Journal of Equine Veterinary Science最新文献

{"title":"Influence of virtual reality stallion collection simulation on student salivary cortisol levels","authors":"A. Schwab ,&nbsp;P. Linne ,&nbsp;J.L. Zoller ,&nbsp;C.J. Huseman ,&nbsp;J.L. Leatherwood ,&nbsp;K. Dunlap ,&nbsp;J. Harlin ,&nbsp;A. Baxter ,&nbsp;M. Jensen ,&nbsp;B.L. Paris ,&nbsp;G.E. Moore","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105500","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105500","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stallion handling and collection require expertise in horse behavior and the ability to manage horses. This, coupled with inexperienced collegiate students enrolled in equine courses, can lead to potentially precarious situations. Providing hands-on learning opportunities is essential, and incorporating virtual reality (VR) simulations may enhance student preparedness, reducing risks to both students and animals. This study investigated the impact of a VR stallion collection simulation on student stress levels, measured through salivary cortisol concentration (SCC), before and after hands-on stallion collection, with subsequent assessment of student perceptions of the VR training. We hypothesized that VR participants would have lower SCC post stallion collection. Collegiate students enrolled in an equine production and management course, with no prior stallion handling experience, were randomly assigned to either the control (n = 27) or VR group (n = 30). Saliva samples were collected via SalivaBio oral swab 20 min before entering the breeding facility and 20 min after hands-on stallion collection. Participants in the VR group engaged in a 20-min VR stallion collection simulation immediately before the hands-on activity. Cortisol concentrations were analyzed by Salimetrics (Carlsbad, CA), and data were evaluated using a general linear model with least significant differences (SPSS). Pre-collection SCC did not differ between groups (0.226 ± 0.019 µg/dL; <em>P</em> = 0.657); however, post-collection SCC was lower in the VR group (0.180 ± 0.026 µg/dL) compared with control (0.271 ± 0.028 µg/dL; <em>P</em> = 0.019). A post-activity survey revealed 90% of students in the VR group found the VR experience enjoyable, whereas 10% reported slight motion sickness. Regarding confidence in handling or collecting a stallion, students indicated that confidence was increased not at all (0%), very little (6.67%), somewhat (56.67%), or to a great extent (36.67%). These findings suggest that the VR simulation reduced student stress during hands-on stallion collection while increasing perceived preparedness and confidence, potentially enabling greater focus and safer participation in hands-on activities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"148 ","pages":"Article 105500"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143948215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparing the survivability of various probiotic strains through the pelleting process","authors":"R. Jacobs,&nbsp;D. Ayala,&nbsp;K. Dunmire,&nbsp;M.E. Gordon","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105516","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105516","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widely accepted definition for probiotics specifies that they are “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.” The specific reference to “live microorganisms” is of paramount importance when discussing the efficacy of these bacteria. Commonly, equine feeds and supplements that contain claimed probiotics are provided to the horse in a pelleted form, which are produced utilizing high temperatures, pressures, and moisture via steam addition, which are all factors known to inactivate certain bacteria. The objective of this study was to evaluate the post-pelleting survivability of a selection of bacteria with proposed probiotic properties. Four bacteria commonly used in equine probiotic supplements were obtained (<em>Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus casei</em>, and <em>Bifidobacterium longum</em>; Waseen Inc.). A fifth bacterium of interest was also evaluated (<em>Bacillus coagulans</em> GBI-30, 6086; Kerry). Identical alfalfa-based premixes were prepared with a targeted concentration of 1.13 × 10⁹ cfu/kg of each bacterium. Premixes were mixed utilizing a ribbon mixer and pelleted using a 100-hp dual-speed pellet mill (CPM, model 2S) using a 5/32-inch pellet die at a rate of 54.5 kg/min and a conditioning temperature of 85 C. Two samples (25 g) of each pre- and post-pelleting feed sample was added to 225 mL of buffered peptone water (BPW). To evaluate the viability of <em>B. coagulans</em> GBI-30, 6086, <em>E. faecium, B. longum, L. casei</em>, and <em>L. reuteri</em>, samples were homogenized in a stomacher at 230 rpm for 2 min, diluted on BPW, and plated in selective media. Plates were then incubated at respective conditions for 24 to 48 h: Luria–Bertani 42°C; brain heart infusion 42°C; de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) 37°C anaerobically; and MRS 37°C aerobically. Plates with 25 to 250 colonies were counted and results recorded as log₁₀ cfu per gram. Data were analyzed via ANOVA using a MIXED procedure (SAS 9.4). Pre- and post-pelleting data are presented in Table 1. Taken together, these data demonstrate that a selection of bacteria commonly used in equine feeds and supplements do not meet the definition of probiotic when provided in a pelleted form. In addition, this type of research can act as a screening tool to determine which probiotics should be the subject of additional physiological research in horses. <em>Bacillus coagulans</em> GBI-30, 6086 is a unique sporeforming bacterium which survives pelleting, enabling it to function as a probiotic in the horse.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"148 ","pages":"Article 105516"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143948026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"U.S. stakeholder survey examining understanding of equine genetics and concerns for genetic diseases","authors":"S. Hernandez ,&nbsp;E. Nastrini ,&nbsp;E. Norton ,&nbsp;A.M. McCoy ,&nbsp;S.A. Brooks ,&nbsp;M.J. Mienaltowski","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105508","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105508","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The USDA Multistate Project S1094 (“Genomic Tools to Improve Equine Health, Wellbeing and Performance”) was created in 2022 to promote collaboration, networking, and creation of tools and resources among the members of the equine genetics and genomics community. Under the auspices of the multistate project, an online survey was developed to determine stakeholder understanding of equine genetics and genetic testing, query stakeholder concerns for genetic diseases, and discern their interest in genetic diversity and performance genes. The survey was distributed to stakeholders via email and social media channels, targeting horse owners and enthusiasts from the United States who were 18 years of age or older. A total of 412 respondents completed the survey. The most common survey respondent was an owner (61%) who cares for 1 to 5 horses (62.1%). The 2 most common horse categories were sport horses (33%) and stock horses (30%). Most individuals identified as having at least a solid understanding of genetics (79.4%). Sport horse, stock horse, and racing owners and enthusiasts indicated a strong interest in genetic diversity within their breed or discipline of interest (71.11%, 69.11%, and 52.38%, respectively) and in the development of tests related to performance genes (53.33%, 54.84%, and 66.67%, respectively). The most common herd health concerns for respondents across all breed or discipline groups were arthritis, behavior and temperament, colic, laminitis, metabolic diseases, and tendon and ligament issues. These are all complex diseases or characteristics that have a genetic component and represent opportunities for future research efforts involving the equine genetics and genomics community in collaboration with other scientists. The data collected from respondents will serve as a reference for developing educational programs and providing resources that meet the needs of the diverse demographic of horse owners and enthusiasts queried in the survey.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"148 ","pages":"Article 105508"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143948089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in equine complete blood count parameters and inflammatory indices with inflammation","authors":"M.M. Friend,&nbsp;E. McGaffigan,&nbsp;S.M. Hall,&nbsp;W.B. Staniar,&nbsp;D.N. Smarsh","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105484","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105484","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Early detection of inflammation is valuable in preserving horse health and limiting progression of disease. Metrics that reflect inflammation using a common test such as a complete blood count (CBC) would therefore be beneficial. The hypothesis of this study was that cell populations and indices accounting for numerous CBC parameters would differ between horses at different levels of inflammation. The objective is to provide better reference intervals for veterinarians. Concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and haptoglobin from clinically healthy horses (n = 153) and horses seeking veterinary care (n = 46) were quantified using ELISA and peroxidase assays. Literature values of biomarker concentrations were used to establish inflammatory groups: inflamed (I; CRP n = 87, SAA n = 21, haptoglobin n = 41) or not inflamed (N; CRP n = 112, SAA n = 178, haptoglobin n = 158). The IDEXX ProcyteDx was used to obtain CBCs. Inflammatory indices were calculated from CBC outputs. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn's post hoc analysis and a Bonferroni correction. A modified Levene's test was used to determine differences in variance, defined as the deviation of data points from the median of each group, to identify differences in the spread of parameter outputs between groups. Significance was set at <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05. Horses in group I had higher median systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), systemic inflammatory index (SII), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI) values with greater variance than group N for SAA (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) and haptoglobin (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.03). Horses with SAA and haptoglobin concentrations in group I exhibited greater variance of white blood cells (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), neutrophil percentage (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), neutrophils (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), lymphocyte percentage (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), monocyte percentage (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) than group N. The CRP inflammatory group was not associated with differences in CBC parameters, suggesting SAA and haptoglobin may be more valuable in measuring inflammation related to hematological changes. Many differences in medians and variation occurred within industry-accepted reference intervals. This suggests an opportunity to adjust these intervals to detect inflammation. These results identify CBC parameters and calculated indices that may be valuable in the detection of inflammation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"148 ","pages":"Article 105484"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143948157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Equine microbiome shifts with dietary mannan-rich fraction inclusion","authors":"M. Brummer-Holder,&nbsp;R. Power","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105432","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105432","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The equine hindgut microbial community is highly sensitive and disturbances can lead to issues like diarrhea or even colic. Some of these disruptions, such as those caused by transport stress, illness, or necessary medications, are beyond the horse owner's control. Consequently, the inclusion of pre-, pro-, and postbiotics in feeds and supplements to support and maintain gut health has garnered much interest. This study evaluated the microbiome and immune response of healthy horses fed different inclusion rates of a mannan-rich fraction (MRF), derived from yeast cell wall. Eight 2-year-old Quarter horses (3 geldings, 5 fillies) were included in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design, so that upon completion of the study each horse had received each treatment (n = 8 per treatment). All experimental and washout periods were 21 d. Treatments included control (0), 1, 2, or 3 g MRF, top-dressed once daily on a 12% CP oat-based concentrate feed (McCauley Bros, Versailles, KY, USA). Horses had ad libitum access to forage (pasture in summer; grass hay of similar composition produced on farm in winter). Horses had been on the same diet for 60 d prior. Fresh fecal samples were collected on d 1 and 21 of each period, from each horse, and subsets of samples stored at −80°C. Samples were analyzed for secretory IgA (sIgA) using an equine ELISA assay (ICL Lab, Portland, OR, USA) while COSMOSID (Germantown, MD, USA) performed microbiome analysis (shallow shotgun sequencing). Data were analyzed as Latin square using ANOVA (SAS 9.4) with significance at <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05. Changes (d 1 vs. d 21) in fecal sIgA concentrations were greater for the control group, consistent with elevated sIgA, compared with the MRF supplemented groups (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Shannon diversity index was lowest for the control group (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), with <em>Lachnospiraceae</em> (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) and other butyrate-producing taxa positively influenced by MRF supplementation. In addition, butyrate kinase activity was lower in the control group (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Of further interest was a trend for a decline (<em>P</em> = 0.07) in antibiotic-resistant genes (Sulfonimide trimethoprim) when horses received MRF. Although these responses were seen across all 3 MRF treatments, responses were not always linearly correlated with MRF dose, taking on a quadratic type of response. Pooling treatment data, however, maintained similar responses. High levels of sIgA can be associated with an inflammatory response. Butyrate is known to contribute to gastrointestinal cell health. These findings highlight the potential of MRF to support hindgut health in a group of healthy, unchallenged horses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"148 ","pages":"Article 105432"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143947751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Goat tying styles and performance in collegiate rodeo competitors","authors":"M. Baxley,&nbsp;T. Powell,&nbsp;C.A. Porr","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105439","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105439","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Goat tying is a rodeo event involving dismounting a horse, and flanking and tying 3 legs of a goat. Flanking is defined as picking a goat up and setting it on the ground on its side. Flank and gather (FG) is a style where riders scoop the legs with the right hand and then place them in the left. Catch the flank (CF), stuffing (ST), and funneling (FN) are other methods that involve the goats’ legs landing together so the right hand is not needed for gathering. The objectives of this study were to determine (1) if flanking method affects performance, and (2) where errors most often occur during a run. It was predicted that riders using FG would have more successful runs, and that most errors would occur while tying. Goat tyers (n = 17) competing in the Ozark National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) completed a survey about preferred flanking method and horse experience with goat tying. Rider runs (n = 73) were videoed at 5 rodeos and evaluated whether participants flanked the goat as reported in the survey, considered a successful flank, and where horse or rider errors were made. Not every rider competed at every rodeo. Seven riders used FG, followed by CF (n = 4), ST (n = 4), FN (n = 1), and other (OT; n = 1). Of those styles, FG had the highest success rate (n = 16 of 24 attempts; 67%), followed by ST, FN, and OT (n = 12/20, 3/5, and 3/5, respectively; 60% each), and CF (n = 6/19, 32%). Using Microsoft Excel, results of a chi-squared test for independence examining the relationship between flanking method and success rate were nonsignificant, χ²(4, n = 73) = 5.83, <em>P</em> = 0.21. Rider errors were grouped into 5 categories: dismount, approach, flank, gather, and tie. Most errors were made during the approach (31%), regardless of flanking method used. A chi-squared goodness-of-fit test was used to compare observed frequencies of different errors to expected distributions. There was a significant deviation from expected values, χ²(4, n = 165) = 24.79, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.01. Riders using CF made the fewest errors in tying (n = 4/19; 21%) as compared with riders using ST (n = 12/20; 60%). Horse errors primarily involved not running directly toward the goat, and only occurred in 8 runs. During those runs, 6 riders (75%) made errors in their approach. A conditional probability equation, determined that if the horse erred, there was a 74.5% chance the rider would make an error in their approach. While more data could strengthen the results, there was a significant difference in where errors were made, and errors were more likely to occur if the horse erred. Knowing that riders are more likely to make errors in their approach if the horse misbehaves, coaches may emphasize more time practicing with horses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"148 ","pages":"Article 105439"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143948331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide on front limb symmetry in healthy horses: A quantitative assessment","authors":"T.B. Nelson ,&nbsp;K.J. Stutts ,&nbsp;S.S. Nair ,&nbsp;M.K. Blythe ,&nbsp;K.V. Flores ,&nbsp;B.L. Paris ,&nbsp;L.R. Pavel ,&nbsp;C.R. Gualandri ,&nbsp;J.L. Leatherwood ,&nbsp;C.E. Arnold ,&nbsp;K.G. Glass ,&nbsp;A.N. Bradbery ,&nbsp;R.E. Martinez","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105427","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105427","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Repetitive concussive forces on joints during exercise may lead to increased inflammation and gait asymmetry. While used to reduce inflammation and symptoms related to joint disease, intra-articular corticosteroids have not been investigated to mitigate subclinical gait asymmetries related to exercise in young horses. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 2 concentrations of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on front limb gait symmetry hypothesizing that the higher concentration of TA would mitigate exercise-related development of asymmetry. Twenty-four 2-yr-old Quarter Horses, free of clinical signs of gait asymmetry, were stratified by age (827 ± 4 d), BW (412 ± 4 kg), and sex (12 fillies, 12 geldings), and randomly assigned to one of 3 treatment groups for a 56-d study. Each horse received a single intra-articular injection in a randomly selected radial carpal joint of either: 0 mg TA (control, CON; n = 8), 6 mg TA (TA6; n = 8), or 12 mg TA (TA12; n = 8). Horses were housed in individual stalls with runs and were exercised 5 d/wk up to 45 min/d in a progressive workload using a freestall exerciser, beginning 10 d after TA administration. Lameness assessments were conducted at d 0 (pre-injection) and at 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 d post-injection. For each assessment, horses were trotted in hand over 40 m, twice. Video recordings were analyzed using computer vision via artificial intelligence (Sleip AI). Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure in SAS, with treatment and day as fixed effects, horse as a random effect, and d 0 values as a covariate. Throughout the study, horses showed no clinical signs of asymmetry, and no differences were detected in gait symmetry of the control group (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.47). There was no main effect of treatment; however, within treatment, a time effect was observed. Gait asymmetry in TA6 decreased (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.03) on d 2 through d 28 compared with d 0 for the push-off phase with no differences in the impact phase. Conversely, gait asymmetry increased (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.04) in TA12 for the impact phase on d 28 and 56 compared with d 0. Additionally, asymmetric movement was lower (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.03) for the push-off phase at d 14 for TA6 compared with TA12. Statistically, changes in gait symmetry were detected; however, these differences, measured in millimeters, may not have physiological significance. Contrary to our hypothesis, the higher concentration of TA did not mitigate the exercise-induced development of asymmetry. These results suggest that the lower TA concentration may be more effective in preventing or reducing gait asymmetry associated with exercise.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"148 ","pages":"Article 105427"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143948514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of a forage-based versus forage-replacement diet on fecal particle size, dry matter, nondigestible fiber content, and ultrasonic measurement of large colon motility in healthy horses","authors":"A. Starrett ,&nbsp;M.K. Chaffin ,&nbsp;J.O. Sarturi ,&nbsp;J.L. Leatherwood ,&nbsp;C.E. Arnold","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105464","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105464","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diet is a risk factor for colic, but few studies have characterized the effects of diet on fecal characteristics or gastrointestinal motility, features affected by colic. This prospective crossover study determined how 2 standard equine diets affected fecal particle size (FPS), dry matter (DM), nondigestible fiber content, and ultrasonographic measurements of large colon motility. The authors hypothesized that horses fed a forage-based diet (FBD) would have increased values in the above variables compared with those fed a complete forage-replacement diet (CFR). Twenty horses (19 QH and 1 TB; median age 16.7, range 5–26; 15 mares and 5 geldings) at Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine served as subjects, 16 of which completed the study. Horses were fed 2 diets for mature horses at maintenance: coastal Bermudagrass (<em>Cynodon dactylon</em>) hay fed at 2% body weight (BW) with a commercially available concentrate-supplemented at 0.5% BW (FBD) and a commercially available pelleted, complete forage-replacement diet (CFR) fed at 1.35% of BW per manufacturer. After 3 d of dietary transition, followed by 13 d of acclimatization, fecal grab samples (800 g) were collected on the last 4 d twice daily via rectal palpation at 12-h intervals with times advancing 3 h each day to account for diurnal variation. Fecal DM, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and lignin content were evaluated. The FPS, the size distribution of solid particles in feces, was evaluated using a Gilson Sieve Shaker with screen sizes 4.75 mm, 2.36 mm, 1.70 mm, 1.18 mm, 1.00 µm, 180 µm, and a collection pan. Large colon motility was assessed with percutaneous ultrasound 3 d before fecal collection in 4 randomly selected horses daily (n = 12). Contractions at the sternal and pelvic flexures and cecum were conducted twice daily, 2 h after feeding. Statistical analysis was performed with R Studio using a Shapiro-Wilk test, Levene's test, and classic 2-way ANOVA. Results were considered significant at <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05. Diet had no main effect on FPS. Fecal DM was increased in horses fed CFR (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.0001). Horses fed CFR had an increased concentration of ADF (<em>P</em> = 0.000) and lignin (<em>P</em> = 0.01), but decreased NDF (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.0001) compared with those fed the FBD. Horses fed the CFR had increased contractions at the sternal flexure compared with horses fed FBD (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.0001). This study found that diet impacts the physical characteristics of feces and gastrointestinal motility of healthy horses, which may impact equine colic.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"148 ","pages":"Article 105464"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143948520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The “misbehaving” performance horse: is it ever behavioral?","authors":"Erin K. Contino","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105420","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105420","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Long before the concept of social license to operate came to the forefront of equestrian sports, veterinarians have always had a responsibility to advocate for the welfare of the horse. For performance horses this often means helping to ensure that the horse is performing positively and comfortably for its intended use. A horse that is struggling to perform at an optimal level may be doing so for a multitude of reasons, but regardless of the underlying cause, it often presents as any number of behavioral issues. This review explores various underlying physical causes of behavioral issues in performance horses in order to highlight the fact that most “behavioral issues” are not behavioral at all.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"148 ","pages":"Article 105420"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143692245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing sperm selection: Effects of microfluidic and colloidal centrifugation processing on DNA fragmentation in thawed stallion sperm","authors":"M.K. Blythe ,&nbsp;C.A. Covarrubias ,&nbsp;K.J. Stutts ,&nbsp;K.V. Flores ,&nbsp;T.B. Nelson ,&nbsp;L. Ramirez-Agamez ,&nbsp;C. Hernández-Avilés ,&nbsp;R.E. Martinez","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105468","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105468","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ensuring the integrity of sperm DNA is vital for the success of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) because DNA fragmentation can compromise fertilization outcomes and embryo development. Cryopreservation is a widely used technique for sperm storage; however, the freezing, thawing, and subsequent sperm selection processes can exacerbate DNA damage, presenting significant challenges for its application in ART. Identifying effective sperm selection methods to minimize post-thaw DNA fragmentation is crucial for improving ART success rates. This study evaluated post-thaw sperm DNA fragmentation in cryopreserved sperm from 6 stallions (n = 6) with 2 replicates per stallion. Cryopreserved straws were thawed for 30 s in a water bath set at 37°C and diluted 1:2.5 with Botusemen® Gold (Botupharma USA, Phoenix, AZ, USA) before being processed using either a microfluidic device (VetMotl; VetMotl Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, USA), colloidal centrifugation at 400 × <em>g</em> for 20 min (EquiPure; NidaCon International AB, Sweden), or left unprocessed (control). After undergoing their respective selection methods, all samples were flash-frozen and stored at −80°C until further analysis. Sperm DNA fragmentation was assessed based on the percentage of cells outside the main population (COMPαt) as determined by the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA). Two samples from a fertile control stallion were used to calibrate the flow cytometer for consistent analysis. Analysis was performed by individuals blinded to treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using R (R Core Team, Vienna, Austria, v3.6.0) to fit a mixed linear regression model. The model included treatment method (control, EquiPure, VetMotl) as a fixed effect and stallion as a random effect. No significant differences were observed between stallions (<em>P</em> = 0.074). VetMotl processing resulted in significantly lower (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) DNA damage (5.59% ± 1.17) compared with both control (12.95% ± 1.84) and EquiPure (14.61% ± 2.21) treatments. These findings suggest that microfluidic sperm processing may be a promising approach for reducing DNA damage in thawed cryopreserved stallion sperm intended for assisted reproduction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"148 ","pages":"Article 105468"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143948011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}