The Effects of Bovine Colostrum Supplementation on Faecal and Blood Parameters in Adult Racing Horses

Damjan Mickov; Magdalena Podsobinska; Elena Atanaskova Petrov; Ljupco Mickov; Martin Nikolovski; Artur Niedźwiedź

doi:10.2478/macvetrev-2026-0024

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The Effects of Bovine Colostrum Supplementation on Faecal and Blood Parameters in Adult Racing Horses

Macedonian Veterinary Review

AHEAD OF PRINT

By: Damjan Mickov, Magdalena Podsobinska, Elena Atanaskova Petrov, Ljupco Mickov, Martin Nikolovski and Artur Niedźwiedź

Open Access

|Aug 2026

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of bovine colostrum supplementation on hematological and serological parameters as well as on fecal microbiome in twenty adult racehorses. The horses were randomly divided in two groups. The first was perorally supplemented with lyophilized bovine colostrum daily for 30 days, and the second was used as control and had no supplementation. Blood and fecal samples from each animal were collected on day 0 and 30. The results showed that the supplemented group displayed modest changes in some hematological and serological parameters compared to the non-supplemented group. Lactic acid showed significant difference (p=0.03) between the experimental (2.13±0.24 mmol/L) horses in the experimental group, compared to 3 out of 10 horses in the control group on day 30, which shows a statistically significant increase. (p=0.008). Presence of fungal agents detected at day 30, showed a decrease in the experimental group compared to the initial measurements, specifically, Geotrichum spp. from present in 8 horses, to present in 5 and Mucor spp. from present in 6 horses to absent (p=0.002). The findings suggest that bovine colostrum supplementation had beneficial effects on microbial balance and systemic health adult racing horses.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/macvetrev-2026-0024 | Journal eISSN: 1857-7415

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Language: English

Submitted on: Nov 2, 2025

Accepted on: Jun 19, 2026

Published on: Aug 10, 2026

Published by: Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

Related subjects:

Life sciences, other,

Medicine,

Basic medical science,

Basic medical science, other,

Veterinary medicine

© 2026 Damjan Mickov, Magdalena Podsobinska, Elena Atanaskova Petrov, Ljupco Mickov, Martin Nikolovski, Artur Niedźwiedź, published by Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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