Acta Agriculturae Slovenica (Oct 2003)
Effect of vitamin-mineral premix on some relationships between serum parameters in breeding horses
Abstract
Eight Arabian stallions were selected from clinically normal horses. After 10 day adaptation period the animals were divided into two equal groups: control and experimental. All horses were housed individually and allowed to walk on sandy paddock twice a day between meals. Both groups were fed the same diet which was composed of 6 kg hay and 4 kg barley. However, the experimental group was supplemented with 150 g of micronutrient premix. Premix was composed of 180 g of oats husk meal, 260 g dicalcium phosphate as carrier, 25 g lignosulphate, 20 g methionine, 20 g lysine, 200 g calcium, 40 g salt (NaCl), 30 g soy oil, 100 g yeast, 50 g mixture of vitamins, 75 g mixture of minerals and antioxidants per kg. The experiment was divided into adaptation and experimental period that lasted 10 and 30 days, respectively. The blood was drawn at the beginning of experimental period and thereafter in 10 days intervals. Serum samples were analysed for total serum protein, serum urea, serum lipids, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT). The results showed highly significant differences between both groups in serum protein, serum lipids, serum GOT and GPT. Significant difference has been found between both groups in serum urea (P < 0.1). These changes in serum parameters between groups could be due to the additive micronutrient premix fed to the experimental groups. The correlations between parameters: protein and urea was significant negative, between lipids and GOT highly significant negative, and between lipids and GPT non-significant.
