Modulatory effects of ergothioneine on behavioural responses of Arabian stallions following a 2,000 m race during the rainy and hot-dry seasons in a tropical environment

• Published in: Open Veterinary Science Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 487 - 92
• Main Authors: Adah, Adakole S., Ayo, Joseph O., Rekwot, Peter I., Aluwong, Tagang, Adah, Deborah A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: De Gruyter 24-03-2023
• Subjects: antioxidant; exercise; horses; meteorological parameters
• ISSN: 2544-8951; 2544-8951
• DOI: 10.1515/ovs-2022-0119

Experiments were performed to determine the effects of ergothioneine (ERG) on behavioural responses of stallions to exercise during hot-dry and rainy seasons. Eighteen healthy stallions were divided into three groups of six horses each. Group I (ERG + Exercise) was treated with ERG before exercise, group II was treated after exercise (Exercise + ERG), and group III (Exercise only) was not treated but subject to exercise. The stallions were subjected to a race of 2,000 m at maximum speed. The time spent standing by the horses in the ERG + Exercise and Exercise + ERG groups (1430.31 ± 30.73 s/30 min and 1403.32 ± 32.43 s/30 min, respectively) were higher (
P
< 0.0001) than the time spent standing in the Exercise-only group (1033.26 ± 21.19 s/30 min). The number of times the stallions bit their cribs per 30 min in the ERG + Exercise (0.38 ± 0.02/30 min) and Exercise + ERG (0.67 ± 0.0530 min) groups was lower (
P
< 0.0001) than that recorded in the Exercise-only group (3.51 ± 1.7730 min). It was concluded that ERG modulates behavioural responses to exercise in stallions, and the agent may be beneficial in alleviating exercise-induced stress responses and improving the welfare of horses post-exercise.