TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of season and body condition on appetite, body mass and body composition in ad libitum fed pony mares
AU - Dugdale, Alexandra H.A.
AU - Curtis, Gemma C.
AU - Cripps, Peter J.
AU - Harris, Patricia A.
AU - Argo, Caroline Mc G.
PY - 2011/12/1
Y1 - 2011/12/1
N2 - Changes in appetite, body mass (BM), body condition score (BCS), direct (ultrasonographic) and indirect (deuterium oxide dilution technique) measures of body fat were monitored in Welsh Mountain pony mares (. n=. 11, 5-19. years of age) offered ad libitum access to a complete diet (gross energy 16.9. ±. 0.07. MJ/kg dry matter) for 12. weeks during summer (. n=. 6; 246. ±. 20. kg) and winter (. n=. 5; 219. ±. 21. kg). At the outset, each group comprised two thin (BCS 1-3/9), moderate (BCS 4-6/9) and obese (BCS 7-9/9) animals.For ponies that were non-obese at the outset, BM was gained more rapidly (. P=. 0.001) in summer (0.8. ±. 0.1. kg/day) than winter (0.6. ±. 0.0. kg/day). This was associated with a seasonal increase in dry matter intake (DMI) which became maximal (summer, 4.6. ±. 0.3% BM as DMI/day; winter, 3.5. ±. 0.1% BM as DMI/day) during the second month. The appetite of the obese ponies was half that reported for non-obese animals in the summer and BM remained constant irrespective of season.Body 'fatness' increased progressively for non-obese but not obese ponies. Body fat content was exponentially associated with increasing BCS but BCSs >6 were not useful indicators of actual body fat. Endogenous circannual mechanisms to suppress winter weight gain were insufficient to prevent the development of obesity in ad libitum fed ponies.
AB - Changes in appetite, body mass (BM), body condition score (BCS), direct (ultrasonographic) and indirect (deuterium oxide dilution technique) measures of body fat were monitored in Welsh Mountain pony mares (. n=. 11, 5-19. years of age) offered ad libitum access to a complete diet (gross energy 16.9. ±. 0.07. MJ/kg dry matter) for 12. weeks during summer (. n=. 6; 246. ±. 20. kg) and winter (. n=. 5; 219. ±. 21. kg). At the outset, each group comprised two thin (BCS 1-3/9), moderate (BCS 4-6/9) and obese (BCS 7-9/9) animals.For ponies that were non-obese at the outset, BM was gained more rapidly (. P=. 0.001) in summer (0.8. ±. 0.1. kg/day) than winter (0.6. ±. 0.0. kg/day). This was associated with a seasonal increase in dry matter intake (DMI) which became maximal (summer, 4.6. ±. 0.3% BM as DMI/day; winter, 3.5. ±. 0.1% BM as DMI/day) during the second month. The appetite of the obese ponies was half that reported for non-obese animals in the summer and BM remained constant irrespective of season.Body 'fatness' increased progressively for non-obese but not obese ponies. Body fat content was exponentially associated with increasing BCS but BCSs >6 were not useful indicators of actual body fat. Endogenous circannual mechanisms to suppress winter weight gain were insufficient to prevent the development of obesity in ad libitum fed ponies.
KW - Appetite
KW - Body composition
KW - Body condition score
KW - Equine nutrition
KW - Equine obesity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84857209232&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.11.009
DO - 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.11.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 21146430
AN - SCOPUS:84857209232
SN - 1090-0233
VL - 190
SP - 329
EP - 337
JO - Veterinary Journal
JF - Veterinary Journal
IS - 3
ER -
