van den Berg J S, Guthrie A J, Meintjes R A, Nurton J P, Adamson D A, Travers C W, Lund R J, Mostert H J
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Equine Vet J. 1998 Jul;30(4):316-23. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04104.x.
The objectives of this trial were to measure the water and electrolyte intake and loss, of horses during road transportation in relatively hot environmental conditions. Six mature, Thoroughbred horses in full training were used in a balanced crossover design. The horses were conditioned on a treadmill for 6 weeks before the start of the trial in order to simulate the type of horse that is transported most often over long distances in South Africa. The horses were assigned randomly to one of 2 treatment groups. On a particular day 3 horses were transported, while the other horses served as controls. One month was allowed before the crossover. Horses in the 'transport group' were transported by tarred road in a circular route over 600 km. This allowed the standardisation of measurements and use of the same instruments in both groups. Data were collected in each treatment group during transportation that lasted for 8 h (transport phase) and for 6 h after travelling (recovery phase). The following data were collected or calculated: Water and electrolyte (sodium, potassium and chloride) intake and output, changes in bodyweight and feed consumption. Although water was always available, the transport group failed to drink during transit. Based on bodyweight, the transported horses were 3% dehydrated at the end of transit. This bodyweight loss was corrected within one hour after their return due to a significantly higher water intake compared to control horses. The feed intake in the transported horses was unaffected during travelling, but was decreased for 6 h following transportation. Urinary water loss was similar in the 2 treatment groups during and following transportation. The faecal water loss decreased in the transported horses and remained lower than the control group for 6 h following transit. Total sodium and chloride intake were unaffected, while the potassium intake was decreased during transportation. Sodium and potassium loss via the faeces and urine during the transport period were similar in the 2 treatment groups, whereas potassium output in the transport group was significantly decreased during the recovery period of the study. It was concluded that transportation by road affected the water and electrolyte balance of conditioned horses for a period up to 6 h after travelling.
本试验的目的是测量在相对炎热环境条件下，马匹在公路运输过程中的水和电解质摄入与流失情况。采用平衡交叉设计，使用了6匹处于全面训练状态的成年纯种马。在试验开始前，让马匹在跑步机上训练6周，以模拟南非最常被长途运输的马匹类型。将马匹随机分配到2个处理组之一。在特定的一天，3匹马被运输，而其他马匹作为对照。交叉前允许间隔一个月。“运输组”的马匹通过柏油路以环形路线运输超过600公里。这使得两组测量得以标准化，并使用相同的仪器。在每个处理组运输持续8小时（运输阶段）以及运输后6小时（恢复阶段）收集数据。收集或计算了以下数据：水和电解质（钠、钾和氯）的摄入与输出、体重变化和饲料消耗。尽管随时都有水供应，但运输组的马匹在运输途中未能饮水。基于体重，运输结束时运输组的马匹脱水3%。由于与对照马相比饮水量显著增加，运输后的马匹在返回后一小时内体重损失得到纠正。运输组马匹在运输过程中的采食量未受影响，但运输后6小时采食量下降。在运输期间及运输后，两个处理组的尿水流失情况相似。运输组马匹的粪便水流失减少，运输后6小时仍低于对照组。总钠和氯的摄入量未受影响，而运输期间钾的摄入量减少。在运输期间，两个处理组通过粪便和尿液流失的钠和钾相似，而在研究的恢复期间，运输组的钾排出量显著减少。得出的结论是，公路运输会影响经过训练的马匹在运输后长达6小时内的水和电解质平衡。
