Foals Research Articles

Monitoring equine ascarid and cyathostomin parasites: Evaluating health parameters under different treatment regimens.

Strongylid and ascarid parasites are omnipresent in equine stud farms, and ever-increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance are challenging the industry with finding more sustainable and yet effective parasite control programs. To evaluate egg count levels, bodyweight and equine health under defined parasite control protocols in foals and mares at two Standardbred and two Thoroughbred stud farms. Longitudinal randomised field trial. A total of 93 foals were enrolled and split into two treatment groups, and 99 mares were enrolled and assigned to three treatment groups. All horses underwent a health examination, and episodes of colic or diarrhoea were recorded at each faecal collection date. Bodyweights were assessed using a weight tape, and mares were body condition scored. Group A foals (FA) were dewormed at 2 and 5months of age with a fenbendazole/ivermectin/praziquantel product, while group B foals (FB) were dewormed on a monthly basis, alternating between the above-mentioned product and an oxfendazole/pyrantel embonate product. Group A mares (MA) were dewormed twice with fenbendazole/ivermectin/praziquantel, group B mares (MB) were dewormed with the same product, when egg counts exceeded 300 strongylid eggs per gram, and group C mares (MC) were dewormed every 2months, alternating between the two products. Health data were collected monthly for 6months (foals) and bimonthly for 13months (mares). Data were analysed with mixed linear models and interpreted at the α=0.05 significance level. There were no significant bodyweight differences between foal groups, but MA mares were significantly lighter than the other two groups. Very few health incidents were recorded. Foals in group FA had significantly higher ascarid and strongylid egg counts, whereas no significant differences were observed between mare groups. Study duration limited to one season. Anthelmintic treatment intensity was lowered from the traditional intensive regimes without measurable negative health consequences for mares and foals.

The Foal's Rut and Its Fertility

The Foal's Rut and Its Fertility

Farriery for the foal: A review part 1: Basic trimming

SummaryThe extensive nature of this topic warrants this review paper to be divided into two parts: ‘Routine basic trimming in foals’ and ‘Therapeutic farriery in foals’. Hoof care in the first few months of life is serious business and should never be taken lightly. Good farriery is vital for the development of the hoof capsule and the conformation of the limb. Management of the feet and limbs during the juvenile period will often dictate the success of the foal as a sales yearling or mature sound athlete. Overall hoof care of a foal is often a joint venture between the veterinarian and the farrier. Part 1 of this paper will outline the concept of a footcare programme, examination of the foal's feet and limbs along with what constitutes good basic farriery to properly apply the trim. It will also emphasise the importance of maintaining a good veterinarian‐farrier relationship ‐ the farrier being responsible for basic trimming with veterinary oversight when necessary, and if orthopaedic disorders develop, the farrier will have significant input with therapeutic farriery.

Treatment of Melting Ulcer in a Foal

Treatment of Melting Ulcer in a Foal

Care of the recumbent neonatal foal

Rebecca Watson MSc RVN looks at the complications that may arise and advises on best practice when nursing the sick or injured neonatal foal

Bovine cryptosporidiosis in calves : A Review

One of the culprits during this tough spring was a parasite called Cryptosporidium. It is an important zoonotic pathogen transmitted primarily through water.Cryptosporidiosis is a common cause of diarrhoea in young calves. It is caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Cryptosporidium,family Crptosporididae,order Eucoccidiorida,class Coccidian and phylum Apicomplexa.The parasite infects epithelial cells in the microvillus border of the gastrointestinal tract of all class of vertebrates7.and causes severe chronic and even fatal diarrhea with malabsorption and dehydration 19 Currently,there are 16 recognized species and nearly triple this number of unnamedNeonatal calves becomes infected within the first few days after birth.Feces containing eggs are a major source of infection, but calves may also spread the parasite through direct contact. Since the egg survive well in the environment, calves can also pick up infections from water,feed and soil.In addition to calves, cryptosporidiosis affects other young animals including piglets,lamb,kid,oats,foals and fawn (farmed deer). Stressors such as inadequate milk consumption,cold weather and wind may also play an important role in determining how severe the infection will be and how long it will last.

Differences in Foaling Rates of Thoroughbred Mares with Different Histories

Differences in Foaling Rates of Thoroughbred Mares with Different Histories

Gently handled foals generalize responses to humans

Gently handled foals generalize responses to humans

Gently handled foals generalize responses to humans

Gently handled foals generalize responses to humans

Safety and efficacy of a combined paste formulation of a botanical extract of the latex of Croton lechleri (SB-300, Neonorm foal™) with probiotics for the treatment of watery diarrhea in nursing foals

La diarrea es un desorden común en potrillos lactantes, y no se dispone de antidiarreicos antisecretorios específicos. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la seguridad y eficacia de una formulación en pasta con cubierta entérica del extracto botánico estandarizado del látex de Croton lechleri (SB-300, producto en investigación), para el tratamiento de diarrea acuosa en potrillos. Fue un estudio piloto, ciego, aleatorizado, realizado en distintos sitios, en potrillos de clientes particulares con diarrea acuosa. Sesenta y un potrillos con diarrea acuosa menores a 16 semanas de edad fueron divididos aleatoriamente en dos grupos de tratamiento y uno de placebo, aproximadamente 20 en cada grupo. Cada potrillo recibió placebo o la combinación del producto en investigación y probiótico cuatro veces al día. No se presentaron problemas de seguridad significativos, pero se observó la producción transitoria de heces duras en los que continuaron la terapia luego de la resolución de la diarrea. La respuesta al tratamiento fue considerada en aquellos potrillos que desarrollaron heces formadas (score fecal <3) y mantuvieron las heces formadas durante un mínimo de 16 h consecutivas dentro de un período de 24 h. Se demostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la respuesta al tratamiento en distintos tiempos entre los grupos que recibieron el producto y los que recibieron placebo. La conclusión fue que la formulación en pasta de (SB-300), un extracto botánico estandarizado del látex de Croton lechleri, combinado con probióticos, es efectivo para el tratamiento de diarrea acuosa en potrillos menores de 16 semanas de edad y requiere investigaciones complementarias sin la adición del probiótico.

Atresia coli in an arabian foal

Atresia coli in an arabian foal

Influence of sex on quality aspects of horse meat

The aim of this research is to study the influence of sex on quality indices of horse meat in Italian market. Fourteen male and female horse (TPR x genetic type Abruzzese) have been bred. All foals were slaughtered between 24 and 26 months of age. After slaughter on Longissimus dorsi muscle samples were determined pH, color, shear forces and cooking losses. The most important results were found on the evolution of pH during meat storage and on color immediately after slaughter and over time. Interesting data also show the degree of tenderness and cooking losses by demonstrating a different meat water holding capacity of the two sexes.

A foal is born - what could possibly go wrong?

A foal is born - what could possibly go wrong?

Laparotomy in the foal – evaluation of 98 cases (2001–2011)

Laparotomy in the foal – evaluation of 98 cases (2001–2011)

Defenceless by Dimitris Hatzis

victim to his own dreams. Gerasimos Kourtis returns to the seaman’s life after failing to adjust himself to the land’s way of life. A boy and a foal unwillingly leave back their childhood and start growing up by working in the field. All of them experience changes in their lives; changes that they cannot control, and take the heroes away from happiness

Researches regarding reproductive parameters in teleorman’s blackhead sheep

This study is an important part of an ample research regarding the opportunity for establishment of regional centers for artificial insemination, in order to improve milk production. Is very important to know the current level of reproductive performance of population, in order to find the best ways and means for improving reproductive activity. In this case, we analyzed fertility, natality, prolificity, survival, and the percentage of abortions and embryonic mortality. Results obtained reveals a rate of fertility at 99.20% in adult sheeps and at 86.89% for young females (born in January, mated in August - October). Natality, in analyzed flock was at 98.59% for adult sheeps, 98.11% for young females. Prolificity was 130.14% for adults and 121.15% for young females. Survival was better for lambs foaled from adults (94.52%), in comparation with young females (92.06%). Abortions and emrionary mortality was at 1.41% for adults and 1.89% for young ewes. Analyzing obtained datas it is obvious that using of young females for reproduction at 8 - 10 months old involve obtaining of a smaller reproductive indexes. We recommend, in case of use of females for reproduction at 8 - 10 months old, an adequate feeding technique, in order to obtain, in young ewes, a body weight of at least 50% from adult ewes body weight. Through importance of intensification of reproductive activity, it’s obvious that use of young females from young ages it is a good choice only when body weight is at least at 50 kg ( about 70% from adult body weight).

HERITABILITY PARAMETERS FOR SOME BODY MEASUREMENTS IN TURKISH ARABIAN FOALS

Summary The aim of the present study was to estimate genetic parameters of body measurements in Turkish Arabian foals. Records of wither height, front cannon circumference, heart girth, and body length were used for body measurements at birth, 6 months of age, 1-year-old and 2-year-old. Heritability of body measurements of Turkish Arabian foals was estimated by using records of foals sired by stallions which had at least 5 foals. Body measurement records at birth of 1597 foals sired by 40 stallions were used in heritability calculation of withers height, front cannon circumference, and heart girth. Heritability of all body measurements was estimated by paternal half-sib method. Estimated heritability ranged from 0.05 (heart girth) to 0.58 (wither height). Heritability estimates can be used to improve body measurements of Turkish Arabian horses. These results indicate that mass selection method based on the individual phenotype of the horses at different ages can provide genetic improvement in the herd. Phenotypic correlations between body measurements at consecutive age periods were all positive, ranging from 0.22 to 0.63. Thus, early body measurements of the Turkish Arabian foals can be used for prediction of the size of the adult horse.

Diarrhea in Thoroughbred foals is still a disease of concern in Argentina

Diarrhea in Thoroughbred foals is still a disease of concern in Argentina

Anaesthesia in foals with uroperitoneum

Anaesthesia in foals with uroperitoneum

Changes in in vitro Fermentative Capacity in Foals From Birth to 2 Months Old

Changes in in vitro Fermentative Capacity in Foals From Birth to 2 Months Old