Comparative hematological and serum biochemical profiling of grassland Xichun and Xilingol horses.
Grassland Xichun horses show distinct hematological and biochemical differences compared to Xilingol horses, which may reflect their adaptation to specific environmental conditions.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the erythropoietin (epo) corpusSummary and findings
This study compared 32 hematological and serum biochemical parameters between 177 Grassland Xichun horses and 35 Xilingol horses. Grassland Xichun horses exhibited higher RBC count (9.145 vs 7.905 × 10¹²/L), hemoglobin (155.41 vs 132.51 g/L), and hematocrit (45.95% vs 40.29%). The findings suggest distinct metabolic patterns between the two horse breeds.
Abstract
The Grassland Xichun horse is an emerging crossbred population developed from Xilingol mares and Thoroughbred stallions in Inner Mongolia, China, yet its blood physiological profile has not been systematically characterized. In this study, we compared 32 hematological and serum biochemical parameters between 177 Grassland Xichun horses and 35 Xilingol horses maintained under the same extensive grazing conditions. Following Benjamini-Hochberg FDR correction, 17 of 32 parameters differed significantly between breeds. Grassland Xichun horses showed markedly higher RBC count (9.145 vs 7.905 × 10¹²/L), hemoglobin (155.41 vs 132.51 g/L), hematocrit (45.95% vs 40.29%), and MCHC, with multiple parameters reaching the large-effect threshold (absolute effect size > 0.8). Compared with the Xilingol maternal breed, the Thoroughbred-sired Grassland Xichun population was associated with higher oxygen-carrying indices. Conversely, LDH showed the largest effect size among all parameters (effect size = -2.117), and AST and CK were also lower in Grassland Xichun horses, suggesting differences in basal muscle enzyme profiles and aerobic metabolic characteristics between breeds. Grassland Xichun horses additionally exhibited higher blood glucose and lower total cholesterol, indicating distinct metabolic patterns. Xilingol horses displayed elevated monocyte counts, MPV, UREA, and GGT, which may reflect differences in immune-metabolic status and physiological adaptation associated with long-term environmental and management backgrounds rather than discrete functional phenotypes. Principal component analysis revealed partial breed separation reflecting shared maternal ancestry, and Fisher's linear discriminant analysis achieved 97.6% leave-one-out cross-validation accuracy. This study characterizes the blood physiological profile of Grassland Xichun horses, provides population-level distribution data for clinical interpretation, and supports future integration of hematological phenotypes into breeding evaluation and physiological monitoring programs.
Background
This paper addresses the hematological and biochemical differences between two horse breeds, the Grassland Xichun and Xilingol. Prior research has not systematically characterized the blood physiological profiles of these breeds, which is crucial for understanding their health and performance. The study aims to fill this gap and provide insights into the physiological adaptations of the Grassland Xichun horse.
Methods
The study compared 32 hematological and serum biochemical parameters between 177 Grassland Xichun horses and 35 Xilingol horses. Both groups were maintained under the same extensive grazing conditions. The primary outcome measures included various blood parameters, with statistical significance assessed using Benjamini-Hochberg FDR correction.
Results
Following analysis, 17 of 32 parameters differed significantly between the breeds. Grassland Xichun horses had a higher RBC count of 9.145 × 10¹²/L compared to 7.905 × 10¹²/L in Xilingol horses, with a p-value not reported in abstract. Hemoglobin levels were 155.41 g/L in Grassland Xichun horses versus 132.51 g/L in Xilingol horses, and hematocrit was 45.95% compared to 40.29%.
Interpretation
The findings indicate significant differences in hematological profiles between the two horse breeds, with Grassland Xichun horses showing higher oxygen-carrying capacity. While the effect sizes for some parameters were large, the clinical relevance of these differences requires further investigation. Confounding factors such as environmental conditions and management practices may limit the conclusions drawn from this study.
Key findings
- RBC count: 9.145 vs 7.905 × 10¹²/L.
- Hemoglobin: 155.41 vs 132.51 g/L.
- Hematocrit: 45.95% vs 40.29%.
- LDH effect size: -2.117.
- Higher blood glucose and lower total cholesterol in Grassland Xichun horses.
Limitations
- Observational study design.
- Potential confounding factors from environmental and management backgrounds.
- Small sample size for Xilingol horses (n=35).
- No long-term follow-up reported.