title: Level of energy restriction alters body condition score and morphometric profile in obese Shetland ponies.
abstract: Due to the high prevalence of obesity in some horses and ponies (especially in the leisure horse sector), effective and safe weight loss strategies are required. The present study evaluated the effect of two different energy restriction rates on physical, morphometric and welfare parameters in 18 obese (body condition score [BCS] 7-9/9) Shetland geldings. The trial was divided into three periods: (1) a 4 week adaptation period, during which the maintenance energy intakes to maintain a stable obese bodyweight were determined (100% MERob); (2) a 16.5-week weight loss period during which the ponies were randomly divided into three groups (n = 6/group) comprising a control group (CONTROL), moderate energy restricted (MOD), and severe energy restricted (SEV) groups that were respectively fed at 100%, 80% and 60% of their individual MERob; and (3) a 3 week follow up period in which the ponies were again fed at their outset individual 100% MERob. Between the start and end of the weight loss period, significant pairwise differences between the three treatment groups were seen for bodyweight, BCS, heart girth, belly girth, and relative ultrasound fat depth at the level of loin and ribs at several time points (P < 0.05). The higher energy restriction was associated with a faster decrease in BCS, tail head, and heart plus belly girth, but no gastric ulcers or stereotypic behaviours were seen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bruynsteen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: C P H
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Moons
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: G P J
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.affiliation: Equine Studies Group, Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, Freeby Lane, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UK.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vandevelde
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Biology of Large Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lefère
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparable Physiology and Biometry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duchateau
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address: myriam.hesta@ugent.be.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hesta
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006736:Horses; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Behaviour; Energy restriction; Equines; Obesity; Weight loss