An Integrated Approach Towards the Nutritional Assessment of the Sardinian Donkey: A Tool for Clinical Nutritionists

Abstract

The aims of the current study were to establish: i) a species-specific approach for nutritional assessment during clinical checks on Sarda breed adult donkeys, and ii) a suitable equation for body weight prediction, which at present is lacking. A total of 18 adult donkeys were sampled and the following criteria were recorded: body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), muscular mass index (MMI), along with somatometric measures (height at withers; chest girth) and metabolic profiles of each individual. The species-specific nutritional assessment based on the integrated approach turned out to correlate significantly (P<0.05) with the body condition score and levels of Na, P and cholesterol in blood. The parametric equation for predicting the BW (y=0.353a+0.443b-7.62, where a= height at withers in cm; b= chest girth in cm) closely fit the determined BW, with a standard error of SE=±5 kg BW.

Blood serum retinol levels in Asinara white donkeys reflect albinism‐induced metabolic adaptation to photoperiod at Mediterranean latitudes

“…At each sampling, donkeys underwent the nutritional assessment (Cappai, Picciau, & Pinna, ) to estimate the nutritional state. Moreover, the comparative approach for the nutritional assessment was used to estimate any potential nutritional deficiency clinically manifest in both breeds.…”

“…All donkeys enrolled in the trial live altogether in the natural reserve of Is Arenas, in the south-western coast of Sardinia Island (N 41°4′0.012″, E 8°16′0.012″). Individual blood sampling was carried for determining overall metabolic profile, with particular regard to β-carotene and retinol concentration, in two different periods (nega- At each sampling, donkeys underwent the nutritional assessment (Cappai, Picciau, & Pinna, 2013) to estimate the nutritional state.…”

A functional approach to the body condition assessment of lactating donkeys as a tool for welfare evaluation

“…Other animal-based morphometric indicators, such as direct measurements of the body or calculation of the ratio index, can be used, and could theoretically reduce the bias of subjective scoring (as in the case of BCS) if used simultaneously (Carter & Dugdale, 2013). The association between these animal-based morphometric indicators and BCS, has been evaluated in different studies on ponies and horses (Carter et al, 2009; Dugdale et al, 2011; Fernandes et al, 2015; Martinson et al, 2014; Giles et al, 2014), and donkeys (Cappai, Picciau & Pinna, 2013) but knowledge is still scant where donkeys are concerned.…”

The metabolic profile of Asinara (albino) and Sardo donkeys (pigmented) (Equus asinus L., 1758) points to unequivocal breed assignment of individuals

“…Each donkey had free access to same natural areas. On blood sampling, donkeys underwent the nutritional assessment according to Cappai, Picciau & Pinna (2013).…”

“…In addition, vitamin E synthesis in plants broadly varies, according to plant species and season (higher during spring-summer than during fall-winter) ( Sattler et al, 2003 ). As for the donkey, only a few contributions report detailed effects of the dietary regime on comparative biochemical profile and health conditions, with emphasis on specific nutrient deficiencies ( Chiofalo et al, 2005 ; Cappai, Picciau & Pinna, 2013 ; Cappai et al, 2017 ; Girardi et al, 2013 ; Valle et al, 2017 , 2018 ). In fact, very little is known about reference intervals of circulating parameters for this species ( Zinkl et al, 1990 ; French & Patrick, 1995 ; Folch, Jordana & Cuenca, 1997 ; Mori et al, 2003 ; Caldin et al, 2005 ; Bana et al, 2011 ; Girardi et al, 2013 ; Laus et al, 2015 ; Burden et al, 2016 ; Da Silva et al, 2018 ; Santos et al, 2018 ; De Palo et al, 2018 ; Gloria et al, 2018 ; Barrio, Rickards & Thiemann, 2019 ).…”