title: Effect of prolonged use of altrenogest on behaviour in mares.
abstract: Oral administration of altrenogest for oestrus suppression in competition horses is believed to be widespread in some equestrian disciplines, and can be administered continuously for several months during a competition season. To examine whether altrenogest has any anabolic or other potential performance enhancing properties that may give a horse an unfair advantage, we examined the effect of oral altrenogest (0.044 mg/kg), given daily for a period of eight weeks, on social hierarchy, activity budget, body-mass and body condition score of 12 sedentary mares. We concluded that prolonged oral administration of altrenogest at recommended dose rates to sedentary mares resulted in no effect on dominance hierarchies, body mass or condition score.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Private Mailbag 4, Narellan Delivery Centre, Narellan, NSW 2567, Australia. davidh@camden.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jeffcott
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mellor
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Higgins
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004300:Doping in Sports; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D012930:Social Dominance; D013997:Time Factors; D014204:Trenbolone Acetate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; C023445:altrenogest; D014204:Trenbolone Acetate