Relationships between the age and blood test results or body sizes in Noma horses

• Published in: Journal of Equine Science Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 27 - 30
• Main Authors: INOUE, Yoichi, ONO, Tetsushi, HISAEDA, Keiichi, YAMADA, Yutaka, HATA, Akihisa, SHIMOKAWA, Takako, MIYAMA, SHIBANO, Kenichi, OHZAWA, Emi, KITAGAWA, Hitoshi, IWATA, Eri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Utsunomiya-shi Japanese Society of Equine Science 2022; Japan Science and Technology Agency; The Japanese Society of Equine Science
• Subjects: Age; Aging; Alkaline phosphatase; Aspartate aminotransferase; Blood; blood test; Blood tests; Body height; body size; Circumferences; Creatinine; Erythrocytes; Gamma globulin; Globulins; Hemoglobin; Horses; Kinases; Noma horse; Phosphorus; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 1340-3516; 1347-7501
• DOI: 10.1294/jes.33.27

The objective of this study is to analyze the relationships between the age and blood test results or body sizes in Noma horses by using the results of periodical health examination. Out of 45 hematological or physical items examined, statistically significant, but loose correlations were observed in 14 items. Red blood cell count, activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and creatinine kinase, concentrations of calcium and inorganic phosphorus decreased with aging. Conversely, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, lipase activity, γ-globulin and chloride concentrations, body height, chest circumference and cannon bone circumference increased with aging. The changes in a few items seemed unique to Noma horse. However, most age-related changes found in this study might be considered as a common trend in horse breeds rather than distinctive characteristic in Noma horse.