Siwińska N, Żak A, Słowikowska M, Kubiak K, Jaworski Z, Niedzwiedź A
Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Pl. Grunwaldzki 47, 50-366 Wroclaw, Poland.
Department of Horse Breeding and Riding, University of Warmia and Mazury, Prawocheńskiego 2, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland.
Pol J Vet Sci. 2018 Mar;21(1):65-72. doi: 10.24425/119023.
Hair is a more biologically stable material than other tissues and contains a relatively constant level of minerals, drugs or toxins. The content of essential elements in hair depends on dietary and non-dietary factors. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the effect of diet on the elemental composition and morphological properties of the hair of healthy Polish Konik horses. Mane hair was collected from 19 horses living in The National Park in Popielno in Poland. Six of these horses were free-ranged all year with permanent access to pasture, while 13 horses were kept in the stable and fed oats, hay and straw. The samples were analyzed using a Scanning Electron Microscope combined with Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Each hair was analyzed for its microscopic appearance and elemental Mg, Si, S, Ca, Mn, Co, Zn and Se content. No significant changes in the morphological properties and elemental composition were observed. There was inter- individual variability in element content between horses in both groups, but this did not affect their health. The comparison of the present results with other studies shows that the level of elements in the hair of Polish Konik horses is significantly lower than in healthy horses of other breeds. The traditional feeding plan containing pasture, oats and hay does not contain a sufficient amount of main mineral elements. Further investigation is needed to explain the effect of diet and maintenance on the mineral balance of horses.
毛发是一种比其他组织在生物学上更稳定的物质，并且含有相对恒定水平的矿物质、药物或毒素。毛发中必需元素的含量取决于饮食和非饮食因素。本研究的目的是评估和比较饮食对健康的波兰科尼克马毛发的元素组成和形态特性的影响。从生活在波兰波皮耶尔诺国家公园的19匹马身上采集鬃毛。其中6匹马全年自由放养，可随时进入牧场，而13匹马则饲养在马厩中，喂食燕麦、干草和稻草。使用扫描电子显微镜结合能量色散X射线光谱仪（SEM-EDS）对样本进行分析。对每根毛发的微观外观以及元素镁、硅、硫、钙、锰、钴、锌和硒的含量进行分析。未观察到形态特性和元素组成有显著变化。两组马的元素含量在个体之间存在差异，但这并不影响它们的健康。将本研究结果与其他研究进行比较表明，波兰科尼克马毛发中的元素水平明显低于其他品种的健康马匹。包含牧场、燕麦和干草的传统饲养方案中主要矿物质元素的含量不足。需要进一步研究来解释饮食和饲养方式对马匹矿物质平衡的影响。
