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Ossification of the cartilages in the front feet of young Norwegian coldblooded horses
Author(s) -
Holm A. W.,
Bjørnstad G.,
Ruohoniemi M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.2746/042516400777591642
Subject(s) - ossification , norwegian , offspring , medicine , anatomy , cartilage , ossification center , biology , pregnancy , philosophy , linguistics , genetics
Summary The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the nature of ossification of the cartilages in the front feet of young, about 2‐year‐old Norwegian coldblooded horses, and to compare offspring of different sires in this respect. Dorsopalmarradiographs of the front feet of 392 horses (187 female and 205 male) were evaluated for ossification at the base of the cartilage and for separate centres of ossification. The horses were offspring of 45 different sires. Ossification extending above the navicular bone and separate centres of ossification were considered as significant. Minimal to mild ossification at the base of the cartilages was commonly seen, and significant ossification was present in one or more of the cartilages in 11.5% of the horses. The lateral compared to medial cartilages had more ossification and females had more ossification and more separate centres of ossification than males. The prevalence of horses with significant ossifications was significantly higher (46.3%) among offspring of one frequently used stallion than in the group consisting of offspring of 4 otherpopularstallions (3.5%) and in another group consisting of offspring of other, less frequently used stallions (9.6%). Ossification of the cartilages is considered to have a hereditary background in Norwegian coldblooded horses.