Growth patterns, metabolic indicators and osteoarticular status in the Lusitano horse: A longitudinal study.
Authors: Fradinho Maria J, Mateus Luísa, Bernardes Nuno, Bessa Rui J B, Caldeira Rui M, Ferreira-Dias Graça
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Growth Patterns and Osteochondrosis Risk in Lusitano Horses Researchers tracked 34 Lusitano foals from birth to three years of age across four stud-farms, collecting regular body weight and height measurements alongside blood samples for bone metabolism markers (osteocalcin, bone alkaline phosphatase), growth factors (IGF-I), metabolic indicators (insulin, glucose, PTH), and quantitative ultrasound assessments of the third metacarpal bone. Foals that developed radiographic signs of osteochondrosis-like lesions by training age exhibited distinct growth trajectories: accelerated body weight gain between six and 18 months but slower withers height growth before 45 days old, alongside lower bone speed-of-sound values, reduced IGF-I concentrations, and elevated insulin and PTH levels. These metabolic and growth abnormalities suggest that unbalanced or dysrhythmic skeletal development during early life may predispose Lusitano horses to osteochondrosis, offering practitioners a potential window for early intervention through nutrition and management optimisation. Whilst the authors acknowledge limitations including small cohort size and uncontrolled feeding protocols, this longitudinal approach demonstrates that systematic monitoring of growth rates and metabolic markers during the first year could help identify at-risk foals before radiographic lesions become apparent.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Monitor foal growth patterns (body weight and height) during the first 18 months of life, as abnormal growth trajectories may indicate risk for osteochondrosis development
- •Foals showing disproportionate early growth (rapid weight gain without proportional height increase) may benefit from nutritional and management interventions to reduce OC risk
- •Blood metabolic markers and bone ultrasound measurements may help identify at-risk foals early, though feeding protocols need standardization before clinical implementation
Key Findings
- •Foals that developed radiographic OC lesions showed higher body weight growth rates from 6-18 months of age and lower withers height growth rates before 45 days of age
- •OC-positive horses had lower speed of sound measurements in the third metacarpal bone, lower IGF-I concentrations, and higher insulin and PTH concentrations
- •Bone markers, growth factors and metabolic variables changed significantly with age throughout the 36-month study period
- •Abnormal growth patterns in early life were associated with subsequent osteochondrosis-like lesions at the onset of training