Body weight as an assessment of postnatal growth in equines

Abstract

Growth is a critical stage in sport horse production. Its length can vary from 3-5 years according to breed and genetic biotype and take place from birth up to adulthood by showing and increase in in weight and body dimensions as a function of time. These biological processes, which are depicted in both anatomical and physiological changes, rely on genetic, metabolic, nutritional and environmental effects. This article describes postnatal growth in horses and its assessment through the body weight variable. Weight rate can be defined as the obtained body weight changes in relation with time, but a maximum growth rate is not appropriate in horses. Evolution cycle for each tissue do not occur synchronously so that its essential to understand how each of them (bone, muscle and fat) take part in growth process. This could led to consider height measurement as key marker for bone tissue increasement and one way to study it in relation with weight is through body mass index (BMI). Body fat is the tissue that varies the most in body weight composition and it should be monitored through subjective methods such as body condition index or through objective methods as ultrasonography. In destined tosport horse, breeding the main interest relies on muscle-skeletal system. Body weight is a widely used indicator due to its relatively easy applicability and reasonable costs. It is necessary to standardize weight procedures in order to get accurate and comparable records.