Seasonal effects: 'Winter foals' are smaller than foals born in summer
Friday, August 4, 2017 - 08:32
in Biology & Nature
Season determines behaviour, metabolism and reproductive activity in many animal species, including horses. Even in domesticated horse breeds metabolic activity is reduced in winter. Although these effects are known since a few years, effects on pregnant mares and their foals have not been investigated so far. Researchers from Vetmeduni Vienna have now demonstrated that seasonal changes during winter have a strong influence on pregnancy and foetal development. Foals born early in the year are smaller than herd mates born at a later time and these differences persist to at least 12 weeks after birth. The study has recently been published in Theriogenology.