Yup.
I like the way Texas A & M
> measures relative body fat--ultrasound scanning of backfat depth.
Actually, the body condition score was also developed at Texas A&M by
Henneke because ultrasound isn't always available or practical. Body
condition scoring has been very well demonstrated to be a valid method
of estimating body fat.
I'm
> convinced that most of the weight we're putting on during a solid
> conditioning program plus supportive nutrition is going into the working
> muscles. Muscle fuel (and water) vs adipose tissue.
> I would agree, but I think it would depend on how much of the ration
being fed is in excess of current energy requirements. If a horse
requires 20 Mcal of daily energy and is being fed 30 Mcal, he's not
putting all that excess into glycogen once the tanks are full---there's
only so much that can be stored in the muscle and liver. The excess is
going to go into triglycerides, which is going to be stored as adipose
tissue. On the other hand, if a horse is working hard and is only
getting what he needs in daily energy requirements or slightly in
excess, than I agree that it's going to go primarily to glycogen stores
within the muscle cell and liver.
Susan Evans
California State Polytechnic University