Effect of prolonged use of altrenogest on behaviour in mares.
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. It was concluded that prolonged oral administration of altrenogest at recommended dose rate to sedentary mares had no effect on dominance hierarchies, body-mass or condition score.
Hodgson
David
D
Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Narellam, NSW 2537, Australia. davidh@camden.usyd.edu.au
Howe
Stephanie
S
Jeffcott
Leo
L
Reid
Stuart
S
Mellor
Dominic
D
Higgins
Andrew
A
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*
D045930:Anabolic Agents; C023445:altrenogest; D014204:Trenbolone Acetate