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Effect of Dietary Manipulation on Physiological Responses in Quarter Horses

Saul, Jessica Leigh, L
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1325169325

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Animal Sciences.
Today’s horse management practices often include restricted access to forage and feeding large quantities of grains in a limited number of meals throughout the day. These practices may create psychological and physiological stress in the horse, influencing behavior and disrupting glucose and insulin pathways, the balance of microflora in the gastrointestinal tract, and immune responses. The studies presented in this thesis investigated the effects of dietary manipulation on physiological and behavioral responses in Quarters Horses in varying stages of production. In the first study, feeding frequency (1, 2 or 3 meals/d) and order of diet (grain fed before hay or vice versa) were varied to determine their influence on glucose, insulin and cortisol responses as well as stereotypic behaviors in Quarter Horse mares. The results from this study showed that while glucose, insulin, and cortisol concentrations varied with time (P < 0.0001), there were no differences due to feeding frequency or order. No differences were observed in crib-biting or pawing; however, horses fed 1 meal/d with grain given before hay were observed weaving more often than horses fed 2-3 meals/d (P < 0.05). In the second study, a commercial probiotic containing E. faecium, L. acidiophilus , L. casei, and L. plantarum was orally administered to young Quarter Horses over a period of 11 weeks to examine the effects on cortisol concentrations pre- and post-transport and antibody response to tetanus vaccination. There were no differences in tetanus antibody titers due to probiotic supplementation. In addition, supplementing a horse’s diet with the probiotic did not affect plasma cortisol concentrations pre- or post-transport when compared between treatment groups; however, there was a significant increase in plasma cortisol concentrations within the control group (P < 0.05). Although probiotic supplementation may be beneficial to the overall health of the horse, specific effects related to stress and immune responses were not observed in this study. Overall, manipulating a horse’s diet through feeding frequency, the order in which hay and grain are fed, or probiotic supplementation were not shown to affect physiological or psychological responses of Quarter Horses in varying stages of production.
Kimberly Cole, PhD (Advisor)
Michael Day, PhD (Committee Member)
Naomi Botheras, PhD (Committee Member)
Frank Welker, PhD, DVM (Other)
71 p.
Animal Sciences
equine; feeding frequency; meal order; probiotic

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Saul, L, J. L. (2011). Effect of Dietary Manipulation on Physiological Responses in Quarter Horses [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1325169325

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Saul, L, Jessica. Effect of Dietary Manipulation on Physiological Responses in Quarter Horses. 2011. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1325169325.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Saul, L, Jessica. "Effect of Dietary Manipulation on Physiological Responses in Quarter Horses." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1325169325

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.