The Makers Of SPILLERS Help Tackle Equine Obesity With Science
2 years ago 
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Equine obesity is a global welfare concern with numerous associated health risks, not least laminitis. That’s why the makers of SPILLERS™, via the WALTHAM™ Equine Studies Group, are working hard with collaborators worldwide to improve our understanding of equine obesity, with the ultimate aim of making it a problem of the past.
It’s common knowledge that obesity increases the risk of laminitis, but it also poses other health and welfare concerns. These include joint strain, respiratory stress, heat intolerance, an increased risk of certain types of colic, reduced fertility, an increased risk of OCD and insulin dysregulation in foals born to obese mares and increased ‘inflamm-aging’ – chronic low-grade inflammation associated with aging.
The SPILLERS team and world leading collaborators are striving hard in many areas to develop knowledge to help manage equine waistlines and reduce the risk of obesity-related health and welfare concerns.
Over the past 20 years they have:
· Developed several, now commonly recommended, methods for monitoring condition such as the cresty neck score and belly girth/rump width measurements.
· Identified that weight loss may not initially result in a change in body condition score (BCS, especially in very obese ponies) - hence the need for other monitoring measurements.
· Validated Deuterium oxide dilution (a specialist clinical test) as the gold standard method for determining total body fat percentage in ponies. This has since been used in several studies which has helped us to further the understanding of obesity.
· Produced evidence to support the recommendation that horses and ponies with a BCS of ≥7/9 should be considered obese which has now become the globally accepted definition.
· Identified that some horses and ponies may be weight loss resistant – this means they may need greater calorie restriction to promote weight loss.
· Confirmed that obesity rates may be as high as 70% in some groups of leisure horses and ponies.
· Developed the body condition index (BCI), a method of assessing body fat similar to the body mass index (BMI) used in humans.
· Conducted the very first study to evaluate the effect of strip grazing on bodyweight.
· Evaluated the effect of grazing muzzles on pasture intake and bodyweight.
· Showed that the severity of calorie restriction may affect the rate of future weight gain – safe weight loss takes time!
· Identified that becoming obese does not always result in becoming insulin dysregulated – the source of excess calories in the diet may have more of an effect.
· Discovered that even small amounts of exercise may improve insulin sensitivity in overweight horses, even if it doesn’t result in additional weight loss.
· Detected certain characteristics in faeces that may be able to help predict which horses and ponies may be weight loss resistant.
· Found that in some weight loss resistance ponies, gut microflora involved in fibre digestion may be able to adapt to counteract a restricted diet.
“We are very proud of our ongoing work to increase our knowledge of obesity and related health risks and use it to provide practical support for horse owners,” said SPILLERS Product Manager, Sarah Nelson.
“We are now working on improving the accuracy of the BCI, so that it is even more valuable for those who prefer using measurements rather than the more subjective descriptions used for body condition scoring.
“We are also evaluating the effect of strip grazing on behaviour, pasture recovery and the WSC or ‘sugar’ content of the pasture and continuing to look at how diet influences weight management in ponies.”
For advice on feeding your good doer contact the SPILLERS Care-Line on + 44 (0)1908 226626 or visit www.spillers-feeds.com. You can also join the SPILLERS Slimmers’ Club which is helping more than 3,500 members address the problem of equine obesity in a positive way.
References
- A Longland, ELNS, Pantafallen Fach, Tregaron, SY25 6NG, P Harris, WALTHAM Centre For Pet Nutrition, C Barfoot, Mars Horsecare UK Ltd, Old Wolverton, Buckinghamshire UK. (2011) The effect of wearing a grazing muzzle vs not wearing a grazing muzzle on pasture dry matter intake by ponies. J Equine Veterinary Science 31: 282-283
- A Longland, ELNS, Pantafallen Fach, Tregaron, SY25 6NG, P Harris, WALTHAM Centre For Pet Nutrition, C Barfoot, Mars Horsecare UK Ltd, Old Wolverton, Buckinghamshire UK. (2016) Effects of Grazing Muzzles on Intakes of Dry Matter and Water-Soluble Carbohydrates by Ponies Grazing Spring, Summer, and Autumn Swards, as well as Autumn Swards of Different Heights Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 40 26-33
- Argo McC , Curtis C , Grove-White D , Dugdale A, Barfoot CF , Harris P. A (2012) Weight loss resistance; a further consideration for the nutritional management of obese Equidae. The Veterinary Journal 194 179–188
- Bamford, N. J., Potter, S. J., Harris, P. A. and Bailey, S. R. (2016), Effect of increased adiposity on insulin sensitivity and adipokine concentrations in horses and ponies fed a high fat diet, with or without a once daily high glycaemic meal. Equine Veterinary Journal, 48: 368–373
- Bamford, N. J., Potter, S. J., Baskerville, C. L., Harris, P. A., & Bailey, S. R. (2016). Effect of increased adiposity on insulin sensitivity and adipokine concentrations in different equine breeds adapted to cereal-rich or fat-rich meals. The Veterinary Journal, 214, 14-20.
- Bamford, N ; Potter, S ; Baskerville, C ; Harris, P ; Bailey, S (2019) Influence of dietary restriction and low-intensity exercise on weight loss and insulin sensitivity in obese equids J Vet Intern Med. 33:280- 286
- Bruynsteen L. Moons C.P.H, Janssens G. P. J., Harris P. A., Vandevelde K., Lefère L., Duchateau L. and Hesta M. (2016) Level of energy restriction alters body condition score and morphometric profile in obese Shetland ponies Vet J 2016 (1) 61- 66
- Carter RA , Staniar WB, Cubitt TA, Harris P. A, and Geor RJ (2009) Apparent adiposity assessed by standardised scoring systems and morphometric measurements in horses and ponies Veterinary Journal 179 204 – 210.
- Cameron, A., Longland, A., Pfau, T., Pinnegar, S., Brackston, I., Hockenhull, J., Harris, P.A. and Menzies-Gow, N.J., 2022. The effect of strip grazing on physical activity and behaviour in ponies. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, p.103745.
- Curtis CG, Dugdale AHA, , Grove-White D and Argo C.McG. University of Liverpool, UK Harris PA. Equine Studies Group WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, UKBarfoot CF. Mars Horsecare UK Ltd two practical weight loss protocols for the management of overweight and obese horses and ponies
- Dugdale A,. CurtisGC, Cripps P. Harris P. A., & Argo CMcG (2010) Effect of dietary restriction on body condition, composition and welfare of overweight and obese pony mares . Equine Veterinary Journal 42 (7) 600 – 610.
- Dugdale A,. CurtisGC, Cripps P. Harris P. A., & Argo CMcG (2011) Effects of season and body condition on appetite, body mass and body composition in ad libitum fed pony mares Vet J 190 p 329 -337
- Dugdale, A. H. A., G. C. Curtis, Milne E, Harris P. A & Argo C Mc (2011b). Assessment of body fat in the pony: Part II. Validation of the deuterium oxide dilution technique for the measurement of body fat. Equine Veterinary Journal 43(5): 562-570
- Dugdale A,. Grove-white – D , CurtisGC, Cripps P. Harris P. A., & Argo CMcG (2012) Body condition scoring as a predictor of body fat in horses and ponies The Veterinary Journal 194 173–178
- Dugdale A, Curtis G, Argo, C McG: Department of Clinical Science, University of Liverpool, UK. Harris , P A: Equine Studies Group WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, UK Managed weight loss in obese ponies: evaluating weight change, health and welfare
- Equine gastrointestinal microbiome: impacts of weight loss Philippa K. Morrison , Charles J. Newbold , Eleanor Jones , Hilary J. Worgan , Dai H. Grove-White , Alexandra H. Dugdale , Clare Barfoot , Patricia A. Harris and Caroline McGregor Argo BMC Veterinary Research BMC Vet Res 16, 78 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02295-6
- Harris P & Longland A (2020) Comparison of three restricted grazing practices for equine bodyweight management during the UK grass growing season in Proceedings of the 4th Global Equine Endocrine Symposium p64
- Longland A, Barfoot C, Harris P (2016) , Effects of grazing muzzles on intakes of dry matter and water-soluble carbohydrates by ponies grazing spring, summer and autumn swards, as well as autumn swards of different heights Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 40 26-33.
- Longland A, Barfoot C, Harris P (2016) Efficacy of wearing grazing muzzles for 10 hours per day on controlling bodyweight in pastured ponies Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 45 22 – 27.
- Longland A C Barfoot C Harris PA (2022) Strip-grazing: Reduces pony dry matter intakes and changes in bodyweight and morphometrics Equine Veterinary Journal 54 (1) p 159-166
- Menzies-Gow N.J, Harris P.A. , Potter K. and Elliott J. (2017) Prospective cohort study evaluating risk factors for the development of pasture-associated laminitis in the UK EVJ ( 49). 300 – 306
- Morrison P.K., Harris P.A., Maltin C.A., Grove-White D., Argo CMG (2017) EQUIFAT: A novel scoring system for the semi-quantitative evaluation of regional adipose tissues in Equidae PLoS ONE 12 (3) e0173753
- Morrison PK , Newbold CJ , Jones E , Worgan HJ, Grove-White DH, H. Dugdale AH , Barfoot C , Harris PA & Argo CM (2018) The equine gastrointestinal microbiome: Impacts of age and obesity. Front. Microbiol., 07 December 2018 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.03017
- Morrison PK, Harris PA, Maltin CA, Grove-White D McG. Argo C McG (2017) Perceptions of obesity and management practices in a UK leisure-based population of horse owners and enthusiasts Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 53, June, 19–29
- Morrison PK , Newbold CJ , Jones E , Worgan HJ, Grove-White DH, H. Dugdale AH , Barfoot C , Harris PA & Argo CM (2020) The equine gastrointestinal microbiome: Impacts of weight-loss BMC Veterinary Research BMC Vet Res 16, 78 (2020).
- Philippa K. Morrison, Charles J. Newbold, Eleanor. Jones, Hilary J. Worgan, Dai H. Grove-White, Alexandra H. Dugdale, Clare Barfoot, Patricia A. Harris & Caroline McG. Argo
- Potter SJ, Harris PA, & Bailey SR (2015) Derivation of a new body condition index to estimate body fat percentage from morphometric measurements: comparison with body condition score. JEVS 35 p 410 - 411
- Rebecca A. Carter, Raymond J. Geor, W. Burton Staniar, Tania A. Cubitt, Pat A. Harris Apparent adiposity assessed by standardised scoring systems and morphometric measurements in horses and ponies
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