Efeito da condição corporal da égua na transferência de imunidade passiva e avaliação morfométrica do potro

Abstract

The article aimed to identify whether body condition, body weight, and age of the mare and the sex of the foal influence the transfer of passive immunity and the productive performance of foals from birth to weaning. The experiment was carried out on a commercial horse farm, located in the North of Minas Gerais. 34 Mangalarga Machador mares and their respective foals were used. The mares were monitored on the day of birth to monitor the stages of parturition and, after delivery, the intake quality of the colostrum, in addition to evaluating the foal's weight and vital parameters. The passive transfer of immunity from mother to foals was analyzed using the “IgG Check” rapid test. The foals were evaluated monthly during the first five months of life for body weight and morphometric measurements. There was no effect of the evaluated parameters on the transfer of passive immunity and vital parameters of foals at birth. There was an effect of the mare's body condition on newborn withers height and rump length. The body condition of the mares did not influence the morphometric measurements of the foals at weaning. The foal's sex influenced the height of the withers, length of the shoulder and length of the foal's rump at weaning. It is concluded that the factors evaluated did not influence the transfer of passive immunity, however, some morphometric measurements were influenced, being greater in male foals and for offspring of mares with better body condition at birth.