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In Honduras, many families are reliant on working equids in their daily life. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge about, and approaches to colic used by owners of working equids in Choluteca, Honduras using a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured, verbal questionnaires were conducted with ninety-three owners from eleven different communities in the Choluteca region on equid horse owners' knowledge of colic and treatments. Additional context was gained through observations and verbal questionnaires with three veterinary practitioners and eight agricultural pharmacy (agrovet) store owners. Working equids were commonly used for firewood collection 31% (40/126), transportation 24% (30/126), and carrying crops 13% (17/126). Thirty-eight percent of owners (35/92) said they did not know what colic was, 27% (24/89) could not name any clinical signs, and 46% (42/92) could not name any causes. Most owners with previous experience of colic had treated it themselves 79% (53/67), typically using herbal remedies. Colic was a major concern for owners of working equids who had prior experience or knowledge of the condition. Knowledge and understanding of colic varied, and access to evidence-based treatments was very limited. The findings will be used to inform the development of educational resources on colic in working equids.

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Background: The most abundant free amino acid in mammals is glutamine (GLN). Little research has focused on GLNsupplementation for horses, but GLN levels in this species are known to decline after exercise and during lactation. Underphysiological conditions, the body produces Gln in sufficient quantities for general metabolism, and a small part of thisamino acid comes from dietary protein. Little research has so far focused on equine dietary supplementation with freeglutamine or combined with other amino acids during catabolic states or in highly stressful situations. This research wasconducted to evaluate the effects of equine dietary supplementation using a combination of glutamine and glutamate.Materials, Methods & Results: The study involved four Arabian mares, not in training (~380 kg; ~12 years old) and fourtreatments (control, and inclusions of 1, 2 and 4% of GLN+GLU) in a Latin square model. A 7-day washout period wasestablished between each phase. Fifty percent of the mares maintenance energy requirements came from concentrate and50% from hay and grazing. The other 50% came from Tifton hay (Cynodon dactylon), which was supplied ad libitum.After 7 weeks of nutritional supplementation (once a day, in the morning). In the experimental model, the mares weredistributed in a Latin square design comprised of four treatments: control (without inclusion) and inclusions of 1%, 2%and 4% of supplement (AminoGut®, Ajinomoto do Brazil), and four animals. Blood was collected in five stages (fasting,and 60, 120, 240 and 360 min after feeding) in each treatment. The blood samples were analyzed to determine GLN, GLU,urea, creatinine, uric acid, total plasma protein, hematocrit and glucose levels. Glutamine and Glutamate concentrationswere analyzed using the enzymatic spectrophotometric method. The results were analyzed statistically using one- andtwo-way ANOVA and Tukeys test with P set at 5%...(AU)

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Mangalarga Marchador foals in Minas Gerais, Brazil, are usually weaned during the dry season, when there is a scarcity of forage. Although sorghum silage has been used to feed weanlings, the effect on their feeding behavior in comparison with grass hay has not been reported. Twelve Mangalarga Marchador weanlings were randomly assigned to two groups of six animals: SS: sorghum silage; VH: Vaquero hay. Both groups received commercial concentrate in the proportion of 1.2 kg.100 kg-1 of the live weight and forage ad libitum. The animals were filmed for 48 hours, being timed: forage intake time, water intake time (WIT), concentrate intake time, and leisure time (LT). Tukey's test was used to compare the parameters between SS and VH groups. Forage intake time and WIT were higher (P < .05) in VH group because the hay had low moisture content, stimulating water intake. Feeding behavior of weanlings kept in individual stalls and consuming sorghum silage was different than those consuming grass hay, providing less forage intake time and longer LT spent in comparison with VH.

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Background: The most abundant free amino acid in mammals is glutamine (GLN). Little research has focused on GLNsupplementation for horses, but GLN levels in this species are known to decline after exercise and during lactation. Underphysiological conditions, the body produces Gln in sufficient quantities for general metabolism, and a small part of thisamino acid comes from dietary protein. Little research has so far focused on equine dietary supplementation with freeglutamine or combined with other amino acids during catabolic states or in highly stressful situations. This research wasconducted to evaluate the effects of equine dietary supplementation using a combination of glutamine and glutamate.Materials, Methods & Results: The study involved four Arabian mares, not in training (~380 kg; ~12 years old) and fourtreatments (control, and inclusions of 1, 2 and 4% of GLN+GLU) in a Latin square model. A 7-day washout period wasestablished between each phase. Fifty percent of the mares’ maintenance energy requirements came from concentrate and50% from hay and grazing. The other 50% came from Tifton hay (Cynodon dactylon), which was supplied ad libitum.After 7 weeks of nutritional supplementation (once a day, in the morning). In the experimental model, the mares weredistributed in a Latin square design comprised of four treatments: control (without inclusion) and inclusions of 1%, 2%and 4% of supplement (AminoGut®, Ajinomoto do Brazil), and four animals. Blood was collected in five stages (fasting,and 60, 120, 240 and 360 min after feeding) in each treatment. The blood samples were analyzed to determine GLN, GLU,urea, creatinine, uric acid, total plasma protein, hematocrit and glucose levels. Glutamine and Glutamate concentrationswere analyzed using the enzymatic spectrophotometric method. The results were analyzed statistically using one- andtwo-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test with P set at 5%...

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Background: L-Glutamine (Gln), the most abundant free alpha amino acid in the body, plays a major role in the transport of nitrogen and carbon between tissues, and is an important source of respiratory energy for intestinal and immune system cells. Mares lose lean body mass during lactation, when plasma and milk Gln levels change significantly. However, supplementation with Gln combined with other amino acids may not alter equine plasma Gln levels. The work reported here was designed to test the hypothesis that supplementation with a mixture of glutamine and glutamate (AminoGut) alters blood and milk free glutamine and glutamate levels in pasture-fed lactating mares.Materials, Methods & Results: This study involved 31 multiparous Quarter Horse mares, which were divided into three groups immediately postpartum, as follows: G-CON (n = 19); G-50 g supplemented with 50 g of Gln + Glu plus 200 g of concentrate (n = 6); and G-100 g, supplemented with 100 g of Gln + Glu plus 200 g of concentrate (n = 6). Blood and milk samples were collected on the day of parturition prior to supplementation, and monthly until weaning. The milk samples were used to analyze the Gln, Glu composition and levels, while the blood samples were used for further analysis of blood biomarkers. The results were analyzed by ANOVA and by Tukeys test and the P value was set at 5%. The G-CON group showed a significant reduction of 11-35% in the mean blood glutamine levels from the first month postpartum and throughout lactation. In contrast, blood glutamine levels in groups G-50 g and G-100 g did not change significantly from parturition through 5 months of lactation. The supplemented groups showed no significant differences in blood variables such as protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides and minerals.[...](AU)

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Background: L-Glutamine (Gln), the most abundant free alpha amino acid in the body, plays a major role in the transport of nitrogen and carbon between tissues, and is an important source of respiratory energy for intestinal and immune system cells. Mares lose lean body mass during lactation, when plasma and milk Gln levels change significantly. However, supplementation with Gln combined with other amino acids may not alter equine plasma Gln levels. The work reported here was designed to test the hypothesis that supplementation with a mixture of glutamine and glutamate (AminoGut) alters blood and milk free glutamine and glutamate levels in pasture-fed lactating mares.Materials, Methods & Results: This study involved 31 multiparous Quarter Horse mares, which were divided into three groups immediately postpartum, as follows: G-CON (n = 19); G-50 g supplemented with 50 g of Gln + Glu plus 200 g of concentrate (n = 6); and G-100 g, supplemented with 100 g of Gln + Glu plus 200 g of concentrate (n = 6). Blood and milk samples were collected on the day of parturition prior to supplementation, and monthly until weaning. The milk samples were used to analyze the Gln, Glu composition and levels, while the blood samples were used for further analysis of blood biomarkers. The results were analyzed by ANOVA and by Tukey’s test and the P value was set at 5%. The G-CON group showed a significant reduction of 11-35% in the mean blood glutamine levels from the first month postpartum and throughout lactation. In contrast, blood glutamine levels in groups G-50 g and G-100 g did not change significantly from parturition through 5 months of lactation. The supplemented groups showed no significant differences in blood variables such as protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides and minerals.[...]

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