Abstract
BackgroundThe main objectives of this study were to evaluate the accuracy of different body weight formulas for estimating body weight of Icelandic and Warmblood horses, as well as to assess the associations between the variables cresty neck score, body condition score, and plasma concentrations of leptin, insulin and cortisol. A total of 81 adult (≥ 4 years of age) horses (43 Icelandic and 38 Warmblood horses) was included in this study. The following morphological measurements were collected by two examiners simultaneously; body weight; height at withers; neck length; 0.5 neck length; neck circumference; umbilical circumference, two different heart girths, as well as two different body length measurements. The horse’s body weights were measured on a weight scale, and cresty neck scores were rated along with body condition scores using both the 0 to 5 and the 1 to 9 systems.ResultsIn general, the concordance correlation coefficient was high for most formulas, but the mean bias and slope bias deviations varied between formulas. Some simple formulas using only heart girth, or heart girth and length can be used to estimate body weight of Icelandic and Warmblood horses as good as more complex formulas using four morphometric measurements. Plasma concentrations of leptin and insulin were higher (P < 0.001) for the Icelandic than the Warmblood horses, probably reflecting higher body fat content as suggested by the differences in body condition score.ConclusionsBody weight formulas only give an estimate of body weight and not a completely correct determination. Some simple and more complex formulas can be used for Icelandic horses even though they are not developed for this breed. Complex formulas using four morphometric measurements were accurate, but simple formulas using only heart girth, or heart girth and length can be used to estimate body weight and thereby be applied to weight tapes and used to estimate the body weight of both Icelandic and Warmblood horses.
Highlights
The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the accuracy of different body weight formulas for estimating body weight of Icelandic and Warmblood horses, as well as to assess the associations between the variables cresty neck score, body condition score, and plasma concentrations of leptin, insulin and cortisol
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of different body weight (BW) formulas for estimating BW of two different horse breeds, the Icelandic and Warmblood horse, as well as to assess the associations between the variables cresty neck score (CNS), body condition score (BCS), plasma concentrations of leptin, insulin and cortisol
There was a total of 52 geldings (20 Icelandic and 32 Warmblood horses with an average age of 12 ± 5.7 and 11 ± 3.3 years, respectively), 4 stallions (4 Icelandic horses with an average age of 10 ± 2.6) and 25 mares (19 Icelandic and 6 Warmblood horses with an average age of 9 ± 3.3 and 15 ± 4.3 years, respectively)
Summary
The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the accuracy of different body weight formulas for estimating body weight of Icelandic and Warmblood horses, as well as to assess the associations between the variables cresty neck score, body condition score, and plasma concentrations of leptin, insulin and cortisol. The horse’s body weights were measured on a weight scale, and cresty neck scores were rated along with body condition scores using both the 0 to 5 and the 1 to 9 systems. Body weight is more appropriately estimated by using BW estimation methods such as weight tapes and BW formulas These methods use morphometric measurements to acquire an estimated BW. More research is needed to clarify if BWF developed for other breeds are suited for Icelandic horses
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