IMPROVING BONE DENSITYIMPROVING BONE DENSITY

- the role of nutrition- the role of nutrition

Nia O’Malley Nia O’Malley

Connolly’s Red MillsConnolly’s Red Mills

Tendrleen Horse FeedsTendrleen Horse Feeds

Accelerated GrowthAccelerated Growth

Youngstock production dictated by industry Youngstock production dictated by industry trendstrends

Industry has strong desire to accelerate growth Industry has strong desire to accelerate growth for the sales ringfor the sales ring

Australian study found intensively fed horses Australian study found intensively fed horses were consistently heavier, taller and better were consistently heavier, taller and better developed in the cannon bones than horses on developed in the cannon bones than horses on lower nutrition levelslower nutrition levels

Skeletal GrowthSkeletal Growth

Mature HeightMature Height Mature WeightMature Weight

6 months6 months 84%84% 46%46%

12 months12 months 94%94% 65%65%

22 months22 months 97%97% 90%90%

* BMC: 68% complete at 6 months, 76% complete at 12 months

Bone MineralisationBone Mineralisation

Bone mineralisation begins Bone mineralisation begins during the last three during the last three months of pregnancymonths of pregnancy

Foetal liver stores minerals Foetal liver stores minerals needed for mineralisation needed for mineralisation after birthafter birth

The newborn foal born with The newborn foal born with 17% of its adult BMC17% of its adult BMC

Balance is Key!Balance is Key!

Very high calcium supplementation leads to a Very high calcium supplementation leads to a depression of zinc absorptiondepression of zinc absorption

Very high phosphorus levels will negatively Very high phosphorus levels will negatively influence calcium absorptioninfluence calcium absorption

High zinc levels interferes with the uptake of High zinc levels interferes with the uptake of coppercopper

Low magnesium levels affect calcium absorptionLow magnesium levels affect calcium absorption

Oats Alone?Oats Alone?

High grain diets immediately unbalance High grain diets immediately unbalance bone metabolism, as grains are low in bone metabolism, as grains are low in calcium and magnesium and reasonably calcium and magnesium and reasonably high in phosphorushigh in phosphorus

While a calcium deficiency may not reduce While a calcium deficiency may not reduce size, the skeleton is weak, porous and size, the skeleton is weak, porous and fragile, and prone to breakdown fragile, and prone to breakdown

Feeding the BroodmareFeeding the Broodmare

If the mare’s calcium intake is not adequate If the mare’s calcium intake is not adequate during gestation and lactation, it will result in during gestation and lactation, it will result in skeletal mineral loss in the foalskeletal mineral loss in the foal

Foals born of calcium deficiency have smaller Foals born of calcium deficiency have smaller cannon bone diameters at birthcannon bone diameters at birth

Mare’s milk drops significantly at about the Mare’s milk drops significantly at about the seventh week of lactation, which could seventh week of lactation, which could negatively influence foal growth ratesnegatively influence foal growth rates

Vitamins & MineralisationVitamins & Mineralisation

Vitamin D acts by increasing the intestinal Vitamin D acts by increasing the intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorusabsorption of calcium and phosphorus

Deficiency of vitamin D will exacerbate an Deficiency of vitamin D will exacerbate an existing imbalance in calcium : phosphorusexisting imbalance in calcium : phosphorus

Vitamin A deficiency leads directly to loss of Vitamin A deficiency leads directly to loss of bone strength and thinning of the bone cortexbone strength and thinning of the bone cortex

Bone Strength & ProteinBone Strength & Protein

However bone strength does not only depend However bone strength does not only depend on bone mineralisationon bone mineralisation

But also on the quality and quantity But also on the quality and quantity

of proteinof protein

Protein provides the framework baseProtein provides the framework base

upon which minerals are depositedupon which minerals are deposited

What are amino acids?What are amino acids?

Proteins are comprised of Proteins are comprised of chains of amino acidschains of amino acids

12 amino acids can be 12 amino acids can be synthesised within the synthesised within the horse’s bodyhorse’s body

However 10 need to be However 10 need to be supplied by the dietsupplied by the diet

Essential Amino AcidsEssential Amino Acids ArginineArginine HistidineHistidine IsoleucineIsoleucine LeucineLeucine LysineLysine MethionineMethionine PhenylalaninePhenylalanine ThreonineThreonine TryptophanTryptophan ValineValine

ProteinProtein

Provision of high-quality protein is important to support optimal growth and weight gain in young horses

A deficiency of certain A deficiency of certain

amino acids will do more amino acids will do more

to depress growth rate to depress growth rate

than any other nutrientthan any other nutrient

Study in Finland:Study in Finland:

Two groups of weanlings fed different Two groups of weanlings fed different protein supplementsprotein supplements

The weanlings fed higher-quality protein The weanlings fed higher-quality protein had more growth of the circumference of had more growth of the circumference of their cannon bonetheir cannon bone

Due to greater intake of essential amino Due to greater intake of essential amino acidsacids

Broodmares & ProteinBroodmares & Protein Maintenance Maintenance

requirements for the first requirements for the first 8 months8 months

However the protein However the protein requirement increases requirement increases greatly during the 9greatly during the 9thth, 10, 10th th and 11and 11thth month month

The first three months of The first three months of lactation are equally as lactation are equally as importantimportant

Exercise: Also a factor!Exercise: Also a factor!

Bone is constantly Bone is constantly remodelling itself in response remodelling itself in response to the forces of impact and to the forces of impact and loadingloading

Remodelling increases bone Remodelling increases bone density by removing existing density by removing existing bone and adding new bone to bone and adding new bone to areas where forces are greatestareas where forces are greatest

Effect of Exercise on Bone Effect of Exercise on Bone

Weanlings paddock raised & exercised Weanlings paddock raised & exercised daily vs. box raiseddaily vs. box raisedPaddock raised weanlings had 33% higher Paddock raised weanlings had 33% higher

bone densitiesbone densities

Arab weanlings kept: in stalls 24/day, on Arab weanlings kept: in stalls 24/day, on pasture 12/day, on pasture 24/daypasture 12/day, on pasture 24/dayPasture weanlings had increased bone Pasture weanlings had increased bone

mineralisationmineralisation

To Conclude!To Conclude!

Maximising bone density by building Maximising bone density by building stronger bone is achieved through a stronger bone is achieved through a combination of both nutrition and exercisecombination of both nutrition and exercise

Nutrients such as protein, calcium, Nutrients such as protein, calcium, phosphorus, other minerals and vitamins phosphorus, other minerals and vitamins must be provided in the correct amounts must be provided in the correct amounts relative to each other, and in balance with relative to each other, and in balance with the amount of energy being fedthe amount of energy being fed

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

Any questions?Any questions?

M: 087 9902651

E: nomalley@redmills.ie