Influência do tipo de criação e manejo nutricional sobre os eventos cronológicos dentários de equinos

Abstract

Knowing the age of the horse is important both clinically and zootechnically. In practical terms, understanding the age of the horse is important in estimating its economic value and knowing what we can still expect from it, in addition to directing the special care we must have in each stage of life. As most equestrianists live and work in urban areas, horseback riders are reared in cities, housed in equestrian centers and training centers. In these places, the animals are kept confined in bays, with a restricted supply of fodder, causing inappropriate wear of the teeth, predisposing gastrointestinal disorders and making it difficult to estimate the age by dental chronology. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of three factors in the estimation of the age of the horses, through the chronology of the teeth: 1st -types of breeding (extensive, intensive or semi-confined); 2nd -types of feed (fodder or fodder only and concentrate); 3rd -age group in which horses are found. The work was done in farms, farms of creation and competitions of vaquejadas based in the backlands of Pernambuco and interior of Paraíba. A total of 135 equines were used, in a completely randomized experimental design, where treatments varied according to the factor evaluated: 1º -to compare the breeding types, equines were separated into three groups (extensive, intensive and semi-confined); 2º to compare the types of feeding the animals were divided into two groups (diet composed only of fodder or fodder and concentrate); 3 -to compare the age groups the horses were grouped into four age groups (0to 24 months, 25 to 60 months, 61to 96 months and more than 96 months). Data collection consisted of two stages. The first step was an interview with equine owners and handlers, using a predefined form, to obtain information on the animal's name, date of birth, form of breeding and type of feed provided to horses. In the second stage, the oral cavitywas examined, where the incisor teeth of the lower arch were observed. In all equines, the dental chronology was determined by the same professional. The parameter used to compare the different treatments was the difference between the actual age of the horses (date of birth) and the age estimated by chronology of the teeth. The results were submitted to the Mann-Whitney test or Kruskal-Wallis test, using the statistical software GranpdPadInstast. The values obtained when calculating real age less estimated age did not differ between breeding types (p = 0.1019) and between feeding types (p = 0.1427). In relation to the age groups in which horses were found, with the advancement of age there was a progressive increase in the difference between the real ageand the estimated age (p<0.001). It was concluded that among the three listed factors that may interfere in the dental chronology of the horses, only the age group of the animals changes the accuracy of the age estimation by the chronological dental events.