34 days, 30 days for the horses to adapt to the diets and four days for feces […]

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of including animals or vegetable fats and mineral on the acceptability, nutrient digestibility and triglyceride plasma concentrations and cholesterol in horses. Four foals aged 13 to 16 months were used receiving diet containing grass hay and concentrate. The experimental design was a Latin Square; using orthogonal contrasts. The acceptability was not influenced by the quantity nor the type of oil added to the diets. The smallest dry matter (DM) digestibility […]