Nabil Alhalak *(1) and Awad Alawad(1)
(1). Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hama University, Hama, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Dr. Nabil Alhalak. E-Mail: nabilerh@hotmail.com).
Received: 17/07/2018 Accepted: 02/10/2018
Abstract
The aim of this study was to study the effect of vitamin D3 on the concentration of calcium and phosphorus in the blood of the traction horses during winter. The number of experimental animals was (39) heads of traction horse, (18) heads were used in winter as a control group, and (21) heads were used in winter after giving vitamin D3. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of all horses at the beginning, middle and end of the winter for both, the control group and the vitamin D3 group. The concentrations of calcium and phosphorus were measured using the spectrophotometer. The results showed that cold stress resulted in lower concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in the mid-winter of the control group. While the application of vitamin D3 decreased the levels of calcium and phosphorus, especially in the middle of winter and reached normal levels during winter. Therefore, it is recommended to give vitamin D3 for traction horses in the form of powder with feed per day in a dose of (100000 IU) for each head.
Key Words: Traction horses, Winter, Calcium, Phosphorus, Vitamin D3.
Full Paper in Arabic: PDF