Association of breeding conditions with prevalence of osteochondrosis in foals.
Authors: Vander Heyden L, Lejeune J-P, Caudron I, Detilleux J, Sandersen C, Chavatte P, Paris J, Deliège B, Serteyn D
Journal: The Veterinary record
Summary
# Osteochondrosis in Foals: The Critical Role of Gestation Nutrition and Early Housing Osteochondrosis remains the most prevalent developmental orthopaedic disease in young horses, yet its multifactorial aetiology—involving both genetic predisposition and environmental triggers—remains incompletely understood. This Belgian study examined 223 foals across three critical developmental windows (gestation, birth to weaning, and weaning to one year) to identify specific management practices that influence osteochondrosis prevalence, using radiological examination and multivariate statistical analysis to isolate independent risk factors. Two key findings emerged: foals from mares fed concentrates during pregnancy showed significantly higher osteochondrosis rates than those from differently fed dams, whilst foals maintained exclusively at pasture throughout their first year demonstrated substantially lower disease prevalence than those kept entirely in-hand or in combined box-and-pasture systems. These results suggest that excessive maternal energy intake during gestation and insufficient weight-bearing exercise during the critical mineralisation and growth phases substantially contribute to cartilage pathology, implying that practitioners should counsel breeders towards moderate gestational nutrition and prioritise turn-out-based rearing systems as primary preventive measures. The findings particularly reinforce the importance of the gestation-to-twelve-month window as a critical intervention period where relatively simple management modifications may significantly reduce osteochondrosis incidence in young stock.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Adjust broodmare concentrate feeding during pregnancy to reduce osteochondrosis risk in foals; consider alternative nutrition strategies
- •Maximize pasture turnout for young foals through their first year rather than restricting to box housing, as exercise and movement appear protective against osteochondrosis development
- •Focus preventive management during the critical gestation-to-weaning period, when both maternal factors and foal housing decisions have the greatest impact on developmental orthopedic disease
Key Findings
- •Mares fed concentrates during gestation significantly increased risk of osteochondrosis in offspring compared to other feeding regimens (P<0.05)
- •Foals housed exclusively at pasture until one year of age had significantly lower prevalence of osteochondrosis than foals in box housing or mixed box/pasture housing (P<0.05)
- •Maternal nutrition during gestation and foal housing type during first year are critical risk factors for osteochondrosis development
- •Energy metabolism and level of exercise during gestation to one-year period play important roles in osteochondrosis aetiology