colic

MAYBE IF I DON’T SAY IT WON’T HAPPEN.

and it is very unlikely that there were genetic effects.”

It’s more likely, says Chavatte-Palmer, that the health status of the dams influenced the health of their foals, as has been demonstrated in humans and other animal species and is known as the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). “We suspect that these are epigenetic-mediated effects, but so far we have not confirmed this.”

Epigenetic mechanisms affect gene expression---the turning “on” or “off” of genes ---in response to environmental or biological factors without any alteration of the DNA itself.

The effect observed on osteochondrosis could also be related to the insulin resistance observed in the foals born to obese dams. In laboratory studies, the presence of insulin affects the differentiation of osteoblasts, which are precursors to bone cells, as well as the health and survival of chondrocytes, cells which are the precursors to cartilage. This, Chavatte-Palmer says, may help explain the higher rates of ostechondrosis among foals from obese dams.

Until more is known, the researchers recommend maintaining mares at a healthy BCS (around 3.5 on a 1 to 5 scale) before they are pregnant, rather than trying to change body condition during gestation. “In animal models and humans, exercise is recommended but we have not tried it in mares,” says Chavatte-Palmer. “We will soon publish a paper on nutritional complementation that might help, too.”

Reference: “Maternal obesity increases insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation and osteochondrosis lesions in foals and yearlings until 18 months of age,” PLoS One, January 2018