Effect of copper supplementation on the evidence of developmental orthopaedic disease in pasture‐fed New Zealand Thoroughbreds

Abstract

Summary The effect of copper status on the evidence of bone and cartilage lesions was investigated in 21 Thoroughbred foals. The foals and their dams were grazed on pasture containing 4.4–8.6 mg Cu/kg dry matter (DM). Four treatment groups were created by randomly allocating mares and their foals to either copper supplemented (0.5 mg Cu/kg liveweight (LW)/day), or control (pasture only) groups. This experimental design allowed the effect of copper supplementation of mare and foal to be examined independently. Parameters of bone and cartilage development were assessed in the foals both in vivo, and at post mortem at approximately age 150 days. Mare copper supplementation significantly (P<0.01) decreased radiographic indices of physitis in the distal third metatarsal bone of the foals at 150 days, and the prevalence of articular cartilage lesions (P<0.05). Articular cartilage lesions were minor in all foals, with no evidence of clinical developmental orthopaedic disease (DOD) in vivo, with the exception of minor radiographic changes assessed at post mortem. Copper supplementation of the foal had no effect on any of the bone and cartilage parameters. Copper supplementation of the mares did not abolish DOD in the growing foals, emphasising the probable multifactorial nature of this condition. However, mare supplementation may be a useful treatment regime on a farm where the incidence and severity of DOD are of concern.

Radiographic changes in Thoroughbred yearlings in South Africa

“…The aetiopathogenesis of osteochondrosis is often multifactorial and poorly understood; genetics, nutrition and biomechanics are factors that have been implicated in the development of this condition 16,19,20 . The South African Thoroughbred population is not an isolated genetic pool.…”

An Update on the Pathogenesis of Osteochondrosis

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Evaluation of Serum Levels of Copper and Nutritional Factors in Patients with Perthes Disease

“…Also, patients with Perthes significantly more than the control group exposed to tobacco. In the study that Mr. Handeland and others in 2002 on the spot deer red mountain Norway did it was observed that copper deficiency osteochondrosis of have [12] also check and colleagues found that dietary supplements of copper in horses to protect the development of osteochondrosis have contribution Gee et al [13] no effect of copper supplements did not prevent the development of osteochondrosis [13,14]. In this study lower level of zinc and copper in patient with perthes compared to control was demonstrated but zinc deficiency and copper to investigate the etiologic relationship with perthes disease requires further investigation.…”