Growth parameters in the quarter horse

Various body measurements were collected on 136 horses from 22 leading Quarter Horse farms in the Southeast. Offspring, ranging in age from one month to maturity, from 43 stallions were included in the study. Factors developed by Cunningham and Fowler (1961) were used to adjust each measurement to a mature-equivalent, sex-constant basis. Several horses were measured twice at six months interval and coefficients of intra-class correlation between the two adjusted measurements ranged from .454 to .987. The mean values for all measurements at each age, except for width of chest, were larger for males than for females. Average mature values were larger for males except width of head, depth of neck, length of body, depth of hindflank and depth of foreflank. Males tended to be larger than females, for most measurements taken, from birth to three months of age. However, the females tended to grow faster from three to six months and at six months of age were about the same size as the males. Although males tended to increase in size faster from six months of age to maturity, there was little difference between males and females at maturity. Linear growth increased faster than width growth in both males and females. Males achieved 99.6 percent of their elbow to ground growth and 100 percent of their knee to ground and hock to ground growth by 12 months of age. Females developed slower in the foreleg area attain-ing only 97.2 percent of their mature elbow to ground growth and 98.7 percent of their knee-to-ground growth by 12 months of age. How-ever, they achieved 100 percent of their hock-to-ground growth by six months of age. Both males and females reached 100 percent of their height at withers by 36 months of age. Heart girth was highly related (P \u3c .01) to height at withers (r = .93), length of body (r = .95), width of quarters (r = .93), depth of foreflank (r = .95), circumference of cannon bone (r = .89) and body weight (r = .90). It was concluded that heart girth was a good indicator of many different measurements of development. The estimates of genetic parameters calculated in this study were biased due to the confounding of herd effects and sire effects. However, these results indicated that the procedures used in this study would be satisfactory for use in adjusting data from which genetic parameters are to be estimated

Longitudinal Study Tracking the Body Mass Index of Children in Clark County, Arkansas

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data obtained in 2011-2012, 17% (12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese. Racial and age disparities exist with higher levels among Hispanic children (22.4%) and non-Hispanic black children (20.2%). As a child ages, the rates of obesity increase: 8.4% of 2-to-5-year-olds, 17.7% of 6-to-11-year- olds, and 20.5% of 12-to 19-year-olds. The CDC has set a body mass index (BMI) percentile for underweight as less than the 5th percentile, a healthy weight as a BMI percentile ranging from the 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile, overweight as a BMI percentile ranging from the 85th to less than the 95th percentile and obese as a BMI percentile equal to or greater than the 95th percentile. A longitudinal study originating in 2007 tracks the BMI percentiles of children aged 3-to-14-years in Clark County, Arkansas. Each summer children in the treatment and control groups are weighed and have height measured. A BMI and BMI percentile are calculated for each child. The treatment group receives two months of weekly nutrition and physical activity classes as well as parents receive nutrition and physical activity information to implement at home. At the end of the data period, the treatment and control groups are re-assessed. Comparisons are made within and between the groups. Five hundred and forty-five children (262 males and 283 females; 292 Caucasian, 243 African American, 9 Hispanic, 1 Asian) have been followed in the study with an average of 2% of children in the underweight percentile, 49% of children in the healthy weight percentiles and 49% of children in the overweight/obese percentiles. The 2014 summer research resulted in three children in the treatment group moving from the obese to the overweight category, three children moving from the overweight to the healthy weight category, and one child moving from the obese to the healthy weight category

Effects of Early Experience Upon Adaptiveness of Horses

Experimentation with laboratory animals, encompassing the range of usual species (mice, rats, cats, clogs, and primates), has conclusively demonstrated that handling by humans during early life facilitates subsequent development in terms of health and viability, reduced emotional reactivity, more adaptive responses to a variety of stressors (both biological and behavioral adaptations), and increased ability to adapt to changing circumstances as exemplified by increased ability to learn and solve problems (seeM. Bornstein 1985, for recent review). Two studies (described below) (Heircl et a!. 1981; Whitaker 1982) conducted at Texas Tech University (TTU) have extended these findings regarding the beneficial effects of early handling from laboratory animal species to domestic horses. The findings (reported below) suggest that a moderate amount of handling of young horses increases their learning ability as measured by maze-learning tasks and estimates of trainability under saddle, decreases the stress (both for horses and human trainers) associated with confining and training the horse under saddle, and possibly, reduces attrition during the initial years of rearing. This latter result is suggested by our data. More extensive sampling is necessary before it can be stated as a conclusion

Women's perceptions of their healthcare experience when they choose not to breastfeed

Research Question How do women who choose not to breastfeed perceive their healthcare experience? Method This qualitative research study used a phenomenographic approach to explore the healthcare experience of women who do not breastfeed. Seven women were interviewed about their healthcare experience relating to their choice of feeding, approximately four weeks after giving birth. Six conceptions were identified and an outcome space was developed to demonstrate the relationships and meaning of the conceptions in a visual format. Findings There were five unmet needs identified by the participants during this study. These needs included equity, self sufficiency, support, education and the need not to feel pressured. Conclusion Women in this study who chose not to breastfeed identified important areas where they felt that their needs were not met. In keeping with the Code of Ethics for Nurses and Midwives, the identified needs of women who do not breastfeed must be addressed in a caring, compassionate and just manner. The care and education of women who formula feed should be of the highest standard possible, even if the choice not to breastfeed is not the preferred choice of healthcare professionals

Eating problems at age 6 years in a whole population sample of extremely preterm children

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of eating problems and their association with neurological and behavioural disabilities and growth among children born extremely preterm (EPC) at age 6 years. Method: A standard questionnaire about eating was completed by parents of 223 children (125 males [56.1%], 98 females [43.9%]) aged 6 years who were born at 25 weeks' gestation or earlier (mean 24.5wks, SD 0.7wks; mean birthweight 749.1g, SD 116.8g), and parents of 148 classmates born at term (66 males [44.6%], 82 females [55.4%]). All children underwent neurological, cognitive, and anthropometric assessment, and parents and teachers completed a behaviour scale. Results: Eating problems were more common among the EPC than the comparison group (odds ratio [OR] 3.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1–6.3), including oral motor (OR 5.2, 95% CI 2.8–9.9), hypersensitivity (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.6–5.6), and behavioural (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.9–7.6) problems. Group differences were reduced after adjustment for cognitive impairment, neuromotor disability, and other behaviour problems. EPC with eating problems were shorter, lighter, and had lower mid-arm circumference and lower body mass index (BMI) even after adjusting for disabilities, gestational age, birthweight, and feeding problems at 30 months. Interpretation: Eating problems are still frequent in EPC at school age. They are only partly related to other disabilities but make an additional contribution to continued growth failure and may require early recognition and intervention

Excessive crying: behavioral and emotional regulation disorder in infancy

In the pediatric literature, excessive crying has been reported solely in association with 3-month colic and is described, if at all, as unexplained crying and fussing during the first 3 months of life. The bouts of crying are generally thought to be triggered by abdominal colic (over-inflation of the still immature gastrointestinal tract), and treatment is prescribed accordingly. According to this line of reasoning, excessive crying is harmless and resolves by the end of the third month without long-term consequences. However, there is evidence that it may cause tremendous distress in the mother-infant relationship, and can lead to disorders of behavioral and emotional regulation at the toddler stage (such as sleep and feeding disorders, chronic fussiness, excessive clinginess, and temper tantrums). Early treatment of excessive crying focuses on parent-infant communication, and parent-infant interaction in the context of soothing and settling the infant to sleep is a promising approach that may prevent later behavioral and emotional disorders in infancy

Studies on the Toxicity and Efficacy of a New Amino Acid Solution in Pediatric Parenteral Nutrition

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142223/1/jpen0368.pd

Fit to WHO weight standard of European infants over time

OBJECTIVES: The 2006 WHO growth charts were created to provide an international standard for optimal growth, based on healthy, breastfed populations, but it has been suggested that Northern European children fit them poorly. This study uses infant weight data spanning 50 years to determine how well-nourished preschool children from different eras fit the WHO standard, and discuss the implications of deviations. DESIGN: Four longitudinal datasets from the UK and one from Finland were used comprising over 8000 children born between1959 and 2003. Weights from birth to 2 years were converted to age-sex-adjusted Z scores using the WHO standard and summarised using Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape. RESULTS: Weights showed a variable fit to the WHO standard. Mean weights for all cohorts were above the WHO median at birth, but dipped by up to 0.5 SD to a nadir at 8 weeks before rising again. Birth weights increased in successive cohorts and the initial dip became slightly shallower. By age 1 year, cohorts were up to 0.75 SD above the WHO median, but there was no consistent pattern by era. CONCLUSIONS: The WHO standard shows an acceptable, but variable fit for Northern European infants. While birth weights increased over time, there was, unexpectedly, no consistent variation by cohort beyond this initial period. Discrepancies in weight from the standard may reflect differences in measurement protocol and trends in infant feeding practice

The effects of varying protein and energy intakes on the growth and body composition of very low birth weight infants

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To determine the effects of high dietary protein and energy intake on the growth and body composition of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.</p> <p>Study design</p> <p>Thirty-eight VLBW infants whose weights were appropriate for their gestational ages were assessed for when they could tolerate oral intake for all their nutritional needs. Thirty-two infants were included in a longitudinal, randomized clinical trial over an approximate 28-day period. One control diet (standard preterm formula, group A, n = 8, 3.7 g/kg/d of protein and 129 kcal/kg/d) and two high-energy and high-protein diets (group B, n = 12, 4.2 g/kg/d and 150 kcal/kg/d; group C, n = 12, 4.7 g/kg/d and 150 kcal/kg/d) were compared. Differences among groups in anthropometry and body composition (measured with bioelectrical impedance analysis) were determined. An enriched breast milk group (n = 6) served as a descriptive reference group.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Groups B and C displayed greater weight gains and higher increases in fat-free mass than group A.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>An intake of 150 kcal/kg/d of energy and 4.2 g/kg/d of protein increases fat-free mass accretion in VLBW infants.</p