Effects of Different Winter Climates in Japan on Body Composition of Young Thoroughbreds in Training

Overview

Journal J Vet Med Sci

Specialty Veterinary Medicine

Date 2022 Oct 16

PMID 36244743

Authors

Mutsuki Ishimaru

Akira Matsui

Kazuhiro Seki

Kenji Korosue

Kentaro Akiyama

Hirotoshi Mizukami

Toshinobu Yoshida

Kazuyoshi Taya

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Changes in the body composition of 50 Thoroughbreds colts and fillies, born between 2004 and 2010, were compared between those reared at the Hidaka Training and Research Center (Hidaka), Hokkaido, which is extremely cold in winter, and those reared at the Miyazaki Yearling Training Farm (Miyazaki), Kyushu, which is mildly cold in winter. The horses were divided into two sex groups and reared and trained in Hidaka or Miyazaki for 7 months from October of one year of age to April of two years of age. Body weight (BW), rump fat thickness (RFT), fat-free mass (FFM), and percentage of fat (%F) were used as parameters of body composition. This study revealed that BW and FFM were higher, and %F was lower in colts than in fillies at both training sites. Among colts, Miyazaki colts tended to have higher FFM values than Hidaka colts, and %F was significantly lower in Miyazaki colts than in Hidaka colts. Furthermore, from October to April, Miyazaki horses had a higher rate of increase in BW than Hidaka horses in both sexes and a higher rate of increase in FFM in colts. The higher rate of increase in FFM in Miyazaki colts suggests that training young Thoroughbreds in winter under mildly cold climate is more effective, than severely cold climate, particularly in colts.

Citing Articles

Effects of different winter paddock management of Thoroughbred weanlings and yearlings in the cold region of Japan on physiological function, endocrine function and growth.

Ishimaru M, Tsuchiya T, Endo Y, Matsui A, Ohmura H, Murase H J Vet Med Sci. 2024; 86(7):756-768.

PMID: 38777756 PMC: 11251821. DOI: 10.1292/jvms.24-0083.

Effects of an extended photoperiod on body composition of young Thoroughbreds in training.

Ishimaru M, Okano A, Matsui A, Murase H, Korosue K, Akiyama K J Vet Med Sci. 2023; 86(1):58-65.

PMID: 37967974 PMC: 10849847. DOI: 10.1292/jvms.23-0349.

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