Abstract
Little is known about the serum mineral profiles of Brazilian four-beat gaited horses, and this information could be used to improve their nutritional and exercise evaluation programs. This study aimed to determine the mineral values of athlete Campolina and Mangalarga Marchador horses performing two different gait types. One hundred adult horses (7 ± 3 yr and 432 ± 59 kg; mean ± SD) were grouped as follows: 25 batida gait Campolinas (CAMPb), 25 picada gait Campolinas (CAMPp), 25 batida gait Mangalarga Marchadors (MMb), and 25 picada gait Mangalarga Marchadors (MMp). They were fed fresh elephant grass (15 - 20 kg as-fed/day) and commercial concentrate (5 - 7 kg as-fed/day) as well as commercial mineral salt and water ad libitum. Horses were exercised three times a week (~40 – 50 min/day), and ~60% of the exercise comprised a speed session ranging from 3.0 to 4.0 m/s. Blood samples were collected after 12 h feed fasting and at least 24 h after exercise. Mineral concentrations were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p ≤ 0.05). No breed or gait effects were observed (p > 0.05) on serum levels of chloride, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, and selenium. There was a breed by gait effect (p < 0.05) on calcium and phosphorus levels. Lower calcium levels were found in MMb (2.13 ± 0.02 mmol/L, p < 0.0032), while lower phosphorus levels were found in MMp (1.43 ± 0.02 mmol/L, p < 0.0005). The mineral values provided by the current study serve as reference values and are useful in the improvement nutritional and exercise evaluation programs of athlete four-beat gaited horses.
Highlights
Four-beat gaited Brazilian horses, such as Mangalarga Marchador and Campolina, exhibit distinct types of gaits known as “marcha.” There are two types of marcha, one with a more lateral association, known as “marcha picada,” and another with a more diagonal association, known as “marcha batida," with movements of triple support and no suspension, that makes horses smooth and comfortable for the rider (Wanderley et al, 2010)
This study aimed to provide reference values for the most critical minerals in the serum of athlete Brazilian four-beat gaited horses raised in tropical climate conditions
This study was approved by the Committee of Ethics in Animal Utilization (CEUA) of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE; protocol #140/2015)
Summary
Four-beat gaited Brazilian horses, such as Mangalarga Marchador and Campolina, exhibit distinct types of gaits known as “marcha.” There are two types of marcha, one with a more lateral association, known as “marcha picada,” and another with a more diagonal association, known as “marcha batida," with movements of triple support and no suspension, that makes horses smooth and comfortable for the rider (Wanderley et al, 2010). These horses are usually submitted to marcha gait challenges, which are characterized as a submaximal exercise. Alterations in the blood electrolyte levels of horses can lead to inadequate athletic performance and decreased athletic performance (Lewis, 1995)
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