Nutrigenomics is the scientific study of how nutrients can interact, directly or indirectly, with an animal’s genome. This interaction influences how genes are expressed, which can affect health, disease and performance, writes Marty Adams, PhD, PAS. The goal of equine nutrigenomics is to tailor a horse’s diet based on their genetic information, so they grow in a healthy state and avoid developmental and metabolic issues.
Source: Equine Wellness, July 15, 2021. Link. Equine nutrition has become much more sophisticated. We can select specific forages for pasture and hay production and follow soil nutrient and harvesting recommendations to provide optimal hay and pasture.
INSIGHTS: This is fascinating. Nutrigenomics is still in the early stages, but it is an area to monitor as scientists learn more about how nutrients can interact with genetic expression to affect a horse’s health.