Effect of copper supplementation on copper status of pregnant mares and foals

Pearce, Simon G.; Grace, N. D.; Wichtel, Jeffrey; Firth, E. C.; Fennessy, P. F.

doi:10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04488.x

Cited by 37 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…However, there was no evidence of Cu deficiency in mares or foals. Liver Cu concentrations of 16.6 and 18.5 mg kg-1 DM have been reported for mares with equivalent dietary Cu concentrations of 8 and 30 mg kg-1 DM, respectively, in New Zealand (Pearce et al 1998c), where the latter group received oral Cu sulphate thrice weekly. Liver Cu concentrations of 17.6-21.6 mg kg-1 DM have been reported for yearling horses, consuming diets containing 7-15 mg Cu kg-1 DM (Cymbaluk & Christensen 1986), and liver concentrations of 17-25 mg Cu kg-1 DM for yearlings grazing New Zealand pasture with or without supplementary Cu (8 and 30 mg Cu kg-1 DM respectively) (Grace et al 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Liver copper kinetics in Thoroughbred foals at pasture from birth to 160 days of age

Gee

Morel

Mogg

et al. 2004

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Liver copper kinetics in Thoroughbred foals at pasture from birth to 160 days of age

Gee

Morel

Mogg

et al. 2004

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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“…) or even 50 ppm (Lewis ), but the rationale of these measures became questionable when it was shown that in New Zealand, a country where horses tend to stay out on grass all year round and the OC prevalence is traditionally low, the natural copper level in grass was 4.3–8.6 ppm (Pearce et al . ).…”

Section: Environmental Factorsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…In experimental studies it was shown that copper or zinc imbalances had to be huge to exert any effect and the resulting lesions were often much more severe than seen clinically (Bridges and Harris 1988;Bridges and Moffitt 1990). Copper intake recommendations were raised from the original National Research Council (NRC) recommendation of 10 ppm (NRC 1989) to 20-25 ppm (Hurtig et al 1993) or even 50 ppm (Lewis 1995), but the rationale of these measures became questionable when it was shown that in New Zealand, a country where horses tend to stay out on grass all year round and the OC prevalence is traditionally low, the natural copper level in grass was 4.3-8.6 ppm (Pearce et al 1998). Foals are, as many mammalian species, born with a large stock of copper in the liver that they need during the first months of life, as milk contains hardly any copper.…”

Section: Imbalances In Trace Elements and Mineralsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It may be advisable to give supplemental copper (e.g. oral supplementation with copper sulfate equivalent to 0.5 mg Cu/kg live weight/day; Pearce et al 1998) in late pregnancy in areas where the natural availability of copper is marginal to ensure high liver copper levels in the newborn foals. Foals should further be given sufficient pasture access, ideally all day long.…”

Section: How To Manage Equine Osteochondrosis In a Practical Sense?mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pathogenesis of osteochondrosis dissecans: How does this translate to management of the clinical case?

Weeren

Olstad

2015

Equine Veterinary Education

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Summary Osteochondrosis (OC) is the most prevalent developmental orthopaedic disease in the horse. It is a complex disorder because of the interplay of factors that influence the formation of lesions and the ensuing natural healing process, the end result of which determines clinical outcome. The early pathogenetic mechanism of OC has long remained elusive, but recent research has provided compelling evidence for vascular disturbances leading to areas of ischaemic necrosis in the subarticular growth cartilage as the primary event. The aetiological factors that influence the process of the development of lesions are many and comprise both genetic and environmental factors. The genetic background of OC (dissecans) is highly complex with quantitative trait loci associated with some form of OC found on not fewer than 22 of the 33 chromosomes of the horse, and different manifestations and locations of OC having probably different genetic backgrounds. The environmental factors can be divided into nutritional factors and factors influencing the biomechanical loading of joints. Feeding large quantities of easily digestible carbohydrates is a clear risk factor and also the availability of sufficient copper for mares in the last part of pregnancy is important. Factors influencing the biomechanical loading of joints include the exercise regimen of foals, paddock size and roughness of terrain, and conformation. Equine OC is rarely a life‐threatening disease and the prognosis of (surgical) treatment is good to very good. However, the impact on economics of the equine industry and on horse welfare is large. This impact can only be lessened by the judicious management of both horse breeding and horse husbandry. Some of the measures that would alleviate the burden of OC conflict with (commercial) pressures from the industry and a balance between human‐imposed breeding and performance goals and the interest of the animal itself should be sought.

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“…Based on these studies, the relatively low NRC recommendation for copper in horse feed (10 mg Cu/kg; Anon 1989) was challenged, leading to higher recommendations of 20-25 mg Cu/kg (Hurtig et al 1993), or even 50 mg Cu/kg (Lewis 1995). In a more recent study, Pearce et al (1998a) used percutaneous liver biopsy to assess copper status in foals and mares, which had been supplemented with dietary copper. Mare liver copper was larg e l y u n a ffected by copper supplementation, but copper supplementation of the mare was associated with reduced abnormality in cartilage and bone development in their foals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of liver copper status of mare and newborn foal on the development of osteochondrotic lesions

Weeren

Knaap

Firth

2003

Equine Veterinary Journal

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Summary Reason for performing study: To elucidate the highly contentious role of copper in the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis. Hypothesis: There would be no relationship between liver copper concentration of mares and foals and incidence of radiographically detectable osteochondrotic lesions in foals and yearlings was tested. Methods: Liver copper concentration was assessed in biopsies taken within 4 days after birth from both mares and foals and from the same foals at age 5 months. Biopsies were taken in the standing, sedated animal under ultrasonographic guidance. Radiographs were taken of both hocks (lateromedial, dorsoplantar and dorsomedial‐plantarolateral oblique views) and stifles (lateromedial and caudolateral‐craniomedial oblique views) at ages 5 and 11 months and scored for the presence and severity of osteochondrotic lesions. Results: Copper concentrations in newborn foals were high with a large variation (351 ± 201 mg/kg DM). They declined until reaching values comparable to those in mature animals at 5 months (20 ± 8 mg/kg DM; mares: 19 ± 20 mg/kg DM). Radiographic osteochondrotic lesions decreased in number and severity from 5 to 11 months. This pattern was more predominant in the stifle than in the hock, as has been described previously. Conclusions: There was no relationship between foal or mare liver copper concentration and osteochondrosis status at either 5 or 11 months. However, osteochondrotic lesions in foals with low‐level copper status at birth decreased significantly less in number and severity than those in foals with high‐level copper status at birth. Potential relevance: It is concluded that copper is not likely to be an important factor in the aetiopathogenesis of osteochondrosis, but this study indicates that there may be a significant effect of high copper status on the natural process of repair of early lesions.

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Effect of copper supplementation on copper status of pregnant mares and foals

Cited by 37 publications

References 24 publications

Liver copper kinetics in Thoroughbred foals at pasture from birth to 160 days of age

Liver copper kinetics in Thoroughbred foals at pasture from birth to 160 days of age

Pathogenesis of osteochondrosis dissecans: How does this translate to management of the clinical case?

Influence of liver copper status of mare and newborn foal on the development of osteochondrotic lesions

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