An investigation of the effect of hesperidin complex and lemon bioflavonoid complex on growth and development of thoroughbred horses.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Hesperidin Complex and Lemon Bioflavonoid Complex (HC/LBC) on the growth and development of thoroughbred horses. The trial involved twenty-four foals (12 colts, 12 fillies) allotted to treatment shortly after weaning. The study was conducted for a 342-d growing phase and a 153-d training phase, or a total of 495-d. The HC/LBC was included in the test diet at a level calculated to supply the compound at 55 mg X kg body weight-1 X d-1. During the growing phase, average daily gain of colts that received HC/LBC was higher (P less than .05) than gain of control fillies but not different from that of treated and control colts. No differences (P greater than .05) in daily gain due to treatment were observed during the growing phase, training phase, or the data for the combined growing and training phases. Differences between treatments in changes in height at the withers and knees during the growing phase were not significant. In the training phase, average daily height change values for colts was higher (P less than .05) than that of fillies; however, these differences were not related to diet treatment. Radiographs were taken of the epiphyseal plate of the knee initially and at approximately 120-d intervals. No differences (P greater than .05) were noted between diet treatments through d 365 of the trial. Radiographs taken upon termination of the trail (495 d) showed a difference (P less than .05) favoring fillies over colts, but no differences related to diet treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)