Effects of trailer transport duration on body weight and blood biochemical variables of horses

Abstract

Six horses were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: trailering 240 km, trailering 480 km, trailering 720 km and no trailering. Before the beginning of each treatment and at the end of it horses were weighed and blood was drawn from the jugular vein. In addition, horses were weighed the morning after treatment. Sodium, potassium, chloride, total protein and creatine-phosphokinase was analysed in blood serum. Horses in all treatment groups lost weight. The weight loss increased significantly as trailering distance increased (1.5, 2.7, 3.0, and 3.0% for 240, 480, 720 km, and no trailering respectively). The body weight of the horses did not return to pretransport values by the morning after. There was no difference between treatments (on average body weight was 1.5% lower than before treatment). There was no significant effect of trailering on creatinphosphokinase activities, total protein, sodium, potassium, and chloride concentration in blood serum.