Development of a mathematical model for predicting digestible energy intake to meet desired body condition parameters in exercising horses. 2019

Jennifer L Zoller, and Clay A Cavinder, and Dennis Sigler, and Luis O Tedeschi, and Julie Harlin
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.

Maintaining optimal body condition is an important concern for horse owners and managers as it can affect reproductive efficiency, athletic ability, and overall health of the horse; however, information regarding dietary requirements to maintain or alter BCS in the horse is limited. A recently developed model had high accuracy in predicting the energy required to alter BCS in the horse. However, the model was restricted to sedentary mares, while many horses are subject to physical work. The objective of this study was to expand the scope of that model to include exercising horses by incorporating previously published estimates of exercise energy expenditure and then testing the expanded model. Stock type horses (n = 24) were grouped by initial BCS (3.0 to 6.5) and assigned to treatments of light (L), heavy (H), or no-exercise control (C). Horses were fed according to the model recommendations to increase (I) or decrease (D) two BCS within 60 d. Thus, six treatments were obtained: HD, HI, LD, LI, CD, CI. Mean DE intake Mcal/d for each group was HD = 19.3 ± 0.90, HI = 29 ± 0.84, LD = 13.2 ± 0.54, LI = 23.1 ± 1.39, CD = 12.1 ± 0.79, and CI = 21.9 ± 0.94. BCSs were evaluated by three independent appraisers, days 0 and 60 values were used to calculate the average BCS change for HD = -0.88 ± 0.24, HI = 1.13 ± 0.24, LD = -1.5 ± 0.29, LI = 0.88 ± 0.38, CD = -1.38 ± 0.13, and CI = 1.35 ± 0.14. Statistical comparison of final observed and model predicted values revealed acceptable precision when predicting BCS and BW respectively in control horses (r2 = 0.91, 0.98) but less precision when predicting body fat (BF) (r2 = 0.51). Model precision for BCS, BW, and BF respectively in lightly (r2 = 0.29, 0.85, 0.57) and heavily (r2 = 0.04, 0.84, 0.13) exercised horses was low. Model accuracy was acceptable across all treatments when predicting BW (Cb = 0.97, 0.96, 0.98). However, accuracy varied when predicting BCS (Cb = 0.82, 0.89, 0.41) and BF (Cb = 0.80, 0.55, 0.87) for the control, light, and heavy exercise groups, respectively. These results indicate that the revised model is acceptable for sedentary horses but the predictability of the model was insensitive to the exercising horse, therefore the exercise energy expenditure formulas incorporated into the model require revision. Packaging this model in a format that facilitates industry application could lead to more efficient feeding practices of sedentary horses, generating health, and economic benefit. Further investigation into energy expenditure of exercising horses could yield a model with broader applications.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008962 Models, Theoretical Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of systems, processes, or phenomena. They include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Experimental Model,Experimental Models,Mathematical Model,Model, Experimental,Models (Theoretical),Models, Experimental,Models, Theoretic,Theoretical Study,Mathematical Models,Model (Theoretical),Model, Mathematical,Model, Theoretical,Models, Mathematical,Studies, Theoretical,Study, Theoretical,Theoretical Model,Theoretical Models,Theoretical Studies
D009751 Nutritional Requirements The amounts of various substances in food needed by an organism to sustain healthy life. Dietary Requirements,Nutrition Requirements,Dietary Requirement,Nutrition Requirement,Nutritional Requirement,Requirement, Dietary,Requirement, Nutrition,Requirement, Nutritional,Requirements, Dietary,Requirements, Nutrition,Requirements, Nutritional
D009752 Nutritional Status State of the body in relation to the consumption and utilization of nutrients. Nutrition Status,Status, Nutrition,Status, Nutritional
D010805 Physical Conditioning, Animal Diet modification and physical exercise to improve the ability of animals to perform physical activities. Animal Physical Conditioning,Animal Physical Conditionings,Conditioning, Animal Physical,Conditionings, Animal Physical,Physical Conditionings, Animal
D012098 Reproduction The total process by which organisms produce offspring. (Stedman, 25th ed) Human Reproductive Index,Human Reproductive Indexes,Reproductive Period,Human Reproductive Indices,Index, Human Reproductive,Indexes, Human Reproductive,Indices, Human Reproductive,Period, Reproductive,Periods, Reproductive,Reproductive Index, Human,Reproductive Indices, Human,Reproductive Periods
D001835 Body Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D002149 Energy Intake Total number of calories taken in daily whether ingested or by parenteral routes. Caloric Intake,Calorie Intake,Intake, Calorie,Intake, Energy
D004032 Diet Regular course of eating and drinking adopted by a person or animal. Diets
D004063 Digestion The process of breakdown of food for metabolism and use by the body.

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