Relationship between body fat and body condition score and their effects on estrous cycles of the Standardbred maiden mare

Standardbred maiden mares are generally stressed and in poor physical condition because of their incorrect management at the end of their racing careers. The purpose of this study was to identify an objective assessment that, similar to body condition score (BCS) determination, is easy to measure an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary research communications 2010-06, Vol.34 (Suppl 1), p.41-45
Main Authors: Vecchi, I, Sabbioni, A, Bigliardi, E, Morini, G, Ferrari, L, Di Ciommo, F, Superchi, P, Parmigiani, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adipose Tissue - physiology
Animals
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Body Composition - physiology
body condition
Body Constitution - physiology
Body fat
estrous cycle
Estrous Cycle - physiology
Extended Abstract
Female
Horses - physiology
insemination
Life Sciences
mares
ovulation
Ovulation - physiology
racehorses
Standardbred
Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science
Zoology
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Summary:Standardbred maiden mares are generally stressed and in poor physical condition because of their incorrect management at the end of their racing careers. The purpose of this study was to identify an objective assessment that, similar to body condition score (BCS) determination, is easy to measure and able to confirm or improve fattening status assessment, as well as to ascertain whether a relationship with reproduction efficiency exists in subjects destined for a first-time insemination program. The authors assessed 29 Standardbred maiden mares (7 ± 2 years old) during the breeding season. On January 15 (day 0), the same operator performed the following on all subjects: the first gynecological and ultrasound examination, a BCS assessment (range 0 to 5), and an adiposity objective assessment (i.e., measurement of fat thickness by ultrasound scan). At day 0, all mares were in seasonal anestrous. On ovulation day, all subjects exited the study. Both techniques were shown to be significantly and reciprocally correlated (r = 0.976; P 
ISSN:0165-7380
1573-7446
DOI:10.1007/s11259-010-9407-0