Murray J M D, Hanna E, Hastie P
1School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH UK.
2Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG UK.
Ir Vet J. 2018 Jan 30;71:4. doi: 10.1186/s13620-018-0115-3. eCollection 2018.
Nutritional supplements are frequently used by horse owners/caregivers to supplement their horse(s) diets. Some work has been done to identify the types of supplements fed and the reasons for doing so; however, this has been predominantly disciple-specific and with little focus on participants' perceptions of supplement testing and regulation. The aim of this study was to gain an insight into the use and perceptions of equine dietary supplements in the Irish equestrian industry.
An online survey was designed to ascertain the following information: demographics, types of supplements fed and reasons for use, factors that influenced respondents' choice of supplement, where advice was sought and perceptions of testing and regulation of equine supplements.
The survey yielded 134 responses, 70% non-professionals and 30% professionals. A greater percentage of professionals included supplements in their horse(s) diets (98%) compared to non-professionals (86%). Almost 70% of professionals fed more than two supplements, whereas 80% of non-professionals reported to feed only one supplement. Joint supplements were most commonly fed by all respondents (22%) followed by calming supplements (13%). The enhancement of performance (35%) and prevention of joint disorders (34%) were the most common reasons reported by respondents for using a supplement. Over 53% of respondents sought advice on choosing a supplement from their feed merchant, followed by their veterinarian (46%). Veterinary recommendation was given as the most influential factor when choosing a supplement by 90% of respondents, followed by cost (69%). Most (93%) respondents thought that feed supplements had to meet legal standards, with each batch analysed for quality (72%) and the supplement tested on horses before being launched on to the market (92%).
This study has identified the main types of supplements used in the Irish equestrian industry along with the reasons for their use. However, it has also highlighted major misperceptions in how supplements are tested before being launched for sale and further work on this aspect of the findings would be beneficial.
马主/饲养者经常使用营养补充剂来补充马匹的饮食。已经开展了一些工作来确定所投喂补充剂的类型及其投喂原因；然而，这些工作主要是特定学科的，很少关注参与者对补充剂检测和监管的看法。本研究的目的是深入了解爱尔兰马术行业中马匹膳食补充剂的使用情况和看法。
设计了一项在线调查，以确定以下信息：人口统计学信息、投喂补充剂的类型和使用原因、影响受访者选择补充剂的因素、寻求建议的途径以及对马匹补充剂检测和监管的看法。
该调查共收到134份回复，其中70%为非专业人士，30%为专业人士。与非专业人士（86%）相比，更大比例的专业人士在其马匹饮食中添加了补充剂（98%）。近70%的专业人士投喂两种以上的补充剂，而80%的非专业人士表示只投喂一种补充剂。所有受访者中最常投喂的是关节补充剂（22%），其次是镇静补充剂（13%）。提高性能（35%）和预防关节疾病（34%）是受访者使用补充剂最常见的原因。超过53%的受访者从饲料商处寻求选择补充剂的建议，其次是兽医（46%）。90%的受访者表示，兽医的推荐是选择补充剂时最具影响力的因素，其次是成本（69%）。大多数（93%）受访者认为饲料补充剂必须符合法律标准，每批产品都要进行质量分析（72%），并且补充剂在投放市场前要在马匹身上进行测试（92%）。
本研究确定了爱尔兰马术行业中使用的主要补充剂类型及其使用原因。然而，它也凸显了补充剂在上市销售前检测方式方面的主要误解，针对这一研究结果的这一方面开展进一步工作将是有益的。
