The monitoring and development of foals,
based on biometric indices, and the determination of body composition could be
important for genetic improvement and the elaboration of nutritional plans for
horses. Considering that little information was available, the aim of the
present study was to assess the growth and determine the body composition of
suckling Quarter Horse foals. Animals (n = 46) of both sexes were monitored
monthly from birth until the fifth month of age, using an ultrasound device and
the following measurements: Wither Height (WH); Chest Perimeter (CP); Cannon
Bone Circumference (CBC) Cannon Bone Girth (CG); Body Mass (BM); and Rump Fat
Thickness (RFT). These tests determined the Fat-Free Mass (FFM), BM, Fat
Percentage (FP) and Fat Thickness (FT). The data were analyzed using ANOVA and
Tukey’s test, with differences considered statistically significant when P ≤
0.05. The results demonstrated that the parameters analyzed changed
significantly during the study period. The BM was ~41 at birth and ~177 kg at the
point of weaning. Conversely, the FM was ~3.8 at birth and 18.1 kg at the point
of weaning. The FFM was ~37 and ~160 kg at the time of birth and weaning,
respectively. The FP varied from 9.3 at birth to 9.54 at weaning. The mean FT
was ~1.39 and ~1.91 cm at birth and weaning, respectively. The WH measured ~91
at birth and 116 cm at weaning. In conclusion, suckling foals gain BM quickly
from the time of birth to the time of weaning. The main cause of this gain is
FFM. Therefore, due to the significant changes in the parameters studied
herein, it is important to monitor these values in order to prevent nutritional
imbalances.
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