Correction: Effects of Moderate Amounts of Barley in Late Pregnancy on Growth, Glucose Metabolism and Osteoarticular Status of Pre-Weaning Horses.
Authors: Peugnet Pauline, Robles Morgane, Mendoza Luis, Wimel Laurence, Dubois Cédric, Dahirel Michèle, Guillaume Daniel, Camous Sylvaine, Berthelot Valérie, Toquet Marie-Pierre, Richard Eric, Sandersen Charlotte, Chaffaux Stéphane, Lejeune Jean-Philippe, Tarrade Anne, Serteyn Didier, Chavatte-Palmer Pascale
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary Maternal nutrition during late pregnancy fundamentally shapes foetal development and postnatal performance in horses, yet the specific effects of moderate cereal supplementation remain poorly characterised. This multi-centre investigation examined how feeding pregnant mares moderate amounts of barley influenced offspring growth trajectories, glucose homeostasis, and skeletal development through the pre-weaning period, employing growth measurements, metabolic profiling, and radiographic assessment of bone maturation. The findings demonstrated that moderate barley inclusion altered glucose metabolism markers in nursing foals without compromising skeletal development or longitudinal growth, though the magnitude of metabolic changes warrants consideration in conditioning programmes for young stock. For practitioners, this research suggests that carefully controlled barley supplementation in late pregnancy is unlikely to cause developmental orthopaedic complications, but foals from supplemented dams may exhibit different glucose handling characteristics that could influence early feeding strategies and exercise tolerance during the critical pre-weaning months.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Feeding decisions during late pregnancy have measurable effects on foal metabolic health and skeletal development—avoid excessive barley supplementation without nutritional assessment
- •Monitor foals from mares fed high grain diets for subtle differences in growth rates and metabolic markers
- •Work with nutritionists to balance energy needs in late pregnancy without oversupplementing concentrates that may compromise foal joint and bone development
Key Findings
- •Moderate barley supplementation during late pregnancy affects foal glucose metabolism and skeletal development
- •Maternal nutrition during late pregnancy influences pre-weaning foal growth parameters
- •Osteoarticular status in developing foals is sensitive to prenatal nutritional programming