Effect of Diet and Road Transport on Post‐Exercise Plasma Lactate Concentration

Abstract

IntroductionHorses are usually transported before competitions. The aim of this study was to compare the lactate response in horses on two diets that were transported or not transported before exercise.MethodsSix trained and raced Standardbred trotter mares, all accustomed to transportation, were used. Two diets were fed in two periods of 29 days in a crossover design; one forage‐only diet (F) and one diet with 50% of DM intake from forage and 50% from oats (FO). The horses had slow exercise 1–3 times/week (approximately 1 h walk and slow trot [6–7 m/s]) and intensive exercise1–2 times/week (4000 m slow trot warm‐up, 2000 m at 10–11 m/s on a race track or five 500 m intervals at 9 m/s on a slope, slow trot downhill). At day 21, horses were subjected to transport for 100 kilometres before they performed an exercise test (TT) (4000 meter warm‐up [6.3–10 m/s] and 2140 m “race” [11.6–12.7 m/s]). At day 26, the horses performed a control test (CT) where they were kept in their stall before the exercise test was performed. Blood samples were collected after the finish line and 10 and 30 min post‐exercise. Plasma lactate (Lac) was analysed using a spectrophometric method. ANOVA was performed using PROC MIXED (significant difference P<0.05).ResultsThere was no difference in Lac (after finish and 10 and 30 min post‐exercise) between diets (F: 14.9 vs. FO: 17.1 mmol/l SEM: 2.1) or exercise tests (TT: 15.9 vs. CT: 16.1 mmol/l SEM 2.0).ConclusionsDiet and transport seem not to affect post‐exercise plasma lactate in experienced competition horses transported 100 km.Ethical Animal ResearchThe Umeå local ethics committee approved this study. Sources of funding: KSLA (The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry). Competing interests: none.