Evaluation of different physio-biochemicals indices of exercise performance in Zanskar ponies Vivek Prince*, Bharti Vijay K, Kalia Sahil, Giri Arup, Nehra Kapil, Kumar Rohit, Chaurasia Om Prakash, Kumar Bhuvnesh1 Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Leh-Ladakh-194 101, Jammu and Kashmir, India 1Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDO, Timarpur, Delhi-110 054, India *Corresponding author's e-mail: prince.v68@gmail.com
Online published on 11 April, 2019. Abstract Zanskar pony is a native breed of high altitude region of Ladakh namely Zanskar valley and Nubra valley. These ponies are commonly used for load carrying by locals and defence personnel due to their adaptability in rugged terrain and rocky track. Therefore, high enduring ponies are in great demand for ride and load carrying at low maintenance cost. So far to the best of our knowledge no studies have made attempt to evaluate different physio-biochemical indices of exercise performance in Zanskar pony, so that selection of elite pony could be made based on these indices. Hence, present study was conducted to evaluate the physiological responses, biochemical, cytokines, hormones, and antioxidant related parameters to performance in Zanskar pony at two geographic areas namely Leh (3500 meter msl) and Nubra valley (3291 meter msl) with different altitude. For this study, total of 6 adult mares ponies were selected for sampling at Leh and 8 adult mare ponies were selected at Partapur. Ponies at different altitude did not exhibit significant difference in physiological responses, and biochemical, cytokines, hormones, and antioxidant related parameters, except aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Though the all the parameters were within the normal ranges towards higher side. These findings indicated that there was no effect of altitude within the entire home tracks of Zanskar pony namely Zanskar Valley and Nubra of Ladakh region. Hence, these parameters maybe useful ifevaluated duringload carrying trialsand associated withthe performance. Top Keywords Blood biochemical, Cold desert, High altitude, Zanskar Ponies. Top |