TY - JOUR
T1 - Apparent adiposity assessed by standardised scoring systems and morphometric measurements in horses and ponies
AU - Carter, Rebecca A.
AU - Geor, Raymond J.
AU - Burton Staniar, W.
AU - Cubitt, Tania A.
AU - Harris, Pat A.
N1 - Funding Information:
Research was supported in part by the late Paul Mellon, Upperville, VA; the John Lee Pratt Graduate Fellowship Program in Animal Nutrition at Virginia Tech; and the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition. We are grateful to Dr. David Kronfeld for intellectual contribution during study initiation.
PY - 2009/2
Y1 - 2009/2
N2 - This study described a scoring system for the assessment of apparent neck adiposity and evaluated morphometric measurements for assessment of neck and overall adiposity. Twenty-one barren Thoroughbred mares, 13 Arabian geldings and 75 Welsh, Dartmoor, or crossbred pony mares, were clinically examined and blood samples analysed for insulin, glucose, leptin, and triglycerides. Bodyweight (BW), height, length, girth and abdominal circumferences, neck length, neck crest height and neck circumference were measured, and body condition scores (BCS) and cresty neck scores (CNS) were rated. Girth:height ratio had the strongest associations with BCS (rs = 0.64, P < 0.001 in horses; rs = 0.83, P < 0.001 in ponies) and blood variables, such as leptin (rs = 0.39, P = 0.024 in horses; rs = 0.68, P < 0.001 in ponies). Crest height and neck circumference:height ratio had the strongest association with CNS (rs > 0.50, P < 0.01) and blood variables, such as insulin (rs ≥ 0.40, P < 0.05). Cresty neck score was useful in the assessment of neck crest adiposity and had physiological relevance, as demonstrated by associations with blood variables. Girth:height was the most suitable morphometric for assessment of overall adiposity, and either crest height or neck circumference:height was a suitable morphometric for assessment of apparent neck adiposity.
AB - This study described a scoring system for the assessment of apparent neck adiposity and evaluated morphometric measurements for assessment of neck and overall adiposity. Twenty-one barren Thoroughbred mares, 13 Arabian geldings and 75 Welsh, Dartmoor, or crossbred pony mares, were clinically examined and blood samples analysed for insulin, glucose, leptin, and triglycerides. Bodyweight (BW), height, length, girth and abdominal circumferences, neck length, neck crest height and neck circumference were measured, and body condition scores (BCS) and cresty neck scores (CNS) were rated. Girth:height ratio had the strongest associations with BCS (rs = 0.64, P < 0.001 in horses; rs = 0.83, P < 0.001 in ponies) and blood variables, such as leptin (rs = 0.39, P = 0.024 in horses; rs = 0.68, P < 0.001 in ponies). Crest height and neck circumference:height ratio had the strongest association with CNS (rs > 0.50, P < 0.01) and blood variables, such as insulin (rs ≥ 0.40, P < 0.05). Cresty neck score was useful in the assessment of neck crest adiposity and had physiological relevance, as demonstrated by associations with blood variables. Girth:height was the most suitable morphometric for assessment of overall adiposity, and either crest height or neck circumference:height was a suitable morphometric for assessment of apparent neck adiposity.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=58249111631&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=58249111631&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.02.029
DO - 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.02.029
M3 - Article
C2 - 18440844
AN - SCOPUS:58249111631
SN - 1090-0233
VL - 179
SP - 204
EP - 210
JO - Veterinary Journal
JF - Veterinary Journal
IS - 2
ER -