Page 110 - July 2019

JOINT HEALTH
“When dealing with an injury, returning joint anatomy and
function to normal is the primary goal, and this relies on an accurate diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic regimen.”
To develop the best racing prospect, you may
have your own breeding program or you may purchase a youngster from selected mare and stallion combinations. The decisions you make in combining mare and stallion have a definite influence on the robustness of the offspring’s musculoskeletal system. Selecting both the mare and stallion for strong conformational attributes can improve known structural deficits in either individual. Research on the history of siblings and offspring helps to evaluate the potential outcome of this breeding. Performance history of mare, stallion, and offspring also colors your decision. Despite some notable imperfections in musculoskeletal structure, many equine athletes still are able to perform successfully.
FETAL DEVELOPMENT
Balanced nutrition of the broodmare is important from conception to birth of a growing fetus with the potential to affect the occurrence of developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) in young horses. Develop- mental orthopedic disease is usually multifactorial in origin, affected by nutrition, conformation, and environ- mental factors as well as heritable characteristics. DOD encompasses many musculoskeletal problems including epiphysitis, flexural limb contractures, angular limb deformities, osteochondrosis (defects in joint cartilage), and cervical vertebral stenosis (wobbler) syndrome.
For The Long Term
by Nancy S. Loving, DVM
Intake quantity and ratios of certain minerals (zinc, copper, calcium and phosphorus) are important for proper cartilage maturation in joints, particularly in the mare’s last trimester. Since mare’s milk is a poor source of trace minerals, a foal depends on liver mineral stores, such
as copper, for several months following birth. Copper contributes to mineralization of the cartilage matrix and bone development. While a foal’s liver store of copper has no influence on the incidence of DOD, it plays a role in improvement and repair of potential DOD lesions.
FOAL GROWTH
Rather than a smooth continuum or steady, progres- sive increase in size, a foal’s growth includes growth “spurts.” Ideally, you’ll want to avoid fueling rapid or excessive growth through close observation and manage- ment of a foal’s caloric intake. What the mare eats during lactation affects her milk production. Consumption of abundant, rich milk prompts growth spurts in her foal. Intake of excessive feed has more of an impact on muscu- loskeletal concerns than inadequate feed. DOD lesions in young horses are linked to excess calories and energy.
For the first 2-3 months of life, the foal derives the bulk of its nutrition from the mare’s milk. By a few weeks of age, a foal begins to sample and consume some of the mare’s food. With this in mind, whatever feed the dam receives also affects the foal. Caloric intake is a more important consideration than protein concentra- tion – studies have not associated any problem with high dietary levels of protein. In fact, adequate protein (14-16% of the foal’s total diet) is important for proper bone development. Protein restricted to less than 12% is correlated with reduced growth rates and poor bone and cartilage mineralization. Most importantly, excessive energy (such as found in grains, rich pasture and high sugar foods) can “fuel” excessive growth and subsequent abnormalities associated with improper endochondral ossification of joint cartilage.
As with the gestating mare, mineral balance is critical to proper musculoskeletal development of the growing foal, particularly of calcium-phosphorus and copper-zinc ratios. Many commercial feeds intended to support growing foals have appropriate balances of minerals and essential components to achieve the ob- jective of steady growth. If you have any uncertainty about what to feed, consult with your veterinarian.
Balanced nutrition is important for the broodmare - from conception, throughout the growth of the fetus to birth. The lack of good nutrition can affect the occurrence of developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) in young foals.
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SPEEDHORSE, July 2019
VETERINARY VIEWS